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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