One for sorrow

My nan still says this rhyme when she sees magpies.

One for sorrow,

Two for joy,

Three for a girl,

Four for a boy,

Five for silver,

Six for gold,

Seven for a secret never to be told.

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Little Flo's Letter

A sweet little baby brother 

has come to live with Flo 

She wanted him brought to the table 

So he could eat and grow 

You must wait for a while, said grandma 

In answer to her plea 

For a dear little thing that has no teeth 

Can't eat like you and me 

Why hasn't he got teeth grandma?

Asked Flo in great surprise 

Oh my, but isn't it funny 

No teeth but nose and eyes 

That afternoon to a corner 

With paper, pen and ink 

Went Flo saying 

Don't talk to me 

Or you'll disturb my think 

I'm writing a letter grandma 

And it's got to go tonight 

And because it's very important 

I want to get it right 

At last, the letter was finished, a beautiful sight to see 

Directed up to Heaven, then Flo read it to me:

Dear God, 

The baby you sent us is very nice and sweet, 

but because you forgot his toofies 

the poor little thing can't eat. 

That's why I'm writing this letter, 

on purpose to let you know, 

please come and finish our baby 

That's all, from little Flo

I don't want to play in your yard

I found this rhyme on the Internet.

Once there lived side-by-side two little maids
Both of them dressed alike, hair down in braids
Both in white pinafores, stockings of red
Little sunbonnets tied to each pretty head
When school was over secrets they'd tell
Whispering arm in arm down in the dell
One day a quarrel came, big tears were shed
“You can't play in our yard”, but the other said,


I don't want to play in your yard
I don't like you any more
You'll be sorry when you see me
Sliding down our cellar door
You shan't holler down our rain barrel
You shan't climb our apple tree
I don't want to play in your yard
If you won't be good to me.


Next day two little maids, each other miss
Quarrels are soon made up, sealed with a kiss
Then hand in hand again, tears no more flow
Friends all thro' life to be, lovingly they go
School days soon pass away, sorrows and bliss
But love remembers yet, quarrel and kiss
In dreams of childish days they hear the cry
“You can't play in our yard”, and the old reply,


I don't want to play in your yard
I don't like you any more
You'll be sorry when you see me
Sliding down our cellar door
You shan't holler down our rain barrel
You shan't climb our apple tree
I don't want to play in your yard
If you won't be good to me.

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Has anyone seen my baby

Here's another rhyme from my nan that I can't find on the Internet. 

Has anyone seen my baby 

She's the sweetest dearest pet 

Her eyes are as blue as cornflowers 

In glistening dew drops set 

You should see her silken lashes 

And brow of purest cream 

She's like a fairy that has just stepped out of a dream 

She is only a tiny baby 

And can't yet play with me 

But as she is growing daily 

My playmate she soon will be 

And I will teach her all her lessons, to read and write and sew 

And daily round the garden, with a laugh we gaily will go

The land of I dunno where

I can't find this rhyme anywhere on the Internet, my nan said her dad used to say it and he performed it in the theatre. Again, I'm not sure of the proper title but I've called it 'The land of I dunno know where'. There is more to this rhyme than my nan can remember, she can recall something about 'when you make a call' and 'it rains ginger beer'. If anyone knows the rest of it I would love to hear it. 

There's a land unknown to the man from cooks

A land not found in the wise men's books

Children fly to this unknown clime when they've been to a party or a pantomime

A land where the children fly off in their dreams

A land where the trees grow chocolate creams

And no-ones surprised at this wonderful thing for its ruled by a jolly king

Well, where is the land of I dunno where?
Sleep is the driver that takes you there

You jump in his cart and away you start

And he won't charge much for the fare

When you get to the land of I dunno where don't be surprised at the wonders there

There's a blue moon on high and pigs that can fly

Where? I dunno where

I had a little garden

Hello and welcome to this first post. I hope to put up the rhymes my nan used to tell us when we were younger. Some I have found on the Internet but some aren't so I thought it would be nice to preserve them.

I'm not sure what the proper title of this one is but I've called it 'I had a little garden'. 

I had a little garden
I dug it with my spade
I raked it with my little rake
And then three holes I made
In one I put a penny
In one I put a bean
And in the other one I put a button which was green
Now I wait quite patiently
To see what each will grow to be