Nursery Rhyme. CCXCIV. Games.

        [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 'Patter v. Clatter.']

            A duck and 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.

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. CCCXLI. Games.

Unknown , Simple Poetry

Nursery Rhyme. DXLV. Natural History.

Unknown , Simple Poetry

Nursery Rhyme. DXVI. Natural History.

Unknown , Simple Poetry

Nursery Rhyme. CCCXXXV. Games.

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. CCLXXXVI. Games.

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

    Twelve huntsmen 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...

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. CCXCIII. Games.

    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.

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. CCCII. Games.

        [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!

Unknown

Nursery Rhyme. CCCXXXIX. Games.

        [An exercise during which the fingers of the child are enumerated.]

    Thumbikin, Thumbikin, broke the barn,
    Pinnikin, Pinnikin, stole the corn.
    Long back'd Gray
    Carried it away.
    Old Mid-man sat and saw,
    But Peesy-weesy paid for a'.

Unknown