The Old Woman and Her Pig

A N old woman was sweeping her house and she found a little crooked sixpence. "What," said she, "shall I do with this sixpence? I will go to the market and buy a little pig." As she was coming home she came to a stile; the piggy would not go over the stile.

She went a little farther, and she met a dog. So she said to the dog:

But the dog would not.

She went on a little farther, and she met a stick. So she said:

But the stick would not.

She went a little farther, and she came to a fire. So she said:

But the fire would not.

She went a little farther, and she came to some water. So she said:

But the water would not.

The old woman went on a little farther, and she met an ox. So she said:

But the ox would not.

The old woman went on a little farther, and she met a butcher. So she said:

But the butcher would not.

She went on a little farther, and she met a rope. So she said:

But the rope would not.

She went on a little farther, and she met a rat. So she said:

"I will," said the rat.

So the rat began to gnaw the rope. The rope began to tie the butcher. The butcher began to kill the ox. The ox began to drink the water. The water began to quench the fire. The fire began to burn the stick. The stick began to beat the dog. The dog began to bite the pig. The piggy jumped over the stile. And the woman really  did get home that night.