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.
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