Nursery Rhyme. CCCLVIII. Games.

        [A Christmas custom in Lancashire. The boys dress themselves up with ribands, and perform various pantomimes, after which one of them, who has a blackened face, a rough skin coat, and a broom in his hand, sings as follows.]

    Here come I,
        Little David Doubt;
    If you don't give me money,
        I'll sweep you all out.
    Money I want,
        And money I crave;
    If you don't give me money,
        I'll sweep you all to the grave!

Unknown

The identity of this poet is not known. Their works, which are often of significant historical or cultural value, have been attributed to 'Unknown'. This designation is commonly used when the creator of works, ranging from ancient texts to more modern writings, remains anonymous or uncredited. Despite the lack of personal details, the impact and importance of these works endure, offering insight into the eras and cultures from which they originated.

Unknown

Nursery Rhyme. DXI. Natural History.

Unknown , Simple Poetry

Nursery Rhyme. DLXXXVI. Natural History.

Unknown , Simple Poetry

Nursery Rhyme. DVIII. Natural History.

Unknown , Simple Poetry

Nursery Rhyme. CCCCLXXVI. Love And Matrimony.

Unknown , Simple Poetry

English

Suggested Poems

Explore a curated selection of verses that share themes, styles, and emotional resonance with the poem you've just read.

Nursery Rhyme. CCLXXVII. Games.

        [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.

Unknown

Nursery Rhyme. CCCXXXVIII. Games.

        [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.

Unknown

Nursery Rhyme. CCLXXXI. Games.

        [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.]

    Gay go 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...

Unknown

Nursery Rhyme. CCCXV. Games.

        [A number of boys and girls stand round one in the middle, who repeats the following lines, counting the children until one is counted out by the end of the verses.]

    Ring me (1), ring me (2), ring me rary (3),
    As I go round (4), ring by ring (5),
    A virgin (6) goes a maying (7),
    Here's a flower (8), and there's a flower (9),
    Growing in my lady's garden (10),
    If you set your foot awry (11),
    Gentle John will make you cry (12),
    If you set your foot amiss (13),
    Gentle John (14) will give you a kiss.

        [The child upon whom (14) falls is then taken out, and forced to select one of the other sex. The middle child then proceeds.]

    This [lady or gentleman] is none of ours,
    Has put [him or her] self in [the selected ...

Unknown

Nursery Rhyme. CCCXVII. Games.

    Clap hands, clap hands,
        Hie Tommy Randy,
    Did you see my good man?
        They call him Cock-a-bandy.

    Silken Stockings on his legs,
        Silver buckles glancin',
    A sky-blue bonnet on his head,
        And oh, but he is handsome.

Unknown

Nursery Rhyme. DCXVII. Relics.

    Girls and boys, come out to play,
    The moon doth shine as bright as day;
    Leave your supper, and leave your sleep,
    And come with your playfellows into the street.
    Come with a whoop, come with a call,
    Come with a good will or not at all.
    Up the ladder and down the wall,
    A halfpenny roll will serve us all.
    You find milk, and I'll find flour,
    And we'll have a pudding in half an hour.

Unknown