Nursery Rhyme. CCCXLVI. Games.

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.]