THE OLD WOMAN AND HER PIG. 137 won't bite pig; pig won't get over the stile; and I shan't get home to-night." But the stick would not. She went a little further, and she came to a fire. So she said, "Fire! fire! burn stick. Stick won't beat dog, dog won't bite pig, pig won't get over the stile, and I shan't get home to-night." But the fire would not. She went a little further, and she came to some water. So she said, "Water! water! quench fire. Fire won't burn stick, stick won't beat dog, dog won't bite pig, pig won't get over the stile, and I shan't get home to-night." But the water would not. She went a little further, and she met an ox. So she said, "Ox! ox! drink water. Water won't quench fire, fire won't burn stick, stick won't beat dog, dog won't bite pig, pig won't get over the stile, and I shan't get home to-night." But the ox would not. She went a little further, and she met a butcher. So she said, "Butcher! butcher! kill ox. Ox won't drink water, water won't quench fire, fire won't burn stick, stick won't beat dog, dog won't bite pig, pig won't get over the stile, and I shan't get home to-night." But the butcher would not. She went a little further, and she found a rope. So she said, "Rope! rope! hang butcher. Butcher won't kill ox, ox won't drink water, water won't quench fire, fire won't burn stick, stick won't beat dog, dog won't bite pig, pig won't get over the stile, and I shan't get home to-night." But the rope would not. She went a little further, and she met a rat. So she said, "Rat! rat! gnaw rope. Rope won't hang butcher, butcher won't kill ox, ox won't drink water, water won't quench fire, fire won't burn stick, stick won't beat dog, dog won't bite pig, pig won't get over the stile, and I shan't get home to-night." But the rat would not. She went a little further, and she met a cat. So she said, "Cat! cat! kill rat. Rat won't gnaw rope, rope won't hang butcher, butcher won't kill ox, ox won't drink water, water won't quench fire, fire won't burn stick, stick won't beat dog, dog won't bite pig, pig won't get over the stile, and I shan't get home to-night." And the cat said to her, "If you will go to yonder cow, and fetch me a saucer of milk, I will kill the rat." So away went the old woman to the cow. And the cow said to her, "If you will go to THE OLD WOMAN AND HER PIG. 139 yonder haystack and fetch me a handful of hay, I'll give you the milk." So away went the old woman to the haystack, and she brought the hay to the cow. As soon as the cow had eaten the hay, she gave the old woman the milk; and away she went with it in a saucer to the cat. As soon as the cat had lapped up the milk, the cat began to kill the rat; the rat began to gnaw the rope; the rope began to hang the butcher; the butcher began to kill the ox; the ox began to drink the water; the water began to quench the fire; the fire began to burn the stick; the stick began to beat the dog; the dog began to bite the pig; the little pig in a fright jumped over the stile; and so the old woman got home that night. [The players, in this game, each repeat the gifts of one day-that which falls to their turn-and are liable to a forfeit for every mistake.] The first day of Christmas My mother sent to me A partridge in a pear-tree. The second day of Christmas My mother sent to me Two turtle-doves and a partridge in a pear-tree. The third day of Christmas My mother sent to me Three French hens, two turtle-doves, and a par tridge in a pear-tree. The fourth day of Christmas My mother sent to me Four canary birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear-tree. The fifth day of Christmas My mother sent to me CHRISTMAS GIFTS. 141 Five gold rings, four canary birds, three French hens, two turtle-doves, and a partridge in a pear-tree. The sixth day of Christmas My mother sent to me Six geese a-laying, five gold rings, four canary birds, three French hens, two turtle-doves, and a partridge in a pear-tree. The seventh day of Christmas My mother sent to me Seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying, five gold rings, four canary birds, three French hens, two turtle-doves, and a partridge in a pear-tree. The eighth day of Christmas My mother sent to me Eight ladies dancing, seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying, five gold rings, four canary birds, three French hens, two turtle-doves, and a partridge in a pear-tree. The ninth day of Christmas My mother sent to me Nine lords a-leaping, eight ladies dancing, seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying, five |