# Mother Goose: The Dove and the Wren

- Source: The Real Mother Goose (mother-goose.gutenberg.org), Public domain, Blanche Fisher Wright, illustrator, 1916, via Project Gutenberg
- Reading level: Ages 4 to 6
- Subjects: Poems, Animals
- Topics: went, back, came, little, cock, goosey
- Length: 598 words, about 4 min
- Original: <https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/10607/pg10607-images.html>
- Page: <https://sprout.rootsofreason.org/r/mother-goose/mg-11-the-dove-and-the-wren>
- Open in Sprouts: <https://sprout.rootsofreason.org/?read=mother-goose/mg-11-the-dove-and-the-wren>

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The dove says coo, coo, what shall I do?  
I can scarce maintain two.  
Pooh, pooh! says the wren, I've got ten,  
And keep them all like gentlemen.

## Master I Have

Master I have, and I am his man,  
Gallop a dreary dun;  
Master I have, and I am his man,  
And I'll get a wife as fast as I can;  
With a heighty gaily gamberally,  
Higgledy piggledy, niggledy, niggledy,  
Gallop a dreary dun.

## Pins

See a pin and pick it up,  
All the day you'll have good luck.  
See a pin and let it lay,  
Bad luck you'll have all the day.

## Shall We Go A-Shearing?

"Old woman, old woman, shall we go a-shearing?"  
"Speak a little louder, sir, I am very thick of hearing."  
"Old woman, old woman, shall I kiss you dearly?"  
"Thank you, kind sir, I hear you very clearly."

## Goosey, Goosey, Gander

Goosey, goosey, gander,  
Whither dost thou wander?  
Upstairs and downstairs  
And in my lady's chamber.  
There I met an old man  
Who wouldn't say his prayers;  
I took him by the left leg,  
And threw him down the stairs.

## The Cock And The Hen

"Cock, cock, cock, cock,  
I've laid an egg,  
Am I to gang ba--are-foot?"  
"Hen, hen, hen, hen,  
I've been up and down  
To every shop in town,  
And cannot find a shoe  
To fit your foot,  
If I'd crow my hea--art out."

## Blue Bell Boy

I had a little boy,  
And called him Blue Bell;  
Gave him a little work,--  
He did it very well.  
I bade him go upstairs  
To bring me a gold pin;  
In coal scuttle fell he,  
Up to his little chin.  
He went to the garden  
To pick a little sage;  
He tumbled on his nose,  
And fell into a rage.  
He went to the cellar  
To draw a little beer;  
And quickly did return  
To say there was none there.

## Old Mother Hubbard

Old Mother Hubbard  
Went to the cupboard,  
To give her poor dog a bone;  
But when she got there  
The cupboard was bare,  
And so the poor dog had none.  
She went to the baker's  
To buy him some bread;  
When she came back  
The dog was dead.  
She went to the undertaker's  
To buy him a coffin;  
When she got back  
The dog was laughing.  
She took a clean dish  
To get him some tripe;  
When she came back  
He was smoking a pipe.  
She went to the alehouse  
To get him some beer;  
When she came back  
The dog sat in a chair.  
She went to the tavern  
For white wine and red;  
When she came back  
The dog stood on his head.  
She went to the hatter's  
To buy him a hat;  
When she came back  
He was feeding the cat.  
She went to the barber's  
To buy him a wig;  
When she came back  
He was dancing a jig.  
She went to the fruiterer's  
To buy him some fruit;  
When she came back  
He was playing the flute.  
She went to the tailor's  
To buy him a coat;  
When she came back  
He was riding a goat.  
She went to the cobbler's  
To buy him some shoes;  
When she came back  
He was reading the news.  
She went to the sempster's  
To buy him some linen;  
When she came back  
The dog was a-spinning.  
She went to the hosier's  
To buy him some hose;  
When she came back  
He was dressed in his clothes.  
The dame made a curtsy,  
The dog made a bow;  
The dame said, "Your servant,"  
The dog said, "Bow-wow."

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## Picture credits

- Blanche Fisher Wright, Public domain (<https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/10607/pg10607-images.html>)
- Blanche Fisher Wright, Public domain (<https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/10607/pg10607-images.html>)
- Blanche Fisher Wright, Public domain (<https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/10607/pg10607-images.html>)