Nursery Rhyme. CCCXLVI. Games.

By Unknown

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.]