Mother Goose

sleepygirl2

7ac1cb277f1bffcd337ecd99ffb7f628I didn’t realize that Mother Goose wasn’t how cruel and gruesome Mother Goose was originally. An example is “A Little Man”: 

..

There was a little man, and he had a little gun

And his bullets were made of lead, lead , lead.

He went to the brook, and saw a little duck,

And shot it right through the head, head, head.

..

Then there is this verse from “Goosey Goosey Gander” which isn’t found in today’s nursery rhyme:

Old father Long-Legs

Can’t say his prayers:

Take him by the left leg,

And throw him down the stairs.

And when he’s at the bottom,

Before he long has lain,

Take him by the right leg,

And throw him up again.

 

Read more about the Mother Goose we thought we knew.