A Free Show

First published in The Peter Patter Book of Nursery Rhymes (1918).

A few lines, but they hold the whole spirit of a country fair. No stage, no tickets — just neighbors and family showing what they can do. It’s that kind of simple joy that defined entertainment before screens existed.

The beauty is in its rhythm — each name, each act, tumbling into the next like performers stepping forward from behind a curtain. You can almost hear the whistle, the fiddle, and the stomp of a well-worn jig on a wooden floor. It’s a celebration of everyday talent — and the kind of fun that happens when people gather not for fame or money, but just to make each other smile.