Franklin T. Baker

The Old Woman and the Pig

An old woman was sweeping.

She found a new sixpence.

She was glad, and she said,

      "I will buy a pig."

So she went out to market, and she bought a pig.

But the pig would not go home.

He would not get over the stile.

So the old woman went to a dog.

She said,

      "Dog, dog, bite pig.

      Pig will not get over the stile.

      And I shall not get home to-night."

But the dog said, "No, I won't."

So the old woman went to a stick.

She said,

      "Stick, stick, beat dog.

      Dog will not bite pig.

      Pig will not get over the stile.

      And I shall not get home to-night."

But the stick said,

      "I won't."

So she went to the fire, and said,

      "Fire, fire, burn stick.

      Stick will not beat dog.

      Dog will not bite pig.

      Pig will not get over the stile.

      And I shall not get home to-night."

"I will not," said the fire.

So the old woman went on.

She went to some water.

She said,

      "Water, water, put out fire.

      Fire will not burn stick.

      Stick will not beat dog.

      Dog will not bite pig.

      Pig will not get over the stile.

      And I shall not get home to-night."

"I will not do it," said the water.

So the little old woman walked on.

She saw an ox, and she said,

      "Ox, ox, drink water.

      Water will not put out fire.

      Fire will not burn stick.

      Stick will not beat dog.

      Dog will not bite pig.

      Pig will not get over the stile.

      And I shall not get home to-night."

"I will not," said the ox.

And the old woman walked on.

By and by she met the butcher.

She said,

      "Butcher, butcher, kill ox.

      Ox will not drink water.

      Water will not put out fire.

      Fire will not burn stick.

      Stick will not beat dog.

      Dog will not bite pig.

      Pig will not get over the stile.

      And I shall not get home to-night."

But the butcher said,

      "I will not do it."

So the little old woman had to go on.

By and by she saw a rope.

She said,

      "Rope, rope, hang butcher.

      Butcher will not kill ox.

      Ox will not drink water.

      Water will not put out fire.

      Fire will not burn stick.

      Stick will not beat dog.

      Dog will not bite pig.

      Pig will not get over the stile.

      And I shall not get home to-night."

"No, I will not," said the rope.

Then the old woman went to the rat.

She said,

      "Rat, rat, gnaw rope.

      Rope will not hang butcher.

      Butcher will not kill ox.

      Ox will not drink water.

      Water will not put out fire.

      Fire will not burn stick.

      Stick will not beat dog.

      Dog will not bite pig.

      Pig will not get over the stile.

      And I shall not get home to-night."

But the rat said, "No, I will not," and ran away.

Then on walked the old woman.

By and by she saw a cat.

      "O cat, cat," she said, "kill rat.

      Rat will not gnaw rope.

      Rope will not hang butcher.

      Butcher will not kill ox.

      Ox will not drink water.

      Water will not put out fire.

      Fire will not burn stick.

      Stick will not beat dog.

      Dog will not bite pig.

      Pig will not get over the stile.

      And I shall not get home to-night."

The cat said,

      "Give me some milk."

So the old woman went to the cow.

"Please, cow," she said, "give me some milk for the cat."

The cow said,

      "Give me some hay, and I will."

So away went the old woman to the haycock.

She said, "Please give me some hay for the cow."

"Here it is," said the haycock.

The old woman took it to the cow.

The cow gave her some milk.

She took it to the cat.

The cat drank it.

Then the cat began to kill the rat.

The rat began to gnaw the rope.

The rope began to hang the butcher.

The butcher began to kill the ox.

The ox began to drink the water.

The water began to put out the fire.

The fire began to burn the stick.

The stick began to beat the dog.

The dog began to bite the pig.

The pig jumped over the stile, and went along with the old woman.

And they both got home that night.