Blue Bell Boy
I had a little boy,
And called him Blue Bell;
Gave him a little work,—
He did it very well.
I bade him go upstairs
To bring me a gold pin;
In coal scuttle fell he,
Up to his little chin.
He went to the garden
To pick a little sage;
He tumbled on his nose,
And fell into a rage.
He went to the cellar
To draw a little beer;
And quickly did return
To say there was none there.
Origins
This rhyme dates back to the 19th century and appears in several old nursery collections, sometimes titled Little Blue Bell Boy or simply The Blue Bell Boy. It feels like something that began in the nursery rather than in print — a mother’s amused retelling of her child’s small adventures. “Blue Bell” may have been a nickname, or perhaps it described the color of the boy’s clothes — bright, cheerful, and a bit mischievous, just like him.
Meaning
It’s basically the 19th-century version of “he meant well.” The little boy’s heart is in the right place, even if the results are a mess. His chores end in spills and tumbles, but you can tell he’s trying his best. That mix of innocence and exasperation — every parent knows it.
1. A simple retelling
A small boy tries to help with chores, but everything he attempts ends in a funny mishap.
2. The characters
Main character: Blue Bell Boy
Other character: The caregiver or narrator giving tasks
3. Setting
A household with places mentioned like the stairs, cellar, garden, and scuttle.
4. Theme
Good intentions, childhood clumsiness, and learning through trial and error.
5. Moral
Effort matters more than perfection.
