CCCXLVI.

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.]

CCCXLVII.

[A game on the fingers.]

Heetum peetum penny pie, Populorum gingum gie; East, West, North, South, Kirby, Kendal, Cock him out!

CCCXLVIII.

[A game-rhyme.]

Trip and go, heave and hoe, Up and down, to and fro; From the town to the grove Two and two let us rove, A-maying, a-playing; Love hath no gainsaying; So merrily trip and go, So merrily trip and go!