To market, to market ...?

When I went to the market this morning I was surprised to find it all locked up and like a ghost town. Very odd. I'd never seen it like that. I had to go to a small fruit/vegetable shop fairly near to home. While purchasing a few items I said to the shop owner: "I just went to the market and it was all empty and locked up."

What he told me in response reminded me of this Mother Goose rhyme:

To market, to market, to buy a fat pig,
Home again, home again, dancing a jig;
To market, to market, to buy a fat hog;
Home again, home again, jiggety-jog;
To market, to market, to buy a plum bun,
Home again, home again, market is done.

"This is what I've heard," he said. "I'm not sure how true it is, but I wouldn't be surprised. Where are the health authorities in this country?! They closed down the market because of a health hazard. HUGE RATS!"

To market, to market to buy a fat rat ...