The Nursery Rhymes of England Part 31

CCCx.x.xVII.

[Game on a child's features.]

Here sits the Lord Mayor _forehead_.

Here sit his two men _eyes_.

Here sits the c.o.c.k _right cheek_.

Here sits the hen _left cheek_.

Here sit the little chickens _tip of nose_.

Here they run in _mouth_.

Chinchopper, chinchopper, Chinchopper, chin! _chuck the chin_.

CCCx.x.xVIII.

[A play with the face. The child exclaims:]

Ring the bell! _giving a lock of its hair a pull._ Knock at the door! _tapping its forehead._ Draw the latch! _pulling up its nose._ And walk in! _opening its mouth and putting in its finger._

CCCx.x.xIX.

[An exercise during which the fingers of the child are enumerated.]

Thumbikin, Thumbikin, broke the barn, Pinnikin, Pinnikin, stole the corn.

Long back'd Gray Carried it away.

Old Mid-man sat and saw, But Peesy-weesy paid for a'.

CCCXL.

This pig went to market, Squeak mouse, mouse, mousey; Shoe, shoe, shoe the wild colt, And here's my own doll, Dowsy.

CCCXLI.

[From Yorks.h.i.+re. A game to alarm children.]

Flowers, flowers, high-do!

Sheeny, greeny, rino!-- Sheeny greeny, Sheeny greeny, Rum tum fra!

CCCXLII.

1. This pig went to the barn.

2. This eat all the corn.

3. This said he would tell.

4. This said he wasn't well.

5. This went week, week, week, over the door sill.

CCCXLIII.

[The two following are fragments of a game called "The Lady of the Land," a complete version of which has not fallen in my way.]

Here comes a poor woman from baby-land, With three small children in her hand: One can brew, the other can bake, The other can make a pretty round cake.

One can sit in the garden and spin, Another can make a fine bed for the king; Pray ma'am will you take one in?

CCCXLIV.

I can make diet bread, Thick and thin; I can make diet bread, Fit for the king.

CCCXLV.

Here we come a piping, First in spring, and then in May; The queen she sits upon the sand, Fair as a lily, white as a wand: King John has sent you letters three, And begs you'll read them unto me.-- We can't read one without them all, So pray, Miss Bridget, deliver the ball!

CCCXLVI.

The first day of Christmas, My true love sent to me A partridge in a pear tree.

The second day of Christmas, My true love sent to me Two turtle doves and A partridge in a pear tree.

The third day of Christmas, My true love sent to me Three French hens, Two turtle doves, and A partridge in a pear tree.

The fourth day of Christmas, My true love sent to me Four colly birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, and A partridge in a pear tree.

The fifth day of Christmas, My true love sent to me Five gold rings, Four colly birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, and A partridge in a pear tree.

The sixth day of Christmas, My true love sent to me Six geese a laying, Five gold rings, Four colly birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, and A partridge in a pear tree.

The seventh day of Christmas, My true love sent to me Seven swans a swimming, Six geese a laying, Five gold rings, Four colly birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, and A partridge in a pear tree.

The eighth day of Christmas, My true love sent to me Eight maids a milking, Seven swans a swimming, Six geese a laying, Five gold rings, Four colly birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, and A partridge in a pear tree.

The ninth day of Christmas, My true love sent to me Nine drummers drumming, Eight maids a milking, Seven swans a swimming, Six geese a laying, Five gold rings, Four colly birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, and A partridge in a pear tree.

The tenth day of Christmas, My true love sent to me Ten pipers piping, Nine drummers drumming, Eight maids a milking, Seven swans a swimming, Six geese a laying, Five gold rings, Four colly birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, and A partridge in a pear tree.

The eleventh day of Christmas, My true love sent to me Eleven ladies dancing, Ten pipers piping, Nine drummers drumming, Eight maids a milking, Seven swans a swimming, Six geese a laying, Five gold rings, Four colly birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, and A partridge in a pear tree.

The twelfth day of Christmas, My true love sent to me Twelve lords a leaping, Eleven ladies dancing, Ten pipers piping, Nine drummers drumming, Eight maids a milking, Seven swans a swimming, Six geese a laying, Five gold rings, Four colly birds, Three French hens, Two turtle doves, and A partridge in a pear tree.

[Each child in succession repeats the gifts of the day, and forfeits for each mistake. This acc.u.mulative process is a favorite with children: in early writers, such as Homer, the repet.i.tion of messages, &c. pleases on the same principle.]

CCCXLVII.