Elizabeth, Elspeth, Betsy, and Bess, They all went together to seek a bird's nest. They found a bird's nest with five eggs in, They all took one, and left four in. As soft as silk, as white as milk, As I went through the garden gap, I went to the wood and got it; I sat me down and looked at it; The more I looked at it the less I liked it; There was a girl in our town, Silk an' satin, gold an' velvet, Guess her name, three times I've tell'd it. As I was going to St. Ives How many were going to St. Ives? Two legs sat upon three legs, In comes four legs, And runs away with one leg. Up jumps two legs, Catches up three legs, Throws it after four legs, And makes him bring back one leg. As I was going o'er Westminster bridge, What is his name? Flour of England, fruit of Spain, Met together in a shower of rain; Put in a bag tied round with a string, If you'll tell me this riddle, I'll give you a ring. I had a little nut tree, nothing would it bear me. There is one that has a head without an eye, And there's one that has an eye without a head: You may find the answer if you try; And when all is said, Half the answer hangs upon a thread! Christina G. Rossetti. Do You Guess it is I? I am a little thing; I am not very high; I laugh, dance and sing, I have a little head All covered o'er with hair, With my two ears there, On my two feet I walk; I run too with ease; With my little tongue I talk I've a mouth full of teeth, And close by, underneath, What is this little thing, That can laugh, dance and sing? Do you guess it is I? Eliza Lee Follen. |