Page:Journal of American Folklore vol. 12.djvu/578

 230 J ournal of American Folk-Lore.

culated in numerous variants. The following version was obtained from Miss Nichols (Salem, Mass., about 1800): —

TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS.

1. The first day of Christmas my true love sent to me A parteridge upon a pear tree.

2. The second day of Christmas my true love sent to me Two Turtle doves and a parteridge upon a pear tree.

3. The third day of Christmas my true love sent to me

Three French hens, two Turtle doves, and a parteridge upon a pear tree.

4. The fourth day of Christmas my true love sent to me

Four Colly birds, three French hens, two Turtle doves, and a parteridge upon a pear tree.

5. 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 parteridge upon a pear tree.

6. 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 parterigde upon a pear tree.

7. The seventh day of Christmas my true love sent to me

Seven squabs a swimming, six geese a laying, five gold rings, four Colly birds, three French hens, two Turtle doves, and a parteridge upon a pear tree.

8. The eighth day of Christmas my true love sent to me

Eight hounds a running, seven squabs a swimming, six geese a laying, five gold rings, four Colly birds, three French hens, two Turtle doves, and a parteridge upon a pear tree.

9. The ninth day of Christmas my true love sent to me

Nine bears a beating, eight hounds a running, seven squabs a swimming, six geese a laying, five gold rings, four Colly birds, three French hens, two Tur- tle doves, and a parteridge upon a pear tree.

10. The tenth day of Christinas my true love sent to me

Ten cocks a crowing, nine bears a beating, eight hounds a running, seven squabs a swimming, six geese a laying, five gold rings, four Colly birds, three French hens, two Turtle doves, and a parteridge upon a pear tree.

11. The eleventh day of Christmas my true love sent to me

Eleven lords a leaping, ten cocks a crowing, nine bears a beating, eight hounds a running, seven squabs a swimming, six geese a laying, five gold rings,- four Colly birds, three French hens, two Turtle doves, and a parte- ridge upon a pear tree.

12. The twelfth day of Christmas my true love sent to me

Twelve ladies a dancing, eleven lords a leaping, ten cocks a crowing, nine bears a beating, eight hounds a running, seven squabs a swimming, six geese a laying, five gold rings, four Colly birds, three French hens, two Turtle doves, and a parteridge upon a pear tree.

An Old Nursery Rhyme. — I have heard my mother repeat the fol- lowing rhyme as familiar from her childhood (she was born in 1797) : —

Little Johnny Wattles he went to Whitehall,

(Hem, haw, he went to Whitehall) And there he fell sick among them all,

(Hem, haw, among them all.)

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