CXIX.

[On arriving at the end of a book, boys have a practice of reciting the following absurd lines, which form the word _finis_ backwards and forwards, by the initials of the words,]--

Father Iohnson Nicholas Iohnson's son-- Son Iohnson Nicholas Iohnson's Father.

[To get to father Johnson, therefore, was to reach the end of the book.]

The rose is red, the grass is green; And in this book my name is seen.

Cross patch, Draw the latch, Sit by the fire and spin; Take a cup, And drink it up, Then call your neighbours in.

Come when you're called, Do what you're bid, Shut the door after you, Never be chid.

Speak when you're spoken to, Come when one call; Shut the door after you, And turn to the wall!

I love my love with an A, because he's Agreeable. I hate him because he's Avaricious. He took me to the Sign of the Acorn, And treated me with Apples. His name's Andrew, And he lives at Arlington.

[A laconic reply to a person who indulges much in supposition.]

If ifs and ands, Were pots and pans, There would be no need for tinkers!

Mistress Mary, quite contrary, How does your garden grow? With cockle-shells, and silver bells, And mussels all a row.

Doctor Faustus was a good man, He whipt his scholars now and then; When he whipp'd them he made them dance, Out of Scotland into France, Out of France into Spain, And then he whipp'd them back again!

[A Greek bill of fare.]

LEGOMOTON, Acapon, Alfagheuse, Pasti venison.