Part 31 (2/2)

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.

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