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From the Old French
ONCE there were three small children | |
| Who went into the fields to glean. | |
| They came at night to a butcher’s house: | |
| “Butcher, have you beds for us?” | |
| “Come, little children, come in, come in; | 5 |
| Assuredly there’s room within.” | |
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| Hardly had they passed the wall | |
| Than the butcher killed them all. | |
| He cut them up and put each bit | |
| Like pork into the salting-pit. | 10 |
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| Seven years later Saint Nicholas | |
| He happened in that place to pass, | |
| Betook himself to the butchery: | |
| “Butcher, have you a bed for me?” | |
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| “Come in, come in, Saint Nicholas; | 15 |
| There’s room, there is no lack of space.” | |
| Hardly had he entered there | |
| Than he asked for his supper. | |
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| “Is it a piece of ham you would?” | |
| “I don’t want any, it isn’t good.” | 20 |
| “Would you like a piece of veal?” | |
| “I don’t want any, it doesn’t look well.” | |
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| “I’d like to have some little meat | |
| That’s seven years in the salting-pit.” | |
| When the butcher heard this said | 25 |
| He bolted from his door and fled. | |
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| “Butcher, butcher, don’t run away— | |
| God will forgive you if you pray.” | |
| Saint Nicholas did three fingers rub | |
| On the edge of the salting-tub. | 30 |
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| The first child said, “I slept very well!” | |
| “And so did I!” the second tells. | |
| The third child spoke up in this wise, | |
| “I thought I was in Paradise!” | |
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