\"MistressMary,\"andher\"prettymaidsallinarow,\"passedbytotheirplacesinthebackground;\"KingCole\"andhis\"fiddlersthree\"madeagoodlyshow;sodidtheroyalcouple,whofollowedthegreatpiebornebeforethem,withthe\"four—and—twentyblackbirds\"poppingtheirheadsoutinthemostdelightfulway。
Little\"Bo—Peep\"ledawooiiylambandweptoveritslosttail,fornotasignofoneappearedonthepoorthing。\"SimpleSimon\"
followedthepie—man,gloatingoverhiswareswiththedrollestantics。Thelittlewifecametrundlingbyinawheelbarrowandwasnotupset;neitherwastheladywith\"ringsonherfingersandbellsonhertoes,\"asshecanteredalongonarocking—horse。\"BobbyShafto\'s\"yellowhairshonefinelyasheledinthemaidwhomhecamebackfromseatomarry。\"MissMuffet,\"bowlinhand,ranawayfromanimmenseblackspider,whichwaggleditslonglegsinawaysolife—likethatsomeofthechildrenshookintheirlittleshoes。Thebeggarswhocametotownwereoutinfullforce,\"rags,tags,andvelvetgowns,\"quitetruetolife。\"BoyBlue\"rubbedhiseyes,withhaystickinginhishair,andtootedonatinhornasifboundtogetthecowsoutofthecorn。Molly,withalong—handledfrying—pan,madeacapital\"Queen,\"inatucked—upgown,checkedapron,andhighcrown,togood\"KingArthur,\"who,veryproperly,didnotappearafterstealingthebarley—meal,whichmightbeseeninthepantiedupinapudding,likeacannon—ball,readytofry。
ButTobias,Molly\'sblackcat,coveredhimselfwithglorybythespiritwithwhichheactedhispartin,\"Sing,sing,whatshallIsing？
Thecat\'srunawaywiththepudding—bagstring。\"