NURSERY RHYMES. A learned dissertation might be writtenentitled "The Wisdom of our Nursery Rhymes," which should go to prove that every important Rhyme was either founded on some historical basis, or illustrated an old custom of our forefathers long since fallen into oblivion. Such an essay would be out of place here, but a few notes will be inserted to show the undoubted antiquity of such of the principal Nursery Rhymes as have given rise to the Parodies to be quoted. Parodies of Nursery Rhymes exist in such numbers that only a small percentage can be inserted, especially as some of the best are of a political and personal nature, and rapidly become obsoletc. The selection has been made as carefully and impartially as possible, with indications as to where such other Parodies may be found as have had to be omitted. Some of our Nursery Rhymes owe their origin to names distinguished in cur literature; as Oliver Goldsmith, for instance, is believed in his earlier days to have written such compositions. Dr. E. F. Rimbault gives the following particulars as to some well-known favourites; "Sing a Song of Sixpence," he states, is as old as the 16th century. "The Frog and the Mouse" was licensed in 1580. "London Bridge is broken Down" is of unfathomed antiquity. "Girls and Boys come out to Play" is certainly as old as the reign of Charles II. ; as is also "Lucy Locket lost her Pocket," to the tune of which the American song of "Yankee Doodle" written. "Pussy Cat, Pussy Cat, where have you been?" is of the age of Queen Bess. "Little Jack Horner" is older than the seventeenth century. "The Old Woman Tossed in a Blanket" is of the reign of James II., to which monarch it is supposed to allude. was and states that the original is to be found in "Deuteromelia; or, the Second Part of Músicks Melodie," 4to., London, 1609, where the music is also given. Many other instances of the antiquity of these rhymes will be found under their respective headings. Amongst the works on Nursery Rhymes which have been consulted, the following may be recommended to those who take an interest in their origin and history. The Nursery Rhymes of England, collected by James Orchard Halliwell. London. J. R. Smith. 1844. Arundines Cami, edited by Henry Drury, A. M. Cambridge, 1841. This contains Latin translations of many Nursery Rhymes, of which a few are given in the following pages. That lay in the house that Jack built. Very few would suspect that "The House that Jack built " is a comparatively modern version of an ancient Jewish hymn, sung at the feast of the Passover. Yet such is the case, according to the late Dr. Halliwell Phillips, who gives the following translation of the allegorical Talmudic Hymn, taken from Sepher Haggadah, folio 23. This, he says, was first translated by Professor P. N. Leberecht, of Leipsic, in 1731. The original, from which the Hebrew version was translated, is in the Chaldaic language. I. A kid, a kid my father bought, 2. A kid, a kid. Then came the cat and ate the kid, That my father bought For two pieces of money: A kid, a kid. 5. The fire indicates the Grecian Empire under Alexander the Great. 6. The water betokens the Romans, or the fourth of the great monarchies to whom the Jews were subjected. 7. The ox is a symbol of the Saracens who subdued Palestine, and brought it under the Caliphate. 8. The butcher that killed the ox denotes the Crusaders by whom the Holy Land was wrested out of the hands of the Saracens. The Angel of death signifies the Turkish powers by 9. which the land of Palestine was taken from the Franks, to whom it is still subject. that Jack built" is mentioned in Chodzko's Popular Poetry of Persia; it runs thus : "I went upon the mountain top to tend my flock. Seeing there a girl, I said, 'Lass, give me a kiss.' She said, 'Lad, give me some money.' I said, 'The money is in the purse, the purse in the wallet, the wallet on the camel, and the camel in Kerman.' She said, 'You wish for a kiss, but the kiss lies behind my teeth, my teeth are locked up, the key is with my mother, and my mother, like your camel, is in Kerman.'" Sir Richard Burton also gives a translation of an old Arab story called THE DROP OF HONEY. Many years ago a hunter found a hollow tree full of bees' honey, some of which he took home in a water-skin. In the city he sold the honey to an oilman, but in emptying out the honey from the skin, a drop fell to the ground, whereupon the flies flocked to it, and a bird swooped down from the sky upon the flies. Then the oilman's cat springs upon the bird, and the hunter's dog flies at the cat, and the oilman kills the dog, and the hunter kills the oilman. Then the men of the respective tribes took up the quarrel, and fight, till there died of them much people, none knoweth their number save almighty Allah! This favourite nursery rhyme has been more frequently imitated than any other, and has been especially selected as the model on which to form political squibs and satires. Some of the principal of these were published by W. Hone (illustrated by George Cruikshank), early in the present century, and referred to the matrimonial squabbles of the Prince of Wales (afterwards George IV.), a topic which possesses so little interest at present that it is not necessary to reprint the parodies. A few of the titles may here be enumerated :— Loyalists' House that Jack built. Real, or Constitutional House that Jack built. The Queen and Magna Charta, or the thing that Jack signed. The Dorchester Guide, or the House that Jack built. The Political Queen that Jack loves. 1821.* The Theatrical House that Jack built. "Juvenile reduplications, or the New House that Jack built," a Parody, by J. Bisalt, with cuts in the manner of T. Bewick. Birmingham, 1800. One of the rarest imitations is a little octavo religious pamphlet, intended as an answer to atheists and freethinkers, entitled "The Christian House that Jack built by Truth on a Rock," with portraits of celebrities. 1820. In 1809, during the O. P. Riots in the new Covent Garden theatre, many parodies were produced, and amongst them one on this nursery rhyme. The riots arose partly from some structural alterations made in the house, but still more from the great increase made in the prices of admission. John Kemble, the manager, and Madame Catalani were the principal objects of public indignation, and the war cries of the rioters were "Old Prices! No Private Boxes! No Catalani ! The English Drama!" In the end Kemble had to compro Some extracts from this parody, with an illustration by Cruik shank, will be found in Vol. IV. Parodies, p. 102. mise matters, and Catalani's name was withdrawn from the bills. THIS is the house that JACK* built. These are the boxes let to the great, that visit the house that Jack built. These are the pigeon-holes over the boxes, let to the great, that visit the house that Jack built. This is the Catt engaged to squall to the poor in the pigeonholes over the boxes, let to the great, that visit the house that Jack built. This is John Bull with a bugle-horn, who hissed the Cat engaged to squall to the poor in the pigeon-holes over the boxes, let to the great, that visit the house that Jack built. This is the thief-taker shaven and shorn, that took up John Bull with his bugle-horn, who hissed the Cat, engaged to squall to the poor in the pigeon-holes over the boxes, let to the great, that visit the house that Jack built. This is the Manager full of scorn, who raised the price to the people forlorn, and directed the thief-taker, shaven and shorn, to take up John Bull with his bugle-horn, who hissed the Cat engaged to squall to the poor in the pigeon-holes over the boxes, let to the great, that visit the house that Jack built. From THE REBELLION; or, All in the Wrong. A seriocomic Hurly-Burly, as it was performed for two months at the New Theatre Royal, Covent Garden, by His Majesty's servants, the Players, and his liege subjects, the Public. London, Vernor, Hood, & Sharp. 1809. In The Ingoldsby Lyrics, by R. H. Barham, collected and edited by his son, and published by Richard Bentley and Son, London, in 1881, there are several parodies, which were doubtless very amusing when they first appeared, but they are now all out of date, especially those relating to politics. Page 21. "I am partial to table and tray."-Cowper. ,, 43. On the London University. "The University we've got in town." 181. "Pity the sorrows of a poor old Church." ,, 117. Various Nursery Rhymes. ,, 174. The House that Jack built. The last parody, which originally appeared in The Spectator, refers to the Parliamentary enquiry into the causes of the fire that destroyed the Houses of Parliament in 1834. It commences : THIS is the House that Josh burnt, These are the sticks that heated the bricks, The other parody of The House that Jack built refers to an action that was brought in 1825, against Mr. Peto, a builder, for a breach of contract, in consequence of some failure in the foundations of the new Custom House at London Bridge. THIS is the House that Jack built. This is a sleeper that propped up the House that Jack built. This is the pile that was short all the while, and wouldn't go deeper under the sleeper, that propped up the House that Jack built. This is the Peto appointed to see to, the driving the pile that was short, etc. * This is John Bull with his pockets so full, who "forked out " three hundred thousand pounds for a tumble down house that fell to the ground, and paid all the fees, with a great deal of ease, to all the grave counsellors bouncing and big, every one in a three-tailed wig, who examined George Rennie that wouldn't give a penny, for all the work, etc., etc. These parodies are both very long, and the above extracts sufficiently indicate their topics. "The Palace that N-h built. A parody on an old English Poem," by I. Hume. A small oblong octavo, with plates. Not dated, but about 1830, as it is a skit on Nash, the architect who built Regent-street, and Buckingham Palace. A Latin version of "The House that Jack built " appeared in The Hornet in 1872, it was also reprinted in Fun, Ancient and Modern, by Dr. Maurice Davies. London, Tinsley Brothers, 1878. It is too long to be inserted here. "The Crystal Palace that Fox built," a Pyramid of Rhyme, with illustrations, by John Gilbert London, David Bogue, 1851. "THESE are the workmen, a busy array, And finished before the first of May The Crystal Palace that Fox built." The editor offered an apology for not including the name of Mr. Henderson, as it "would not come into the rhyme." Messrs. Fox and Henderson were the builders of the 1851 exhibition, in Hyde Park. THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT. THIS is the house that Barry (ought to have) built. This is the money laid out on the house that Barry (ought to have) built. This is the Reid that wasted the money laid out on the house that Barry (ought to have built. This is the architect that snubbed the Reid that wasted the money laid out on the house that Barry (ought to have) built. This is the Brougham that worried the architect that snubbed the Reid that wasted the money laid out on the house that Barry (ought to have) built. This is the press with its newsman's horn, that took up the Brougham that worried the architect that snubbed the Reid that wasted the money laid out on the house that Barry (ought to have) built. This is the Peerage, all forlorn, that appealed to the press with its newsman's horn that took up the Brougham that worried the architect that snubbed the Reid that wasted the money laid out on the house that Barry (ought to have) built. Punch. 1846. Notwithstanding all the faults found with Barry's designs, there are really only four good reasons of complaint. THE SHOW THAT SHAM BUILT. THIS is the Show that Sham built. This is the press that worried the hog, &c. This is the swell, commercially born, who cursed the press, &c. This is the grammar, all tattered and torn, that belonged to the swell, &c. This is the feast of much decency shorn, that aired the grammar, &c. And this is the home, better known as Cremorne, Fit place for the feast of all decency shorn, That worried the hog, That eat the fat, That came of the fault, That lay in the Show, That Sham built. The Tomahawk. Nov. 9, 1867. (Lord Mayor's Day.) In 1872 a skit on the promoters of the Emma mines was published, as "A New Nursery Ballad, embellished with portraits of some of the most Emma-nent men of the Day." Salt Lake City, Utah. Published by and for Emma A. Sell. The frontispiece represented Knaves and Asses, and the other illustrations quaintly represented the various events alluded to in the Rhyme: This is the mine that Lyon struck 氦 These are the Dupes who insanely tore To subscribe the Sum the Directors swore, Was worth a Million of Pounds and more, On the return of the Swell who was sent to explore, Who was backed by the Britishers, one, two, three, four, THIS is the land of Austra-lia, These are the mines of silver and gold, That lay in the land of Australia. This is the mining captain so bold, Who prospected the mines of silver and gold, etc. This is the gallant Companie, founded eighteen and fiftythree, That sent on the mining captain so bold, etc. These are the lighthearted gentlemen, The worthy Board of Directors ten, to the gallant, etc. Who was "sec" to the light-hearted gentlemen, etc. So eager to get an allotment of shares, etc. This is the Court of Chancerie, That swallowed that ill-fated Companie, etc. This is the total dividend, nil, Left after paying the lawyers bill, Messrs. Grab and Snatchem of Diddlegate Hill, etc. Looking all of them "done" most uncommonly brown, EDWARD WALFORD, M. A. Will-o-the-Wisp, a satirical paper, had two amusing parodies, both illustrated, the first, which appeared April 17, 1869, entitled The Protestant House that Jack Built, the second, May 8, 1869, The Comic History of a Comical Ship built by John Bull : "This is the Ship that Jack built." THE HOUSE THAT JOHN BUILT. THIS the House that JOHN* built, These are the Taxes that lay on the House that JOHN built, This is the War that eat up the Taxes that lay on the House that JOHN built. This is the Viceroy that made the War that eat up the Taxes that lay on the House that JOHN built. These are the Strings that pulled the Viceroy that made the War that eat up the Taxes that lay on the House that JOHN built. This is Big BEN, with his newspaper horn, who pulled the Strings that pulled the Viceroy that made the War that eat up the Taxes that lay on the House that JOHN built. This is BRITANNIA, Jingo-borne, who was witched by Big BEN with his newspaper horn, who pulled the Strings that pulled the Viceroy that made the War that eat up the Taxes that lay on the House that JOHN built. This is the AMEER, all sulks and scorn, who said "No" to BRITANNIA Jingo-borne, who was witched by BIG BEN with his newspaper horn, who pulled the Strings that pulled the Viceroy that made the War that eat up the Taxes that lay on the House that JOHN built. Punch, 1878, And to which the Crayon Noir supplies A finely-arched brow to match the eyes, Truth. December 25, 1883. THE FACE THAT ART MADE. THIS is the Face that Art made! This is the Blanc de Perle in paste This is the Grenadine that tips This is the Eau de Violette To suit the Blanc de Perle in paste, &c. On the Maiden's Face that Art made! And here's the Etui Mystérieux, ANOTHER VIEW OF A ROOKERY. THIS is the House that any one built! And this is the Writer whose vigilant care shows poverty's evils exceptional are, nor visit the men who lead with their wives clean, sober, hard-working, respectable lives, and exposes the Rads, who, by stooping to set poor against rich popularity get, and lay their ills at the rich man's door, as profits to him at the cost of the poor, and support the Paper that (so it may sell) will foster sensation and shamefully tell the Falsehood that stupidly dares to aver it lies with the rich (who, it says, prefer foul tenants to cleanly, and "bullion " can squeeze from starving wretches and dirt and disease), and not with Drink and improvident ways, that they lost the earnings of happier days, and got those Habits of laziness that led to the Tokens of filth and distress, that mark the Cadger who'd ruin the House that any one built. A Pen'orth of Poetry for the Poor. London. 1884. |