118 DORSET CHILDREN'S DOGGEREL RHYMES. 



IV. Oh ! huntsman, huntsman, have you seen my hounds to-day ? 



Where, boy, where ? 

 All in that yonder cover, 



There, boy, there. 



Huntsman and his hounds, hounds and huntsman, 

 Agnes and her geese, geese and Agnes, Thomas and his horse, 

 horse and Thomas, Betty and her ducks, ducks and Betty, 

 Oliver and his deer, deer and Oliver, Roland and Oliver, the 

 King and the King his deer, Now and for evermore. 



The plan of this rhyme, the building-up process, reminds 

 one of the very ancient and much discussed Dorset folk- 

 song, " The Twelve Apostles." 



ROSY APPLE, LEMON, AND PEAR. 



I. Rosy apple, lemon, and pear, 

 A bunch of roses she shall wear. 

 Gold and silver by her side, 

 I know who'll take her as his bride. 



II. Take her by her lily-white hand, 

 And lead her to the altar ; 

 Give her kisses, one, two, three, 

 Mrs. (name's) daughter. 



PLEASE, MOTHER, MAY I GO OUT TO PLAY ? 



Please Mother, please Mother, 

 May I go out to play ? 

 I won't go near the water 

 To drive the ducks away. 



The first answer is " No, no, no ; " but when the rhyme is repeated, the 

 answer is " Yes, yes, yes." The children then go and pretend to drive the 

 ducks away with a " Shoo-oo-oo." 



OR 

 . 



Please Mother, please Mother, may I go out to play ? 

 (Ans.) No children, no children, this wet day. 

 Why Mother, why Mother, we won't stay long ? 

 (Ans.) Give me three curtseys and then run along. 



