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.