
OLD MOTHER HUBBARD
AND HER DOG.
JOHN McLOUGHLIN, Publisher, N. Y.
In this charmingly odd tale, a kindly old woman sets out on a series of errands, each time promising a treat for her faithful dog. The verses begin with a simple trip to the cupboard for a bone, but quickly spiral into a whimsical parade of shop‑fronts—tavern, bakery, tailor, and more. The rhythmic, cumulative structure invites listeners to anticipate the next unexpected twist.
Every return reveals the pup in a new, delightful tableau—a hat, a coat, a goat, even a pipe—each rhyme building on the last with playful absurdity. The humor stays light, inviting children to join in the chant and picture the dog’s improbable antics. Its gentle, musical cadence makes it a perfect listen‑aloud story for families seeking a laugh and a touch of nostalgic charm.
Language
en
Duration
~20 minutes (19K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by David Edwards, Anne Storer and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The University of Florida, The Internet Archive/Children's Library)
Release date
Nov 6, 2007
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
The author is listed only as “Unknown,” leaving their identity and literary background unconfirmed. This entry preserves the mystery surrounding works whose creator has not been identified.
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