Page:More English Fairy Tales.djvu/219



The fox when he came to the farmer's gate,

Who should he see but the farmer's drake;

"I love you well for your master's sake,

And long to be picking your bones, e-ho!"

The grey goose she ran round the hay-stack,

"Oh, ho!" said the fox, "you are very fat;

You'll grease my beard and ride on my back

From this into yonder wee town, e-ho!"

Then he took the grey goose by her sleeve,

And said: "Madam Grey Goose, by your leave

I'll take you away without reprieve,

And carry you back to my den-o!"

And he seized the black duck by the neck,

And slung him all across his back,

The black duck cried out "quack, quack, quack,"

With his legs all dangling down-o!

Old Mother Wiggle-Waggle hopped out of bed,

Out of the window she popped her old head;

"Oh! husband, oh! husband, the grey goose is gone,

And the fox is off to his den, oh!"

Then the old man got up in his red cap,

And swore he would catch the fox in a trap;

But the fox was too cunning, and gave him the slip,

And ran through the town, the town, oh!

When he got to the top of the hill,

He blew his trumpet both loud and shrill,

For joy that he was safe and sound

Through the town, oh!