A History of Nursery Rhymes Part 7

"You must say neither 'Yes,' 'No,' 'Nay,'

'Black,' 'White,' or 'Grey.'-- Now what are you going to give him to-day?"

"A pair of boots."

"What colour are they?"

"Brown."

"Have you anything else to give him?"

"I think so; I'll go and see."

"What colour is it?"

"Red."

"What is this made of?" pointing to a coat or other article.

"Cloth."

"And the colour?"

"Brown."

"Have you anything else to give him?"

"I don't think so."

"Would you like a sweet?"

"Yes."

The examination is finished, for one of the fatal replies has been given. The child who exclaimed "Yes" goes to a den. After taking all the children through the same form of questioning the youngsters are found divided into two cla.s.ses, those who avoided answering in the prohibited terms, "Yes," "No," "Nay," "Black," "White," "Grey," and the little culprits in the den or prison who have failed in the examination. The tug-of-war now begins, either cla.s.s being pitted against the other. No rope is used; arms are entwined round waists, skirts pulled, or coat-tails taken hold of.

"CAN I GET THERE BY CANDLE-LIGHT?"

This is one of the most universally played chain games in the British Isles. It belongs as much to the child with a rich Dublin brogue as to the c.o.c.kney boy, one thing being altered in the verse--the place, "How many miles to Wexford or Dublin" being subst.i.tuted for Wimbledon.

Coventry and Burslem take the child fancy in the North of England.

It probably dates from Tudor times. The expression, "Can I get there by candle-light?" and "He went out of town as far as a farthing candle would light him," were amongst the common sayings of the people of Elizabeth's time.

"How many miles to Wimbledon?

Three score and ten.

Can I get there by candle-light?

Yes! and back again.

Then open the gates and let me go.

Not without a beck and a bow.

Here's a beck and there's a bow; Now open the gates and we'll all pa.s.s thro'."

The chain of children first formed to play this game is re-formed into two smaller ones. Hands are then uplifted by one of the sides to form an archway; the other children, marching in single file, approach the sentinel near the gateway of arched hands and ask--

"How many miles to Wimbledon?"

The answer is given--

"Three score and ten," etc.

When the gates are opened those who are alert enough pa.s.s through, but others are caught and made prisoners.

CHAPTER II.

NURSERY GAMES.

A GAME FOR A WET DAY.

"Cows and horses walk on four legs, Little children walk on two legs; Fishes swim in water clear, Birds fly up into the air.

One, two, three, four, five, Catching fishes all alive.

Why did you let them go?

Because they bit my finger so.

Which finger did they bite?

This little finger on the right."

The enthusiasm with which children of all ages play this somewhat noisy game can hardly be imagined. Try it, you fun-loving parents, and be rewarded by the tears of joy their mirth and laughter will cause.

It is played after this fashion. However, it will not be amiss to remove the tea-things before anything is attempted. All seated, the parent or nurse then places the first and second fingers of each hand on the coverlet, the youngsters imitating her. Everybody's fingers are now moved up and down in a perpendicular way, like the needle of a sewing machine. All singing--

"Cows and horses walk on four legs."

The next line requires a change, only one finger on each hand being used, and--

"Little children walk on two legs" (_sung_).

"Fishes swim in water clear"

demands the waving of arms horizontally, to imitate the action of swimming in water.

"Birds fly up into the air."

When this line is sung the hands are held up, and moved from the wrists like the wings of birds flapping in the air.

"One, two, three, four, five"