Margaret Evans Price, "Old Mother Goose," 1917

Margaret Evans Price, "Mother Goose," 1917, originally uploaded by Gatochy.

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

Mother Goose had a house,
It stood in the wood,
Where an owl at the door,
As sentinel stood.

She had a son, Jack,
A plain looking lad,
'Twas not very good,
Nor yet very bad.

She sent him to market.
A live goose he bought,
"See, Mother?" he said,
"I have not been for naught."

Jack's goose and her Gander,
Soon grew very fond.
They'd both eat together,
Or swim in the pond.

Then, one fine morning,
As I have been told,
Jack's goose had laid him
An egg of pure gold.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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