Chapter CCLXXXV: Game of the Gipsy

[One child is selected for Gipsy, one for Mother, and one for
Daughter Sue. The Mother says,--

I charge my daughters every one
To keep good house while I am gone.
You and _you_ (_points_) but specially _you_,
[_Or sometimes_, but specially _Sue_.]
Or else I'll beat you black and blue.

During the Mother's absence, the Gipsy comes in, entices a
child away, and hides her. This process is repeated till all
the children are hidden, when the Mother has to find them.]

CCLXXXVI.

[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 call;
Four horses stuck in a bog,
Three monkeys tied to a clog;
Two pudding-ends would choke a dog.
With a gaping, wide-mouthed, waddling frog.

CCLXXXVII.

[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.]

CCLXXXVIII.

[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.

CCLXXXIX.

Queen Anne, queen Anne, you sit in the sun,
As fair as a lily, as white as a wand.
I send you three letters, and pray read one,
You must read one, if you can't read all,
So pray, Miss or Master, throw up the ball.