A FROG HE WOULD
A-WOOING GO

 

 

A Frog would a-wooing go, Heigh Ho….

So he set off with his opera hat….

And on his way, he met a Rat

Pray, Mr. Rat, won’t you come with me….

Pretty Miss Mousey for to see.

… they soon arrived at Mousey’s Hall….

And gave a loud knock, and gave a loud call.

Pray, Miss MOUSEY, are you within?”
….
“Oh, yes, kind Sirs, I’m sitting to spin.”

“Pray, Miss MOUSE, will you give us some beer?”
…
“For Froggy and I are fond of good cheer.”

 

“Pray, Mr. FROG, will you give us a song?
….
“But let it be something that’s not very long.”

“Indeed, Miss MOUSE,” replied Mr FROG,
…
“A cold has made me as hoarse as a Hog.”

“Since you have caught cold,” Miss MOUSEY said.
…
“I’ll sing you a song that I have just made.”

But while they were all thus a merry-making,
…

A Cat and her Kittens came tumbling in.

The Cat she seized the Rat by the crown;
….
The Kittens they pulled the little Mouse down.

This put Mr. FROG in a terrible fright;
…
He took up his hat, and he wished them good night.

But as Froggy was crossing a silvery brook,
….

A lily-white Duck came and gobbled him up.

So there was an end of one, two, and three,
. . .
The Rat, the Mouse, and the little Frog-gee!

Note: I posted only part of the text. Probably because this book was first published in the 1890s, the rhyme is rough and the text is a bit muddled.  Yet, Caldecott’s illustrations are delightful.