19 THE NAUGHTY BILLY GOAT

A little Boy had a Billy Goat.
Billy Goat ran into the woods.
He ate the grass there.
The Boy said, “Let us go home, Billy Goat.”
But Billy Goat said, “No.”
Then the Boy said,

“Intery, mintery, cuttery, corn,
Apple seed and apple thorn.
If we don’t start home now,
We won’t reach there till morn.”


And the Boy began to cry.
Billy Goat said,


“Cry, baby, cry,
Put your finger in your eye,
And tell your mother
It wasn’t I.”


And he ran away.
White Rabbit came by.
He said, “Why do you cry?”
The Boy said, “Billy Goat has run away and will not go home.”
White Rabbit said, “Do not cry, little Boy. I will make Billy Goat go home.”
And he ran till he met Billy Goat.
White Rabbit said, “Let us go home, Billy Goat.”
But Billy Goat said, “No.”
Then White Rabbit said,


“Intery, mintery, cuttery, corn,
Apple seed and applethorn.
If we don’t start home now,
We won’t reach there till morn.”


And White Rabbit began to cry.
Billy Goat said,


“Cry, baby, cry,
Put your finger in your eye,
And tell your mother
It wasn’t I.”

And he ran away.
Gray Squirrel came by. He said, “Why do you cry, White Rabbit?”

White Rabbit said, “Billy Goat has run away and will not go home.”
Gray Squirrel said, “Do not cry, White Rabbit. I will make Billy Goat go home.”
And he ran till he met Billy Goat.
Gray Squirrel said, “Let us go home, Billy Goat.”
But Billy Goat said, “No.”
Then Gray Squirrel said,
“Intery, mintery, cuttery, corn,
Apple seed and apple thorn.
If we don’t start home now,
We won’t reach there till morn.”


And Gray Squirrel began to cry.
Billy Goat said,


“Cry, baby, cry,
Put your finger in your eye,
And tell your mother
It wasn’t I.”

And he ran away.
Red Fox came by.
He said, “Why do you cry, Gray Squirrel?”
Gray Squirrel said, “Billy Goat has run away and will not go home.”
Red Fox said, “Do not cry, Gray Squirrel. I will make Billy Goat go home.”
And he ran till he met Billy Goat.
Red Fox said, “Let us go home, Billy Goat.”
But Billy Goat said, “No.”
Then Red Fox said,
“Intery, mintery, cuttery, corn,
Apple seed and apple thorn.
If we don’t start home now,
We won’t reach there till morn.”

And Red Fox began to cry.
Billy Goat said,


“Cry, baby, cry,
Put your finger in your eye,
And tell your mother
It wasn’t I.”


And he ran away.
Bumblebee flew by.
He said, “Why do you cry, Red Fox?”
Red Fox said, “Billy Goat has run away and will not go home.”
Bumblebee said, “Do not cry, Red Fox. I will make Billy Goat go home.”
And away he flew till he met Billy Goat.
Bumblebee said, “Z-Z-Z-Z!”
Billy Goat said, “Bumblebee can sting. I will run home.”
And he began to run home.
Skippety, skippety, skip!
Billy Goat rushed by Red Fox.
Red Fox began to laugh.
Hoppety, hoppety, hop!
Billy Goat rushed by Gray Squirrel.

Gray Squirrel began to laugh.
Jumpety, jumpety, jump!
Billy Goat rushed by White Rabbit.
White Rabbit began to laugh.
 

Jiggety, jiggety, jig!
Billy Goat rushed by the Boy.
Then the Boy began to laugh.
And Billy Goat
never stopped running
till he reached home.