THE NURSERY RHYME PICNIC

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21379, 31 December 1932, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE NURSERY RHYME PICNIC

By JOHN MORTON, Moirineville (age 9).

It was Boxing Day, and the Queen of Hearts and old King Cole were giving a picnic for the little nursery , rhymepeople. Peter Pumpkin Eater's wife, who had learned to read and spell, wrote' the invitations, and the old woman who went up in a basket, scattered them over Nureery Rhyme Land. It was a delightfully sunny day, and the picnic was held in Boy Blue's field. Some of the guests were Little BoPeep, who brought, her crook, but had left her sheep behind. Little Miss Muffet came and brought her tuffet, too.--: The butcher, the baker, the candle-stick maker came up the river in a tub to the picnic. Even the old woman who lived in the shoe camp with all her children. There were lots of, other nursery folk whom we shall hear of later. There were,, lovely things to eat, and the table was very pretty with flowers, which Mary Quite Contrary had brought from her garden. The Queen of Hearts had made some beautiful tarts, and little Jack Horner brought his Christmas pie. The cow with a crumpled horn supplied them with milk. Little Miss Muffit brought- curds and whey, while the little man with his little gun shot a nice little duck for-'Hinner. Jack and Jill made themselves very useful, and went up the hill to*fetch some water.

When everything was ready Little Bov Blue blew hie horn to call them all to dinner. ■ • - ••

They all had a jolly time, hut the big surprise came at the end, when the King cut a beautiful pie, out of which jumped four and twenty blackbirds. One of the blackbirds flew at "the maid who was washing; the dishes and peeked off her nose. She soon got it mended, and then the fun began. Such lovely games they played! Here we go round the mulberry bush, oranges and lemons, and Marjory Daw and Jack played see-saw. Georgie Porgie kissed some of the girls and mad® them cry, bat the little dog laughed and laughed. - Then they had a concert and Tommy Tucker sang, while the cat pfayed the fiddle. The cow wa3 very clever , with her tricks, gnd showed them how she could jump over the moon. Humpty Dumpty gob very cress,-so he went away and sat on a wall, all by himself.

Well, it was getting late and "time for Wee Willie Winkie tfco come; and the little stars were twinkling, so they all went home'*feeling very tired and happy..