Nursery Rhyme. CCCXLVI. Games.

    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 accumulative process is a favorite with children: in early writers, such as Homer, the repetition of messages, & c. pleases on the same principle.]