Oh, Dear!
Dear, dear! what can the matter be?
Two old women got up in an apple-tree;
One came down, and the other stayed till Saturday.
Illustration by Blanche Fisher Wright
This is classic nonsense-humor in the Mother Goose tradition — a situation so odd it becomes funny simply because it makes no sense. The image of two elderly women climbing an apple tree is already slightly absurd. The fact that one just stays there until Saturday gives it that surreal, time-stretched exaggeration children naturally enjoy.
Rhyme Summary:
1. A simple retelling
Two old women climb into an apple tree; one climbs back down while the other stays there all the way until Saturday.
2. The characters
- Main characters: Two old women.
- Others: None mentioned.
3. Setting
Outdoors, in an apple tree.
4. Theme
Playful nonsense and exaggerated, humorous imagery.
5. Moral
No clear lesson — the rhyme is purely silly and meant for fun.
