4 
 
 Joan Cole had a hole 
 
 In her petticoat ; 
 Jack Sprat, for a patch, 
 
 Did give her a groat : 
 
 The groat bought a patch, 
 Which stopped Joan's hole : 
 
 " I thank you, Jack Sprat! " 
 Says little Joan Cole. 
 
 13 
 
 Jack went to market, 
 
 And bought him a mare, 
 Was lame of three legs, 
 And blind, I declare ; 
 
 Her ribs they were bare, 
 The mare had no fat, 
 
 " She's a fine racer! " 
 Says little Jack Sprat. 
 
 16 
 
 When Jack Sprat was young 
 He was not so bier : 
 
 But now he is old, 
 And fat as a pig. 
 
 If Jack Sprat were lean, 
 He would not be fat — 
 
 I think my reader 
 Will not dispute that. 
 
 THE LIFE 
 
 OF 
 
 JACK SPRAT. 
 
 000 
 
 000 ■ 
 
 BANBURY : 
 SPRINTED BY J. G. RUSHER. 
 
6 
 
 Jack Sprat was wheeling 
 His wife by the ditch, 
 
 Barrow turn'd over, 
 And in she did pitch. 
 
 Says Jack—" She'll be drown 'dj 
 
 But Joan did reply, 
 " I don't think I shall,— 
 
 The ditch is quite dry ! " 
 
 11 
 
 Jack Sprat bought a cow, 
 His dear Joan to please, 
 
 For Joan she could make 
 Both butter and cheese; 
 
 Pancakes, or pudding, 
 
 Without any fat ; 
 A careful ho use- wife 
 
 Was little Joan Sprat. 
 
 jHflHHflHHflflHHMHMHIMBHHtfl 
 
 10 
 
 Was not very lean, 
 
 Was not very fat ; 
 Very fine grunter ! 
 
 For little Jack Sprat. 
 
 Joan went to market 
 As Jack did propose; 
 
 She bought a large frog, 
 And a couple of crows : 
 
 The frog was not white, 
 
 The crows were both black ; 
 
 " They'll never agree, " 
 Says little Joan Sprat. 
 
 Jack brought home his Joan, 
 
 She sat in a chair ; 
 When in came his cat, 
 
 That had but one ear. 
 
 Says Joan, " I'm come home, 
 Puss, how do you do ? " 
 
 The cat wagg'd her tail, 
 Said nothing but " Mew." 
 
2 
 
 JACK SPRAT. 
 Jack Sprat could eat no fat, 
 
 His wife could eat no lean ; 
 And so, between them both, 
 
 They lick'd the platter clean. 
 For Jack eat all the lean, 
 
 And J oan eat all the fat ; 
 The bone they picked clean, 
 
 Then gave it to the cat. 
 
 15 
 
 I've told you the story 
 Of the famous Jack Sprat, 
 
 And of little Joan Cole, 
 
 And the poor one-ear 'd cat : 
 
 Now Jack has got riches, 
 He has plenty of pelf, 
 
 If you'd have any more, 
 You must tell it yourself. 
 
 14 
 
 Jack and Joan went abroad, 
 Puss took care of the house ; 
 
 When she caught a large rat, 
 And a very small mouse : 
 
 So she caught a small mouse, 
 And a very large rat; 
 
 "An excellent hunter!" 
 Says little Jack Sprat. 
 
 3 
 
 When neat Jack Sprat was young, 
 He dressed very smart ; 
 
 He courted Joany Cole, 
 And he did gain her heart. 
 
 In fine leather doublet, 
 
 And an old greasy hat, 
 Oh ! what a smart fellow 
 
 Was our hero Jack Sprat. 
 
8 
 
 9 
 
 Jack Sprat took his gun, 
 And went to the brook ; 
 
 He shot at the drake, 
 But killed the duck : 
 
 He brought it to Joan, 
 She a fire did make, 
 
 To roast the fat duck ; 
 He went for the drake. 
 
 The drake was swimming, 
 
 With his curly tail ; 
 Jack tried to shoot him, 
 
 But happen 'd to fail : 
 
 He let off his gun, 
 
 But, missing his mark, 
 The drake flew away, 
 
 Crying, " Quack, quack, quack ! " 
 
 J ack to live pretty, 
 
 Now bought him a pig ; 
 Not very little, 
 
 Nor yet very big ; 
 
 12 
 
 Joan Sprat was brewing 
 
 A barrel of ale, 
 She put in some hops, 
 
 It might not turn stale ; 
 
 But as for the malt. 
 Forgot to put that, 
 
 " Brave sober liquor ! " 
 Said little Jack Sprat. 
 
 Jack Sprat the bridegroom, 
 Joan Cole was the bride ; 
 
 Jack said, from the church, 
 His Joan home should ride: 
 
 But no coach could take her, 
 The lane was so narrow ; 
 
 Said Jack, " Then I'll shake her 
 Home in a wheel-barrow."