Old Mother Goose,

a
Old Mother Goose,
When she wanted to wander,
Would ride through the air
On a very fine gander.

b
Mother Goose had a house,
'Twas built in a wood,
Where an owl at the door
For sentinel stood.

c
She had a son Jack,
A plain-looking lad,
He was not very good,
Nor yet very bad.

d
She sent him to market,
A live goose he bought;
See, mother, says he,
I have not been for nought.

e
Jack's goose and her gander
Grew very fond;
They'd both eat together,
Or swim in the pond.

f
Jack found one fine morning,
As I have been told,
His goose had laid him
An egg of pure gold.

g
Jack ran to his mother
The news for to tell.
She cal1ed him a good boy,
And said it was well.

h
Jack sold his gold egg
To a merchant untrue,
Who cheated him out of
A half of his due.

i
Then Jack went a-courting
A lady so gay,
As fair as the lily,
And sweet as the May.

j
The merchant and squire
Soon came at his back,
And began to belabor
The sides of poor Jack,

k
Then Old Mother Goose
That instant came in,
And turned her son Jack
Into famed Harlequin.

l
She then with her wand
Touched the lady so fine,
And turned her at once
Into sweet Columbine.

m
The gold egg in the sea
Was thrown away then,
When an odd fish brought her
The egg back again.

n
The merchant then vowed
The goose he would kill,
Resolving at once
His pockets to fill.

o
Jack's mother came in.
And caught the goose soon,
And mounting its back,
Flew up to the moon.