Mary had a pretty bird,
With feathers bright and yellow,
Slender legs - upon my word,
He was a pretty fellow.
The sweetest notes he always sang,
Which much delighted Mary;
And near the cage she'd ever sit,
To hear her own Canary.
Notes
Here's the version from The Real Mother Goose (1916):
Mary had a pretty bird,
Feathers bright and yellow,
Slender legs--upon my word
He was a pretty fellow!
The sweetest note he always sung,
Which much delighted Mary.
She often, where the cage was hung,
Sat hearing her canary.
Here's a slightly different version from The Little Mother Goose (1912), illustrated by Jessie Willcox Smith:
Mary had a pretty bird,-
Feathers bright and yellow;
Slender legs, upon my word,
He was a pretty fellow-
The sweetest notes he always sung,
Which much delighted Mary;
And near the cage she'd ever sit,
To hear her own canary.
Photos & Illustrations
Thanks and Acknowledgements
The 1st illustration comes from The National Nursery Book. The 2nd illustration comes from The Real Mother Goose (1916), illustrated by Blanche Fisher Wright. The 3rd illustration is from The Little Mother Goose (1912), illustrated by Jessie Willcox Smith.
