L Frank Baum

Mother Goose in Prose L Frank Baum

Sing a song o' sixpence, a handful of rye, Four-and-twenty blackbirds baked in a pie; When the pie was opened the birds began to sing, Wasn't that a dainty dish to set before the King?IF you have never heard the legend of Gilligren and the King's pie you will scarcelyunderstand the above verse; so I will tell you the whole story, and then you will be ableto better appreciate the rhyme. Gilligren was an orphan, and lived with an uncle and aunt who were very unkind tohim. They cuffed him and scolded him upon the slightest provocation, and made his lifevery miserable indeed. Gilligren never rebelled against this treatment, but bore theircruelty silently and with patience, although often he longed to leave them and seek ahome amongst kinder people. It so happened that when Gilligren was twelve years old the King died, and his sonwas to be proclaimed King in his place, and crowned with great ceremony. People wereflocking to London from all parts of the country, to witness the festivities, and the boylonged to go with the