XXX.

The Frog's Wedding.
(ANOTHER VERSION.)

THE copy here given of the preceding Ballad was taken down from recitation, and published by Mr. Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe in his Ballad Book, 1824. The impression, consisting of only thirty copies, was dedicated to Sir Walter Scott.

There is still to be found in the Scottish nursery a strange legendary tale, sometimes called "The Padda Sang," and sometimes "The Tale o' the Well o' the Warld's End," in which the frog acts as the hero. See Robert Chambers' Scottish Songs, vol. i, p. 26, where a version, taken from the recitation of an old nurse in Annandale, is given.

There lived a puddy in a well,
And a merry mouse in a mill.

Puddy he'd a wooin ride,
Sword and pistol by his side.

Puddy cam to the mouse's wonne,
"Mistress mouse, are you within ?”

"Madame, I am come to woo, Marriage I must have of you."

Marriage I will grant you nane, Until uncle Rotten he comes hame.'

"Uncle Rotten's now come hame; Fye! gar busk the bride alang."

Lord Rotten sat at the head o' the table,
Because he was baith stout and able.

Wha is't that sits next the wa',
But Lady Mouse, baith jimp and sma' ?

What is't that sits next the bride,

But the sola puddy wi' his yellow side?

Syne cam the deuk, but and the drake;
The deuk took puddy, and garred him squaik.

Then cam in the carl cat,
Wi' a fiddle on his back.
"Want ye ony music here ?"

The puddy he swam doun the brook;
The drake he catched him in his fluke.

The cat he pu'd Lord Rotten doun;
The kittens they did claw his croun.

But Lady Mouse, baith jimp and sma’, Crept into a hole beneath the wa'; Squeak!" quoth she, "I'm weel awa'.'

XXXI.

There was a Froggie.
(ANOTHER VERSION.)

THE present version of this homely ditty was taken down from recitation, in Yorkshire. There is still another" Frogge Song," which may be seen in Halliwell's Nursery Rhymes, ed. 1843, p. 87; and a parody upon the same in Tom D'Urfey's Pills to purge Melancholy, 1719, vol. i, p. 14. The more modern Ballad

"A frog he would a wooing go,

Heigh ho! says Rowley,"

is too well known to need repetition here.

The ridiculous burden or chorus of what follows reminds us of another, equally unintelligible, which still lingers about our nurseries:

"There was a froggie in a well,

Fa, la, linkum, leerie !

And a mousie in a mill,

Linkum-a-leerie, linkum-a-leerie,

linkum-a-leerie, cow dow!"

See also the numbers of the Notes and Queries for various

communications on the present subject.

Sir Frog he would a wooing go,

Whether his mother would let him or no,
Farthing linkum laddium,

Fanny-ho, fanny-ho,

Farthing glen! 13

When he came to mouse's hall,

There he did both strut and bawl.

He said "Miss Mouse, I'me come to know,
Whether you'll have me or no?"

"Uncle Rat, is he at home?"

No, kind sir, but he'll not be long."

At length the rat came waddling home;
"Who's been here since I've been gone ?"

"Here has been a gentleman,

Vows he'll marry me if he can."

13 The meaning of this ridiculous burden cannot be guessed at; but

we repeat the tale "as it was told to us."