CCXLI.

[A charm somewhat similar to the following may be seen in the 'Townley Mysteries,' p. 91. See a paper in the 'Archæologia,' vol. xxvii, p. 253, by the Rev. Lancelot Sharpe, M.A. See also MS. Lansd. 231, fol. 114, and Ady's 'Candle in the Dark,' 4to, London, 1650, p. 58.]

Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John,Guard the bed that I lay on!Four corners to my bed,Four angels round my head;One to watch, one to pray,And two to bear my soul away!

Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John,

Guard the bed that I lay on!

Four corners to my bed,

Four angels round my head;

One to watch, one to pray,

And two to bear my soul away!

[Ady, in his 'Candle in the Dark,' 4to, Lond. 1656, p. 59, says that this was a charm to make butter come from the churn. It was to be said thrice.]

Come, butter, come,Come, butter, come!Peter stands at the gate,Waiting for a butter'd cake;Come, butter, come!

Come, butter, come,

Come, butter, come!

Peter stands at the gate,

Waiting for a butter'd cake;

Come, butter, come!

[From Dr. Wallis's "Grammatica Linguæ Anglicanæ," 12mo, Oxon. 1674, p. 164. This and the nine following are said to be certain cures for the hiccup if repeated in one breath.]

Whena Twister a twisting, will twist him a twist;For the twisting of his twist, he three times doth intwist;But if one of the twines of the twist do untwist,The twine that untwisteth, untwisteth the twist.Untwirling the twine that untwisteth between,He twirls, with the twister, the two in a twine:Then twice having twisted the twines of the twineHe twisteth the twine he had twined in twain.The twain that, in twining, before in the twine,As twines were intwisted; he now doth untwine:'Twixt the twain inter-twisting a twine more between,He, twirling his twister, makes a twist of the twine.

Whena Twister a twisting, will twist him a twist;

For the twisting of his twist, he three times doth intwist;

But if one of the twines of the twist do untwist,

The twine that untwisteth, untwisteth the twist.

Untwirling the twine that untwisteth between,He twirls, with the twister, the two in a twine:Then twice having twisted the twines of the twineHe twisteth the twine he had twined in twain.

Untwirling the twine that untwisteth between,

He twirls, with the twister, the two in a twine:

Then twice having twisted the twines of the twine

He twisteth the twine he had twined in twain.

The twain that, in twining, before in the twine,As twines were intwisted; he now doth untwine:'Twixt the twain inter-twisting a twine more between,He, twirling his twister, makes a twist of the twine.

The twain that, in twining, before in the twine,

As twines were intwisted; he now doth untwine:

'Twixt the twain inter-twisting a twine more between,

He, twirling his twister, makes a twist of the twine.

A Thatcherof Thatchwood went to Thatchet a thatching;Did a thatcher of Thatchwood go to Thatchet a thatching?If a thatcher of Thatchwood went to Thatchet a thatching,Where's the thatching the thatcher of Thatchwood has thatch'd?

A Thatcherof Thatchwood went to Thatchet a thatching;

Did a thatcher of Thatchwood go to Thatchet a thatching?

If a thatcher of Thatchwood went to Thatchet a thatching,

Where's the thatching the thatcher of Thatchwood has thatch'd?

[Sometimes 'off a pewter plate' is added at the end of each line.]

PeterPiper picked a peck of pickled pepper;A peck of pickled pepper Peter Piper picked;If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled pepper,Where's the peck of pickled pepper Peter Piper picked?

PeterPiper picked a peck of pickled pepper;

A peck of pickled pepper Peter Piper picked;

If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled pepper,

Where's the peck of pickled pepper Peter Piper picked?

Myfather he left me, just as he was able,One bowl, one bottle, one lable,Two bowls, two bottles, two lables,Three, &c. [And so on ad. lib. in one breath.]

Myfather he left me, just as he was able,

One bowl, one bottle, one lable,

Two bowls, two bottles, two lables,

Three, &c. [And so on ad. lib. in one breath.]

Robert Rowleyrolled a round roll round,A round roll Robert Rowley rolled round;Where rolled the round roll Robert Rowley rolled round?

Robert Rowleyrolled a round roll round,

A round roll Robert Rowley rolled round;

Where rolled the round roll Robert Rowley rolled round?

Mygrandmother sent me a new-fashioned three cornered cambric country cut handkerchief. Not an old-fashioned three cornered cambric country cut handkerchief, but a new-fashioned three cornered cambric country cut handkerchief.

Threecrooked cripples went through Cripplegate, and through Cripplegate went three crooked cripples.

Swanswam over the sea—Swim, swan, swim;Swan swam back again,Well swam swan,

Swanswam over the sea—

Swim, swan, swim;

Swan swam back again,

Well swam swan,

Hickup, hickup, go away!Come again another day;Hickup, hickup, when I bake,I'll give to you a butter-cake.

Hickup, hickup, go away!

Come again another day;

Hickup, hickup, when I bake,

I'll give to you a butter-cake.

Hickup, snicup,Rise up, right up!Three drops in the cupAre good for the hiccup.

Hickup, snicup,

Rise up, right up!

Three drops in the cup

Are good for the hiccup.

Cushy cow bonny, let down thy milk

Ninth Class--Gaffers and Gammers

fancy rule

OHEREwas an old woman, as I've heard tell,She went to market her eggs for to sell;She went to market all on a market-day,And she fell asleep on the king's highway.There came by a pedlar whose name was Stout,He cut her petticoats all round about;He cut her petticoats up to the knees,Which made the old woman to shiver and freeze.When this little woman first did wake,She began to shiver and she began to shake,She began to wonder and she began to cry,"Oh! deary, deary me, this is none of I!"But if it be I, as I do hope it be,I've a little dog at home, and he'll know me;If it be I, he'll wag his little tail,And if it be not I, he'll loudly bark and wail."Home went the little woman all in the dark,Up got the little dog, and he began to bark;He began to bark, so she began to cry,"Oh! deary, deary me, this is none of I!"

OHEREwas an old woman, as I've heard tell,She went to market her eggs for to sell;She went to market all on a market-day,And she fell asleep on the king's highway.

HEREwas an old woman, as I've heard tell,

She went to market her eggs for to sell;

She went to market all on a market-day,

And she fell asleep on the king's highway.

There came by a pedlar whose name was Stout,He cut her petticoats all round about;He cut her petticoats up to the knees,Which made the old woman to shiver and freeze.

There came by a pedlar whose name was Stout,

He cut her petticoats all round about;

He cut her petticoats up to the knees,

Which made the old woman to shiver and freeze.

When this little woman first did wake,She began to shiver and she began to shake,She began to wonder and she began to cry,"Oh! deary, deary me, this is none of I!

When this little woman first did wake,

She began to shiver and she began to shake,

She began to wonder and she began to cry,

"Oh! deary, deary me, this is none of I!

"But if it be I, as I do hope it be,I've a little dog at home, and he'll know me;If it be I, he'll wag his little tail,And if it be not I, he'll loudly bark and wail."

"But if it be I, as I do hope it be,

I've a little dog at home, and he'll know me;

If it be I, he'll wag his little tail,

And if it be not I, he'll loudly bark and wail."

Home went the little woman all in the dark,Up got the little dog, and he began to bark;He began to bark, so she began to cry,"Oh! deary, deary me, this is none of I!"

Home went the little woman all in the dark,

Up got the little dog, and he began to bark;

He began to bark, so she began to cry,

"Oh! deary, deary me, this is none of I!"

Therewas an old woman who lived in a shoe,She had so many children she didn't know what to do;She gave them some broth without any bread,She whipped them all well and put them to bed.

Therewas an old woman who lived in a shoe,

She had so many children she didn't know what to do;

She gave them some broth without any bread,

She whipped them all well and put them to bed.

Oldwoman, old woman, shall we go a shearing?Speak a little louder, sir, I am very thick of hearing.Old woman, old woman, shall I love you dearly?Thank you, kind sir, I hear you very clearly.

Oldwoman, old woman, shall we go a shearing?

Speak a little louder, sir, I am very thick of hearing.

Old woman, old woman, shall I love you dearly?

Thank you, kind sir, I hear you very clearly.

Therewas an old woman sat spinning,And that's the first beginning;She had a calf,And that's half;She took it by the tail,And threw it over the wall,And that's all.

Therewas an old woman sat spinning,

And that's the first beginning;

She had a calf,

And that's half;

She took it by the tail,

And threw it over the wall,

And that's all.

Therewas an old woman, her name it was Peg;Her head was of wood, and she wore a cork-leg.The neighbours all pitch'd her into the water,Her leg was drown'd first, and her head follow'd a'ter.

Therewas an old woman, her name it was Peg;

Her head was of wood, and she wore a cork-leg.

The neighbours all pitch'd her into the water,

Her leg was drown'd first, and her head follow'd a'ter.

A littleold man and I fell out;How shall we bring this matter about?Bring it about as well as you can,Get you gone, you little old man!

A littleold man and I fell out;

How shall we bring this matter about?

Bring it about as well as you can,

Get you gone, you little old man!

Therewas an old woman,And she sold puddings and pies;She went to the mill,And the dust flew in her eyes:Hot pies and cold pies to sell!Wherever she goes,—You may follow her by the smell.

Therewas an old woman,

And she sold puddings and pies;

She went to the mill,

And the dust flew in her eyes:

Hot pies and cold pies to sell!

Wherever she goes,—

You may follow her by the smell.

OldMother Niddity Nod swore by the pudding-bag,She would go to Stoken Church fair;And then old Father Peter said he would meet herBefore she got half-way there.

OldMother Niddity Nod swore by the pudding-bag,

She would go to Stoken Church fair;

And then old Father Peter said he would meet her

Before she got half-way there.

Therewas an old womanLived under a hill;And if she's not gone,She lives there still.

Therewas an old woman

Lived under a hill;

And if she's not gone,

She lives there still.

Therewas an old woman toss'd up in a basketNineteen times as high as the moon;Where she was going I couldn't but ask it,For in her hand she carried a broom.Old woman, old woman, old woman, quoth I,O whither, O whither, O whither, so high?To brush the cobwebs off the sky!Shall I go with thee? Aye, by and by.

Therewas an old woman toss'd up in a basketNineteen times as high as the moon;Where she was going I couldn't but ask it,For in her hand she carried a broom.

Therewas an old woman toss'd up in a basket

Nineteen times as high as the moon;

Where she was going I couldn't but ask it,

For in her hand she carried a broom.

Old woman, old woman, old woman, quoth I,O whither, O whither, O whither, so high?To brush the cobwebs off the sky!Shall I go with thee? Aye, by and by.

Old woman, old woman, old woman, quoth I,

O whither, O whither, O whither, so high?

To brush the cobwebs off the sky!

Shall I go with thee? Aye, by and by.

Therewas an old man who liv'd in Middle Row,He had five hens and a name for them, oh!Bill and Ned and Battock,Cut-her-foot and Pattock,Chuck, my lady Prattock,Go to thy nest and lay.

Therewas an old man who liv'd in Middle Row,

He had five hens and a name for them, oh!

Bill and Ned and Battock,

Cut-her-foot and Pattock,

Chuck, my lady Prattock,

Go to thy nest and lay.

Therewas an old woman of LeedsWho spent all her time in good deeds;She worked for the poorTill her fingers were sore,This pious old woman of Leeds!

Therewas an old woman of Leeds

Who spent all her time in good deeds;

She worked for the poor

Till her fingers were sore,

This pious old woman of Leeds!

OldBetty BlueLost a holiday shoe,What can old Betty do?Give her anotherTo match the other,And then she may swagger in two.

OldBetty Blue

Lost a holiday shoe,

What can old Betty do?

Give her another

To match the other,

And then she may swagger in two.

Oldmother HubbardWent to the cupboard,To get her poor dog a bone;But when she came thereThe cupboard was bare,And so the poor dog had none.She went to the baker'sTo buy him some bread,But when she came backThe poor dog was dead.She went to the joiner'sTo buy him a coffin,But when she came backThe poor dog was laughing.*

Oldmother HubbardWent to the cupboard,To get her poor dog a bone;But when she came thereThe cupboard was bare,And so the poor dog had none.

Oldmother Hubbard

Went to the cupboard,

To get her poor dog a bone;

But when she came there

The cupboard was bare,

And so the poor dog had none.

She went to the baker'sTo buy him some bread,But when she came backThe poor dog was dead.

She went to the baker's

To buy him some bread,

But when she came back

The poor dog was dead.

She went to the joiner'sTo buy him a coffin,But when she came backThe poor dog was laughing.*

She went to the joiner's

To buy him a coffin,

But when she came back

The poor dog was laughing.*

She took a clean dishTo get him some tripe,But when she came backHe was smoking his pipe.

She took a clean dish

To get him some tripe,

But when she came back

He was smoking his pipe.

He was smoking his pipe

She went to the fishmonger'sTo buy him some fish,And when she came backHe was licking the dish.She went to the ale-houseTo get him some beer,But when she came backThe dog sat in a chair.She went to the tavernFor white wine and red,But when she came backThe dog stood on his head.She went to the hatter'sTo buy him a hat,But when she came backHe was feeding the cat.She went to the barber'sTo buy him a wig,But when she came backHe was dancing a jig.She went to the fruiterer'sTo buy him some fruit,But when she came backHe was playing the flute.She went to the tailor'sTo buy him a coat,But when she came backHe was riding a goat.She went to the cobbler'sTo buy him some shoes,But when she came backHe was reading the news.She went to the sempstressTo buy him some linen,But when she came backThe dog was spinning.She went to the hosier'sTo buy him some hose,But when she came backHe was dress'd in his clothes.The dame made a curtsey,The dog made a bow;The dame said, your servant,The dog said, bow, wow.

She went to the fishmonger'sTo buy him some fish,And when she came backHe was licking the dish.

She went to the fishmonger's

To buy him some fish,

And when she came back

He was licking the dish.

She went to the ale-houseTo get him some beer,But when she came backThe dog sat in a chair.

She went to the ale-house

To get him some beer,

But when she came back

The dog sat in a chair.

She went to the tavernFor white wine and red,But when she came backThe dog stood on his head.

She went to the tavern

For white wine and red,

But when she came back

The dog stood on his head.

She went to the hatter'sTo buy him a hat,But when she came backHe was feeding the cat.

She went to the hatter's

To buy him a hat,

But when she came back

He was feeding the cat.

She went to the barber'sTo buy him a wig,But when she came backHe was dancing a jig.

She went to the barber's

To buy him a wig,

But when she came back

He was dancing a jig.

She went to the fruiterer'sTo buy him some fruit,But when she came backHe was playing the flute.

She went to the fruiterer's

To buy him some fruit,

But when she came back

He was playing the flute.

She went to the tailor'sTo buy him a coat,But when she came backHe was riding a goat.

She went to the tailor's

To buy him a coat,

But when she came back

He was riding a goat.

She went to the cobbler'sTo buy him some shoes,But when she came backHe was reading the news.

She went to the cobbler's

To buy him some shoes,

But when she came back

He was reading the news.

She went to the sempstressTo buy him some linen,But when she came backThe dog was spinning.

She went to the sempstress

To buy him some linen,

But when she came back

The dog was spinning.

She went to the hosier'sTo buy him some hose,But when she came backHe was dress'd in his clothes.

She went to the hosier's

To buy him some hose,

But when she came back

He was dress'd in his clothes.

The dame made a curtsey,The dog made a bow;The dame said, your servant,The dog said, bow, wow.

The dame made a curtsey,

The dog made a bow;

The dame said, your servant,

The dog said, bow, wow.

*Probablyloffingorloffin', to complete the rhyme. So in Shakspeare's 'Mids. Night's Dream,' act ii, sc. 1:

"And then the whole quire hold their hips, andloffe."

[The first two lines of the following are the same with those of a song in D'Urfey's 'Pills to Purge Melancholy,' vol. v, p. 13.]

Therewas an old womanLived under a hill,She put a mouse in a bag,And sent it to mill;The miller declar'dBy the point of his knife,He never took tollOf a mouse in his life.

Therewas an old womanLived under a hill,She put a mouse in a bag,And sent it to mill;

Therewas an old woman

Lived under a hill,

She put a mouse in a bag,

And sent it to mill;

The miller declar'dBy the point of his knife,He never took tollOf a mouse in his life.

The miller declar'd

By the point of his knife,

He never took toll

Of a mouse in his life.

[The following is part of a comic song called 'Success to the Whistle and Wig,' intended to be sung in rotation by the members of a club.]

Therewas an old woman had three sons,Jerry, and James, and John:Jerry was hung, James was drowned,John was lost and never was found,And there was an end of the three sons,Jerry, and James, and John!

Therewas an old woman had three sons,

Jerry, and James, and John:

Jerry was hung, James was drowned,

John was lost and never was found,

And there was an end of the three sons,

Jerry, and James, and John!

[The tale on which the following story is founded is found in a MS. of the fifteenth century, preserved in the Chetham Library at Manchester.]

Therewas an old man, who lived in a wood,As you may plainly see;He said he could do as much work in a day,As his wife could do in three.With all my heart, the old woman said,If that you will allow,To-morrow you'll stay at home in my stead,And I'll go drive the plough:But you must milk the Tidy cow,For fear that she go dry;And you must feed the little pigsThat are within the sty;And you must mind the speckled hen,For fear she lay away;And you must reel the spool of yarnThat I spun yesterday.The old woman took a staff in her hand,And went to drive the plough:The old man took a pail in his hand,And went to milk the cow;But Tidy hinched, and Tidy flinched,And Tidy broke his nose,And Tidy gave him such a blow,That the blood ran down to his toes.High! Tidy! ho! Tidy! high!Tidy! do stand still;If ever I milk you, Tidy, again,'Twill be sore against my will!He went to feed the little pigs,That were within the sty;He hit his head against the beam,And he made the blood to fly.He went to mind the speckled hen,For fear she'd lay astray,And he forgot the spool of yarnHis wife spun yesterday.So he swore by the sun, the moon, and the stars,And the green leaves on the tree,If his wife didn't do a day's work in her life,She should ne'er be ruled by he.

Therewas an old man, who lived in a wood,

As you may plainly see;

He said he could do as much work in a day,

As his wife could do in three.

With all my heart, the old woman said,

If that you will allow,

To-morrow you'll stay at home in my stead,

And I'll go drive the plough:

But you must milk the Tidy cow,For fear that she go dry;And you must feed the little pigsThat are within the sty;And you must mind the speckled hen,For fear she lay away;And you must reel the spool of yarnThat I spun yesterday.

But you must milk the Tidy cow,

For fear that she go dry;

And you must feed the little pigs

That are within the sty;

And you must mind the speckled hen,

For fear she lay away;

And you must reel the spool of yarn

That I spun yesterday.

The old woman took a staff in her hand,And went to drive the plough:The old man took a pail in his hand,And went to milk the cow;But Tidy hinched, and Tidy flinched,And Tidy broke his nose,And Tidy gave him such a blow,That the blood ran down to his toes.

The old woman took a staff in her hand,

And went to drive the plough:

The old man took a pail in his hand,

And went to milk the cow;

But Tidy hinched, and Tidy flinched,

And Tidy broke his nose,

And Tidy gave him such a blow,

That the blood ran down to his toes.

High! Tidy! ho! Tidy! high!Tidy! do stand still;If ever I milk you, Tidy, again,'Twill be sore against my will!He went to feed the little pigs,That were within the sty;He hit his head against the beam,And he made the blood to fly.

High! Tidy! ho! Tidy! high!

Tidy! do stand still;

If ever I milk you, Tidy, again,

'Twill be sore against my will!

He went to feed the little pigs,

That were within the sty;

He hit his head against the beam,

And he made the blood to fly.

He went to mind the speckled hen,For fear she'd lay astray,And he forgot the spool of yarnHis wife spun yesterday.

He went to mind the speckled hen,

For fear she'd lay astray,

And he forgot the spool of yarn

His wife spun yesterday.

So he swore by the sun, the moon, and the stars,And the green leaves on the tree,If his wife didn't do a day's work in her life,She should ne'er be ruled by he.

So he swore by the sun, the moon, and the stars,

And the green leaves on the tree,

If his wife didn't do a day's work in her life,

She should ne'er be ruled by he.

Therewas an old man of Tobago,Who lived on rice, gruel, and sago;Till, much to his bliss,His physician said this—"To a leg, sir, of mutton you may go."

Therewas an old man of Tobago,

Who lived on rice, gruel, and sago;

Till, much to his bliss,

His physician said this—

"To a leg, sir, of mutton you may go."

Oh, dear, what can the matter be?Two old women got up in an apple tree;One came down,And the other staid till Saturday.

Oh, dear, what can the matter be?

Two old women got up in an apple tree;

One came down,

And the other staid till Saturday.

Therewas an old man,And he had a calf,And that's half;He took him out of the stall,And put him on the wall;And that's all.

Therewas an old man,

And he had a calf,

And that's half;

He took him out of the stall,

And put him on the wall;

And that's all.

Father Shortcame down the lane,Oh! I'm obliged to hammer and smiteFrom four in the morning till eight at night,For a bad master, and a worse dame.

Father Shortcame down the lane,

Oh! I'm obliged to hammer and smite

From four in the morning till eight at night,

For a bad master, and a worse dame.

Therewas an old woman called Nothing-at-all,Who rejoiced in a dwelling exceedingly small:A man stretched his mouth to its utmost extent,And down at one gulp house and old woman went.

Therewas an old woman called Nothing-at-all,

Who rejoiced in a dwelling exceedingly small:

A man stretched his mouth to its utmost extent,

And down at one gulp house and old woman went.

Therewas an old woman of Norwich,Who lived upon nothing but porridge;Parading the town,She turned cloak into gown,This thrifty old woman of Norwich.

Therewas an old woman of Norwich,

Who lived upon nothing but porridge;

Parading the town,

She turned cloak into gown,

This thrifty old woman of Norwich.

A littleold man of Derby,How do you think he served me?He took away my bread and cheese,And that is how he served me.

A littleold man of Derby,

How do you think he served me?

He took away my bread and cheese,

And that is how he served me.

Therewas an old woman in Surrey,Who, was morn, noon, and night in a hurry;Call'd her husband a fool,Drove the children to school,The worrying old woman of Surrey.

Therewas an old woman in Surrey,

Who, was morn, noon, and night in a hurry;

Call'd her husband a fool,

Drove the children to school,

The worrying old woman of Surrey.

Tenth Class--Games

fancy rule

[Rhymes used by children to decide who is to begin a game.]

ONE-ERY, two-ery,Ziccary zan;Hollow bone, crack a bone,Ninery, ten:Spittery spot,It must be done;Twiddleum twaddleum,Twenty-one.Hink spink, the puddings stink,The fat begins to fry,Nobody at home, but jumping Joan,Father, mother, and I.Stick, stock, stone dead,Blind man can't see,Every knave will have a slave,You or I must be he.

ONE-ERY, two-ery,Ziccary zan;Hollow bone, crack a bone,Ninery, ten:Spittery spot,It must be done;Twiddleum twaddleum,Twenty-one.

NE-ERY, two-ery,

Ziccary zan;

Hollow bone, crack a bone,

Ninery, ten:

Spittery spot,

It must be done;

Twiddleum twaddleum,

Twenty-one.

Hink spink, the puddings stink,The fat begins to fry,Nobody at home, but jumping Joan,Father, mother, and I.Stick, stock, stone dead,Blind man can't see,Every knave will have a slave,You or I must be he.

Hink spink, the puddings stink,

The fat begins to fry,

Nobody at home, but jumping Joan,

Father, mother, and I.

Stick, stock, stone dead,

Blind man can't see,

Every knave will have a slave,

You or I must be he.

[A game of the Fox. In a children's game, where all the little actors are seated in a circle, the following stanza is used as question and answer.]

Whogoes round my house this night?None but cruel Tom!Who steals all the sheep at night?None but this poor one.

Whogoes round my house this night?

None but cruel Tom!

Who steals all the sheep at night?

None but this poor one.

Dance, Thumbkin, dance,[Keep the thumb in motion.Dance, ye merrymen, every one:[All the fingers in motion.For Thumbkin, he can dance alone,[The thumb only moving.Thumbkin, he can dance alone,[Ditto.Dance, Foreman, dance,[The first finger moving.Dance, ye merrymen, every one;[The whole moving.But Foreman, he can dance alone,Foreman, he can dance alone.

Dance, Thumbkin, dance,

[Keep the thumb in motion.

Dance, ye merrymen, every one:

[All the fingers in motion.

For Thumbkin, he can dance alone,

[The thumb only moving.

Thumbkin, he can dance alone,

[Ditto.

Dance, Foreman, dance,

[The first finger moving.

Dance, ye merrymen, every one;

[The whole moving.

But Foreman, he can dance alone,

Foreman, he can dance alone.

[and So on With the Others—naming the 2d Finger Longman—the 3d Finger Ringman—and the 4th Finger Littleman. Littleman Cannot Dance Alone.]

[The following is used by schoolboys, when two are starting to run a race.]

Oneto make ready,And two to prepare;Good luck to the rider,And away goes the mare.

Oneto make ready,

And two to prepare;

Good luck to the rider,

And away goes the mare.

[At the conclusion, the captive is privately asked if he will have oranges or lemons (the two leaders of the arch having previously agreed which designation shall belong to each), and he goes behind the one he may chance to name. When all are thus divided into two parties, they conclude the game by trying to pull each other beyond a certain line.]

Gaygo up and gay go down,To ring the bells of London town.Bull's eyes and targets,Say the bells of St. Marg'ret's.Brickbats and tiles,Say the bells of St. Giles'.Halfpence and farthings,Say the bells of St. Martin's.Oranges and lemons,Say the bells of St. Clement's.Pancakes and fritters,Say the bells of St. Peter's.Two sticks and an apple,Say the bells at Whitechapel.Old Father Baldpate,Say the slow bells at Aldgate.You owe me ten shillings,Say the bells at St. Helen's.Pokers and tongs,Say the bells at St. John's.Kettles and pans,Say the bells at St. Ann's.When will you pay me?Say the bells at Old Bailey.When I grow rich,Say the bells at Shoreditch.Pray when will that be?Say the bells of Stepney.I am sure I don't know,Says the great bell at Bow.Here comes a candle to light you to bed,And here comes a chopper to chop off your head.

Gaygo up and gay go down,To ring the bells of London town.

Gaygo up and gay go down,

To ring the bells of London town.

Bull's eyes and targets,Say the bells of St. Marg'ret's.

Bull's eyes and targets,

Say the bells of St. Marg'ret's.

Brickbats and tiles,Say the bells of St. Giles'.

Brickbats and tiles,

Say the bells of St. Giles'.

Halfpence and farthings,Say the bells of St. Martin's.

Halfpence and farthings,

Say the bells of St. Martin's.

Oranges and lemons,Say the bells of St. Clement's.

Oranges and lemons,

Say the bells of St. Clement's.

Pancakes and fritters,Say the bells of St. Peter's.

Pancakes and fritters,

Say the bells of St. Peter's.

Two sticks and an apple,Say the bells at Whitechapel.

Two sticks and an apple,

Say the bells at Whitechapel.

Old Father Baldpate,Say the slow bells at Aldgate.

Old Father Baldpate,

Say the slow bells at Aldgate.

You owe me ten shillings,Say the bells at St. Helen's.

You owe me ten shillings,

Say the bells at St. Helen's.

Pokers and tongs,Say the bells at St. John's.

Pokers and tongs,

Say the bells at St. John's.

Kettles and pans,Say the bells at St. Ann's.

Kettles and pans,

Say the bells at St. Ann's.

When will you pay me?Say the bells at Old Bailey.

When will you pay me?

Say the bells at Old Bailey.

When I grow rich,Say the bells at Shoreditch.

When I grow rich,

Say the bells at Shoreditch.

Pray when will that be?Say the bells of Stepney.

Pray when will that be?

Say the bells of Stepney.

I am sure I don't know,Says the great bell at Bow.

I am sure I don't know,

Says the great bell at Bow.

Here comes a candle to light you to bed,And here comes a chopper to chop off your head.

Here comes a candle to light you to bed,

And here comes a chopper to chop off your head.

[One child holds a wand to the face of another, repeating these lines, and making grimaces, to cause the latter to laugh, and so to the others; those who laugh paying a forfeit.]

Buffsays Buff to all his men,And I say Buff to you again;Buff neither laughs nor smiles,But carries his faceWith a very good grace,And passes the stick to the very next place!

Buffsays Buff to all his men,

And I say Buff to you again;

Buff neither laughs nor smiles,

But carries his face

With a very good grace,

And passes the stick to the very next place!

[Game with the hands.]

Pease-puddinghot,Pease-pudding cold,Pease-pudding in the pot,Nine days old.Some like it hot,Some like it cold,Some like it in the pot,Nine days old.

Pease-puddinghot,

Pease-pudding cold,

Pease-pudding in the pot,

Nine days old.

Some like it hot,

Some like it cold,

Some like it in the pot,

Nine days old.

Awake, arise, pull out your eyes,Andhearwhat time of day;And when you have done, pull out your tongue,And see what you can say.

Awake, arise, pull out your eyes,

Andhearwhat time of day;

And when you have done, pull out your tongue,

And see what you can say.

[One child is selected for Gipsy, one for Mother, and one for Daughter Sue. The Mother says,—

I chargemy daughters every oneTo keep good house while I am gone.You andyou(points) but speciallyyou,[Or sometimes, but speciallySue.]Or else I'll beat you black and blue.

I chargemy daughters every one

To keep good house while I am gone.

You andyou(points) but speciallyyou,

[Or sometimes, but speciallySue.]

Or else I'll beat you black and blue.

[During the Mother's absence, the Gipsy comes in, entices a child away, and hides her. This process is repeated till all the children are hidden, when the Mother has to find them.]

[This game begins thus: Take this—What's this?—A gaping, wide-mouthed, waddling frog, &c.]

Twelvehuntsmen with horns and hounds,Hunting over other men's grounds!Eleven ships sailing o'er the main,Some bound for France and some for Spain:I wish them all safe home again:Ten comets in the sky,Some low and some high;Nine peacocks in the air,I wonder how they all came there,I do not know and I do not care;Eight joiners in joiner's hall,Working with the tools and all;Seven lobsters in a dish,As fresh as any heart could wish;Six beetles against the wall,Close by an old woman's apple stall;Five puppies of our dog Ball,Who daily for their breakfast call;Four horses stuck in a bog,Three monkeys tied to a clog;Two pudding-ends would choke a dog.With a gaping, wide-mouthed, waddling frog.

Twelvehuntsmen with horns and hounds,

Hunting over other men's grounds!

Eleven ships sailing o'er the main,

Some bound for France and some for Spain:

I wish them all safe home again:

Ten comets in the sky,

Some low and some high;

Nine peacocks in the air,

I wonder how they all came there,

I do not know and I do not care;

Eight joiners in joiner's hall,

Working with the tools and all;

Seven lobsters in a dish,

As fresh as any heart could wish;

Six beetles against the wall,

Close by an old woman's apple stall;

Five puppies of our dog Ball,

Who daily for their breakfast call;

Four horses stuck in a bog,

Three monkeys tied to a clog;

Two pudding-ends would choke a dog.

With a gaping, wide-mouthed, waddling frog.

[A string of children, hand in hand, stand in a row. A child (A) stands in front of them, as leader; two other children (B and C) form an arch, each holding both the hands of the other.]

a.Drawa pail of water,For my lady's daughter;My father's a king, and my mother's a queen,My two little sisters are dress'd in green,Stamping grass and parsley,Marigold leaves and daisies.b.One rush, two rush,Pray thee, fine lady, come under my bush.

a.Drawa pail of water,

For my lady's daughter;

My father's a king, and my mother's a queen,

My two little sisters are dress'd in green,

Stamping grass and parsley,

Marigold leaves and daisies.

b.One rush, two rush,

Pray thee, fine lady, come under my bush.

[A passes by under the arch, followed by the whole string of children, the last of whom is taken captive by B and C. The verses are repeated, until all are taken.]

[The following seems to belong to the last game; but it is usually found by itself in the small books of children's rhymes.]

Sievemy lady's oatmeal,Grind my lady's flour,Put it in a chesnut,Let it stand an hour;One may rush, two may rush,Come, my girls, walk under the bush.

Sievemy lady's oatmeal,

Grind my lady's flour,

Put it in a chesnut,

Let it stand an hour;

One may rush, two may rush,

Come, my girls, walk under the bush.

Queen Anne, queen Anne, you sit in the sun,As fair as a lily, as white as a wand.I send you three letters, and pray read one,You must read one, if you can't read all,So pray, Miss or Master, throw up the ball.

Queen Anne, queen Anne, you sit in the sun,

As fair as a lily, as white as a wand.

I send you three letters, and pray read one,

You must read one, if you can't read all,

So pray, Miss or Master, throw up the ball.

Therewere three jovial Welshmen,As I have heard them say,And they would go a-huntingUpon St. David's day.All the day they hunted,And nothing could they findBut a ship a-sailing,A-sailing with the wind.One said it was a ship,The other he said, nay;The third said it was a house,With the chimney blown away.And all the night they hunted,And nothing could they findBut the moon a-gliding,A-gliding with the wind.One said it was the moon,The other he said, nay;The third said it was a cheese,And half o't cut away.And all the day they hunted,And nothing could they findBut a hedgehog in a bramble bush,And that they left behind.The first said it was a hedgehog,The second he said, nay;The third it was a pincushion,And the pins stuck in wrong way.And all the night they hunted,And nothing could they findBut a hare in a turnip field,And that they left behind.The first said it was a hare,The second he said, nay;The third said it was a calf,And the cow had run away.And all the day they hunted,And nothing could they findBut an owl in a holly tree,And that they left behind.One said it was an owl,The other he said, nay;The third said 'twas an old man,And his beard growing grey.

Therewere three jovial Welshmen,As I have heard them say,And they would go a-huntingUpon St. David's day.

Therewere three jovial Welshmen,

As I have heard them say,

And they would go a-hunting

Upon St. David's day.

All the day they hunted,And nothing could they findBut a ship a-sailing,A-sailing with the wind.

All the day they hunted,

And nothing could they find

But a ship a-sailing,

A-sailing with the wind.

One said it was a ship,The other he said, nay;The third said it was a house,With the chimney blown away.

One said it was a ship,

The other he said, nay;

The third said it was a house,

With the chimney blown away.

And all the night they hunted,And nothing could they findBut the moon a-gliding,A-gliding with the wind.

And all the night they hunted,

And nothing could they find

But the moon a-gliding,

A-gliding with the wind.

One said it was the moon,The other he said, nay;The third said it was a cheese,And half o't cut away.

One said it was the moon,

The other he said, nay;

The third said it was a cheese,

And half o't cut away.

And all the day they hunted,And nothing could they findBut a hedgehog in a bramble bush,And that they left behind.

And all the day they hunted,

And nothing could they find

But a hedgehog in a bramble bush,

And that they left behind.

The first said it was a hedgehog,The second he said, nay;The third it was a pincushion,And the pins stuck in wrong way.

The first said it was a hedgehog,

The second he said, nay;

The third it was a pincushion,

And the pins stuck in wrong way.

And all the night they hunted,And nothing could they findBut a hare in a turnip field,And that they left behind.

And all the night they hunted,

And nothing could they find

But a hare in a turnip field,

And that they left behind.

The first said it was a hare,The second he said, nay;The third said it was a calf,And the cow had run away.

The first said it was a hare,

The second he said, nay;

The third said it was a calf,

And the cow had run away.

And all the day they hunted,And nothing could they findBut an owl in a holly tree,And that they left behind.

And all the day they hunted,

And nothing could they find

But an owl in a holly tree,

And that they left behind.

One said it was an owl,The other he said, nay;The third said 'twas an old man,And his beard growing grey.

One said it was an owl,

The other he said, nay;

The third said 'twas an old man,

And his beard growing grey.

IsJohn Smith within?—Yes, that he is.Can he set a shoe?—Ay, marry, two,Here a nail, there a nail,Tick, tack, too.

IsJohn Smith within?—

Yes, that he is.

Can he set a shoe?—

Ay, marry, two,

Here a nail, there a nail,

Tick, tack, too.

MargeryMutton-pie, and Johnny Bopeep,They met together in Grace-church Street;In and out, in and out, over the way,Oh! says Johnny, 'tis chop-nose day.

MargeryMutton-pie, and Johnny Bopeep,

They met together in Grace-church Street;

In and out, in and out, over the way,

Oh! says Johnny, 'tis chop-nose day.

Intery, mintery, cutery-corn,Apple seed and apple thorn;Wine, brier, limber-lock,Five geese in a flock,Sit and sing by a spring,O-u-t, and in again.

Intery, mintery, cutery-corn,

Apple seed and apple thorn;

Wine, brier, limber-lock,

Five geese in a flock,

Sit and sing by a spring,

O-u-t, and in again.

[The game of water-skimming is of high antiquity, being mentioned by Julius Pollux, and also by Eustathius, in his commentary upon Homer. Brand quotes a curious passage from Minucius Felix; but all antiquaries seem to have overlooked the very curious notice in Higgins' adaptation of Junius's 'Nomenclator,' 8vo, London, 1585, p. 299, where it is called "a duck and a drake, and a halfe-penie cake." Thus it is probable that lines like the following were employed in this game as early as 1585; and it may be that the last line has recently furnished a hint to Mathews in his amusing song in 'Patterv. Clatter.']

A duckand a drake,A nice barley-cake,With a penny to pay the old baker;A hop and a scotch,Is another notch,Slitherum, slatherum, take her.

A duckand a drake,

A nice barley-cake,

With a penny to pay the old baker;

A hop and a scotch,

Is another notch,

Slitherum, slatherum, take her.

See, Saw, Margery Daw,Sold her bed and lay upon straw;Was not she a dirty slut,To sell her bed and lie in the dirt!

See, Saw, Margery Daw,

Sold her bed and lay upon straw;

Was not she a dirty slut,

To sell her bed and lie in the dirt!

See, saw, Margery Daw,Little Jackey shall have a new master;Little Jackey shall have but a penny a day,Because he can't work any faster.

See, saw, Margery Daw,

Little Jackey shall have a new master;

Little Jackey shall have but a penny a day,

Because he can't work any faster.

1. I ama gold lock.2.I am a gold key.1.I am a silver lock.2.I am a silver key.1.I am a brass lock.2.I am a brass key.1.I am a lead lock.2.I am a lead key.1.I am a monk lock.2.I am a monk key!

1. I ama gold lock.

2.I am a gold key.

1.I am a silver lock.

2.I am a silver key.

1.I am a brass lock.

2.I am a brass key.

1.I am a lead lock.

2.I am a lead key.

1.I am a monk lock.

2.I am a monk key!

Ridea cock-horse to Banbury-cross,To buy little Johnny a galloping-horse;It trots behind, and it ambles before,And Johnny shall ride till he can ride no more.

Ridea cock-horse to Banbury-cross,

To buy little Johnny a galloping-horse;

It trots behind, and it ambles before,

And Johnny shall ride till he can ride no more.

Ridea cock-horse to Banbury-cross,To see what Tommy can buy;A penny white loaf, a penny white cake,And a twopenny apple-pie.

Ridea cock-horse to Banbury-cross,

To see what Tommy can buy;

A penny white loaf, a penny white cake,

And a twopenny apple-pie.

Jackbe nimble,And Jack be quick:And Jack jump overThe candle-stick.

Jackbe nimble,

And Jack be quick:

And Jack jump over

The candle-stick.

[This should be accompanied by a kind of pantomimic dance, in which the motions of the body and arms express the process of weaving; the motion of the shuttle, &c.]

Weavethe diaper tick-a-tick tick,Weave the diaper tick—Come this way, come thatAs close as a mat,Athwart and across, up and down, round about,And forwards, and backwards, and inside, and out;Weave the diaper thick-a-thick thick,Weave the diaper thick!

Weavethe diaper tick-a-tick tick,

Weave the diaper tick—

Come this way, come that

As close as a mat,

Athwart and across, up and down, round about,

And forwards, and backwards, and inside, and out;

Weave the diaper thick-a-thick thick,

Weave the diaper thick!

[Used in Somersetshire in counting out the game of pee-wip or pee wit.]

One-ery, two-ery, hickary, hum,Fillison, follison, Nicholson, John,Quever, quauver, Irish Mary,Stenkarum, stankarum, buck!

One-ery, two-ery, hickary, hum,

Fillison, follison, Nicholson, John,

Quever, quauver, Irish Mary,

Stenkarum, stankarum, buck!

Whoop, whoop, and hollow,Good dogs won't follow,Without the hare cries "pee wit."

Whoop, whoop, and hollow,

Good dogs won't follow,

Without the hare cries "pee wit."

TomBrown's two little Indian boys,One ran away,The other wouldn't stay,—Tom Brown's two little Indian boys.

TomBrown's two little Indian boys,

One ran away,

The other wouldn't stay,—

Tom Brown's two little Indian boys.

Therewere two blackbirds,Sitting on a hill,The one nam'd Jack,The other nam'd Jill;Fly away Jack!Fly away Jill!Come again Jack!Come again Jill!

Therewere two blackbirds,

Sitting on a hill,

The one nam'd Jack,

The other nam'd Jill;

Fly away Jack!

Fly away Jill!

Come again Jack!

Come again Jill!

Tip, top, tower,Tumble down in an hour.

Tip, top, tower,

Tumble down in an hour.

1.I wentup one pair of stairs.2.Just like me.1.I went up two pair of stairs.2.Just like me.1.I went into a room.2.Just like me.1.I looked out of a window.2.Just like me.1.And there I saw a monkey.2.Just like me.

1.I wentup one pair of stairs.

2.Just like me.

1.I went up two pair of stairs.

2.Just like me.

1.I went into a room.

2.Just like me.

1.I looked out of a window.

2.Just like me.

1.And there I saw a monkey.

2.Just like me.

Numbernumber nine, this hoop's mine;Number number ten, take it back again.

Numbernumber nine, this hoop's mine;

Number number ten, take it back again.

Heregoes my lordA trot, a trot, a trot, a trot,Here goes my ladyA canter, a canter, a canter, a canter!Here goes my young masterJockey-hitch, Jockey-hitch, Jockey-hitch, Jockey-hitch:Here goes my young miss,An amble, an amble, an amble, an amble!The footman lays behind to tipple ale and wine,And goes gallop, a gallop, a gallop, to make up his time.

Heregoes my lord

A trot, a trot, a trot, a trot,

Here goes my lady

A canter, a canter, a canter, a canter!

Here goes my young master

Jockey-hitch, Jockey-hitch, Jockey-hitch, Jockey-hitch:

Here goes my young miss,

An amble, an amble, an amble, an amble!

The footman lays behind to tipple ale and wine,

And goes gallop, a gallop, a gallop, to make up his time.

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