Winifred: There once was a little boy who went to school,
And he was an aggravating lad!
He smash’d every window and he broke each rule;
His behaviour was really very bad.
So the master invited him to come one day,
For a private little interview;
And he welcomed master Jack,
With his hand behind his back,
Saying ‘Guess what I’ve got for you!’
Winifred / Chorus: And the boy guessed right the very first time,
He guessed right away it was not a cricket bat,
I wonder how he came to think of that!
Winifred: That boy grew older and he fell in love,
With a girl just as pretty as a rose,
He was sure he adored her all the world above,
But yet he was frightened to propose.
He paid her some tender little compliments,
Said her eyes were of a lovely blue,
So the maiden growing bolder,
Laid her head upon his shoulder,
Saying ‘Guess how I dream of you!’
Winifred / Chorus: And the boy guessed right the very first time,
He guessed right away that he’d got to take a flat,
A husband always has to think of that!
Winifred: That boy got married in a year or so,
He found her a treasure of a wife,
They lived in a happy little flat you know,
Theirs was a happy little life.
And one fine morning people came and said,
That they’d got to show him something new,
And they let him have a peep,
At a bundle half asleep,
Saying ‘Guess what we’ve got for you!’
Winifred / Chorus: And the boy guessed right the very first time,
He knew by the sound it was not a pussy cat,
It’s funny how he came to think of that!
Lionel Monckton (1861-1924)