This nursery rhyme or nursery rhyme was written in English around 1805 by Sarah Catherine Martin (1768–1826). It is repeatedly reported that the verses are much older, since there are also modified versions of them.
The first printed editions contained beautiful engravings. Only gradually did the rhyme appear in different and modified versions with different dogs and even cats. Translations into French and German followed around 1830 and there was also a Dutch version around 1850. Later a Chinese and Russian imitation also appeared and of course the story was also published in the US, which includes a Spitz (then Spitz, later American Eskimo Dog):
Old Mother Hubbard
Went to the cupboard,
To give the poor dog a bone:
When she came 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 dog was dead!
She went to the undertaker's
To buy him a coffin;
When she came back
The dog was laughing.
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 tailor'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 her cat.
She went to the barber's
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 dressed in his clothes.
The lady made a curtsy,
The dog made a bow;
The Lady said, Your servant;
The dog said, Bow-wow.
This wonderful dog
What Dame Hubbard's delight,
He could read, he could dance,
He could sing, he could write;
She gave him rich dainties
Whenever he fed,
And erected this monument
When he was dead.
German translation:
Old Mother Hubbard went to the closet,
to get a bone for the poor dog.
But the closet was empty
and that's why the poor dog got nothing
She went to the baker,
to buy him bread,
but when she came back,
he was dead.
So she went to the undertaker,
to buy him a coffin;
When she came back,
laughed the dog.
She took a clean dish
to get him tripe (offal);
When she came back
he was smoking a pipe.
'
She went into the beer hall
to get him beer;
When she came back
The dog was sitting on a chair.
She went to the tavern
for white wine and red wine;
When she came back
the dog was upside down.
She went to the farm shop,
to buy him fruit;
When she came back,
he played the flute.
She went to the tailor,
to buy him a coat;
When she came back,
He rode a goat.
She went to the hatter,
to buy him a hat;
When she came back,
he fed a cat.
She went to the hairdresser,
to buy him a wig;
When she came back,
he performed a dance.
She went to the shoemaker,
to buy him shoes;
When she came back,
He read the newspaper
She went to the seamstress,
to buy him a sheet;
When she came back,
he turned in a circle.
She went to the hosiery store
to buy him stockings;
When she came back
was he dressed.
The lady curtsied,
the dog bowed.
The lady said "Your servant",
The dog said "Wau Wau!
This wonderful dog was Lady Hubbard's delight,
He could read, he could dance, he could sing, he could write;
She gave him plenty of treats whenever he ate.
And erected a monument to him When he died.
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