Caroline Pink (and other Nonsense Rhymes)

Speak roughly to your little boy,
And beat him when he sneezes;
He only does it to annoy,
Because he knows it teases.

I speak severely to my boy,
I beat him when he sneezes;
For he can thoroughly enjoy
The pepper when he pleases!

How doth the little crocodile
Improve his shining tail,
And pour the waters of the Nile
On every golden scale!
How cheerfully he seems to grin,
How neatly spreads his claws,
And welcomes little fishes in,
With gently smiling jaws!

How much wood would a woodchuck chuck
If a woodchuck could chuck wood?
As much wood as a woodchuck could chuck
If a woodchuck could chuck wood.

How much wood could a woodchuck chuck
If a woodchuck could chuck wood?
As much wood as a woodchuck could chuck
If a woodchuck could chuck wood.

If he could.
But he can’t.

Three young rats with black felt hats,
Three young ducks with white straw flats
Three young dogs with curling tails,
Three young cats with demi veils,
Went out to walk with two young pigs
In satin vests and sorrel wigs,
But suddenly it chanced to rain
And so they all went home again.

Ching, ching, Chinaman,
How d'you sell your fish?
Ching, ching, Chinaman,
Six bits a dish;
Ching, ching, Chinaman,
Oh! That's too dear;
Ching, ching, Chinaman,
Clear out of here!

I'll sail upon the Dog Star,
And then pursue the morning,
I'll chase the moon 'till it be noon,
But I'll make her leave her horning.

I'll climb the frosty mountain,
And there I'll coin the weather;
I'll tear the rainbow from the sky,
And tie both ends together.

The stars pluck from their orbs, too,
And crowd them in my budget!
And whether I'm a roaring boy,
Let all the nations judge it.

Oh, dear me! Mother caught a flea,
Put it in the teapot and made a cup of tea.
When she put the milk in the flea came to the top;
When she put the sugar in the flea went pop!

Caroline Pink,
She fell down the sink,
She caught the scarlet fever,
Her Husband had to leave her.
She called in Doctor Blue,
And he caught it too,
Caroline Pink from China Town.

Well, I never,
Did you ever,
See a monkey dressed in leather?
Leather eyes,
Leather nose,
Leather breeches to his toes.

No we never,
Didn’t ever,
See a monkey dressed in leather?
Leather eyes,
Leather nose?
No leather yes,
Or leather nose!
Or leather breeches to his toes?
Not even leather breeches to his toes!