Old Mother Hubbard Rhyme: An Introduction
English nursery poem "Old Mother Hubbard" was printed extensively for the first time in 1805. Old Mother Hubbard went to the cabinet to retrieve a bone for poor Other Hubbard's dog. But when she got there, the cabinet was empty, and the poor dog had nothing. Following its significant success in the nursery, it was later adapted for a wide range of useful and enjoyable uses. Old Mother Hubbard was the king's laundress, but when she discovers that her cupboard is empty, she takes her dog to the palace, where he ends up entertaining the king.
Old Mother Hubbard Nursery Rhyme Lyrics
Old Mother Hubbard
Went to the cupboard
To give her poor dog a bone.
But when she got there
The cupboard was bare
And so the poor dog had none.
She went to the Baker's
To buy him some bread.
When she came back
The poor Dog was dead :(
She took a clean dish
To get him some tripe.
When she came back
He was smoking his pipe.
She went to the Alehouse
To get him some beer.
When she came back
The Dog sat in a chair.
She went to the Tavern
For White Wine and Red.
When she came back
The Dog stood on his head.
She went to the Fruiterer's
To buy him some fruit.
When she came back
He was playing the Flute.
She went to the Taylor's
To buy him a Coat.
When she came back
He was riding a Goat.
She went to the Hatter's
To buy him a hat.
When she came back
He was feeding the Cat.
She went to the Barbers
To buy him a wig.
When she came back
He was dancing a Jig.
She went to the Cobbler's
To buy him some Shoes.
When she came back
He was reading the news.
She went to the Sempstress
To buy him some linen.
When she came back
The Dog was spinning.
She went to the Hosier's
To buy him some hose.
When she came back
He was drest in his clothes.
The Dame made a Courtesy
The Dog made a Bow.
The Dame said your Servant
The Dog said Bow - Wow!
Old Mother Hubbard Seeing her Cupboard
Old Mother Hubbard Summary
Old Mother Hubbard is the king's laundress, but when she discovers that her cupboard is empty, she takes her dog to the palace, where he ends up entertaining the king.
Old Mother Hubbard doesn't live in a shoe or have so many kids that she doesn't know what to do (that was the unidentified Old Woman), but she does work as the King's laundress and lives in poverty, which suggests that the King must be very inexpensive.
And to her pet dog's dismay, her cupboard is indeed empty. Despite this, the dog is ordered to carry the King's laundry. However, the dog decides he would rather take a ride than walk and begins to hitchhike, unintentionally getting into a car with the dogcatcher.
Old Mother Hubbard with his Dog
Solved Examples
Example 1: How did Old Mother Hubbard come to be?
Ans: Old Mother Hubbard allegedly made reference to Cardinal Thomas Wolsey's unsuccessful attempt to have King Henry VIII of England's first marriage to Catherine of Aragon annulled by the Pope. The dog stands in for King Henry VIII, the cabinet for the Catholic Church, and the bone for the wanted annulment.
Conclusion
The king's laundress, Old Mother Hubbard, takes her dog to the palace where he ends up amusing the king after finding that her cupboard is empty. The dog is nevertheless made to carry the King's clothes in spite of this. But the canine decides he'd rather ride than walk, starts hitchhiking, and unintentionally enters a car with the dogcatcher.
FAQs on Old Mother Hubbard
1. Was Old Mother Hubbard a real person?
Yes, Margaret Brown, a felon and thief in late 19th-century New York, was born in 1828. She was best known by her stage name Old Mother Hubbard, which was taken from a then-famous nursery rhyme of the same name.
2. What does Mother Hubbard mean?
A woman's full-length, unbelted dress is known as Mother Hubbard.
3. When was Old Mother Hubbard written?
An enlarged printing of the English nursery rhyme "Old Mother Hubbard" first appeared in 1805.
