A FOX went out in a hungry plight,
And he begg’d of the moon to give him light,
For he’d many miles to trot that night
    Before he could reach his den, O!

And first he came to a farmer’s yard,
Where the ducks and geese declared it hard
That their nerves should be shaken and their rest be marr’d,
    By the visit of Mister Fox, O!

He took the grey goose by the sleeve,
Says he, “Madam goose, and by your leave,
I’ll take you away without reprieve,
    And carry you home to my den, O!”

He seized the black duck by the neck,
And swung her all across his back,
The black duck cried out, “quack! quack! quack!”
    With her legs hanging dangling down, O!

Then old Mrs. Slipper-slopper jump’d out of bed,
And out of the window she popp’d her head,
“John, John, John, the grey goose is gone,
    And the fox is off to his den, O!”

Then John he went up to the hill,
And he blew a blast both loud and shrill,
Says the fox, “this is very pretty music—still
     I’d rather be at my den, O!”

At last the fox got home to his den;
To his dear little foxes, eight, nine, ten,
Says he, “you’re in luck, here’s a good fat duck,
    With her legs hanging dangling down, O!”

He then sat down with his hungry wife,
They did very well without fork or knife,
They never ate a better goose in all their life,
    And the little ones pick’d the bones, O!