Nursery Rhyme. CCCXLIII. Games.

        [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?

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. LIX. Tales.

Unknown , Simple Poetry

Puns

Unknown , Simple Poetry

Nursery Rhyme. CCLXIII. Gaffers And Gammers.

Unknown , Simple Poetry

Nursery Rhyme. CCXXIX. Riddles.

Unknown , Simple Poetry

English

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Nursery Rhyme. CCLXXXVIII. Games.

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

    Sieve my 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.

Unknown

Nursery Rhyme. CCLXXXVII. Games.

        [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.    Draw a 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.]

Unknown

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. CCCXLV. Games.

    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!

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. CCCLIII. Games.

        [One child, called the Old Dame, sits on the floor, and the rest, joining hands, form a circle round her, and dancing, sing the following lines:]

    Children. To Beccles! to Beccles!
                            To buy a bunch of nettles!
                            Pray, old Dame, what's o'clock?

    Dame. One, going for two.

    Children. To Beccles! to Beccles!
                            To buy a bunch of nettles!
                            Pray, old Dame, what's o'clock?

    Dame. Two, going for three.

        [And so on till she reaches, "Eleven going for twelve." After this the following questions are asked, with the replies. -
        C. Where have you been?
        D. To the wood.
        C. What for?

Unknown