Pretty John Watts
Pretty John Watts,
We are troubled with rats,
Will you drive them out of the house?
We have mice, too, in plenty,
That feast in the pantry,
But let them stay
And nibble away,
What harm in a little brown mouse?
Household Pests
On the surface, Pretty John Watts reads like a light children’s verse about mice and rats, often accompanied by charming illustrations of rodents nibbling cheese. Yet, as with many nursery rhymes, it reflects everyday realities of earlier centuries. Rats were a serious household menace, blamed for spreading disease and spoiling food stores. Mice, though also pests, were smaller, more familiar, and sometimes regarded with tolerance. The rhyme makes a clear distinction: rats must go, but mice may stay.
The Rat-Catcher
“John Watts” may have been a stock character representing the rat-catcher — a common and necessary trade in old England. Rat-catchers traveled from house to house, using dogs, traps, and sometimes poisons to keep infestations under control. In the rhyme, Watts is called upon to deal with the more dangerous rats, but the plea spares the harmless little brown mice. This contrast hints at the way people viewed vermin in a world where the line between nuisance and threat could mean survival.
A Gentle Lesson
Like many traditional rhymes, Pretty John Watts may have also carried a moral undercurrent for children. It teaches discernment — not everything that intrudes must be destroyed. Rats were to be feared and expelled, but mice could be endured with patience. The closing question, “What harm in a little brown mouse?”, captures this tolerant attitude, turning a daily irritation into a gentle, almost humorous reflection.
