Counting mnemonics is the theme for today’s Mnemonic Monday and I have some rhymes that I think your children will enjoy.
One of these rhymes you may or may not have heard of and dates back to the 1800’s. Another I’m pretty sure you HAVE heard of but comes in multiple versions dating from 1833 to the present.
Let’s take a look at them.
Counting Mnemonics
Let’s begin with a counting rhyme from the 1800’s that you may or may not have heard of.
Once I Caught a Fish Alive
One, two, three, four, five,
Once I caught a fish alive,
Six, seven, eight, nine, ten,
Then I let it go again.
Why did you let it go?
Because it bit my finger so.
Which finger did it bite?
This little finger on my right.
* * *
Now let’s look at an old favorite, “One, Two, Buckle My Shoe.” I have five versions of it. One stops at ten while others go up to twenty. I’ll begin with one that was published in 1833 by Munroe & Francis.
One, Two, Buckle My Shoe
One, Two, buckle my shoe,
Three, Four, open the door,
Five, Six, pick up sticks,
Seven, Eight, lay them straight,
Nine, Ten, a good fat hen.
Eleven, Twelve, I hope you’re well,
Thirteen, Fourteen, draw the curtain,
Fifteen, Sixteen, the maid’s in the kitchen,
Seventeen, Eighteen, she’s in waiting.
Nineteen, Twenty, my stomach’s empty.
* * *
This one is found in the book Harry’s Ladder to Learning and was published in 1850.
One, Two, Buckle My Shoe
One, two, buckle my shoe;
Three, four, shut the door;
Five, six, pick up sticks;
Seven, eight, lay them straight;
Nine, ten, a good fat hen;
Eleven, twelve, who will delve?
Thirteen, fourteen, draw the curtain;
Fifteen, sixteen, the maid’s in the kitchen;
Seventeen, eighteen, she’s a-waiting;
Nineteen, twenty, my plate’s empty;
Please, mamma, give me some dinner.
* * *
This version is from A History of Nursery Rhymes by Percy B. Green published in 1899.
One, Two, Buckle My Shoe
One, two, buckle my shoe;
Three, four, shut the door;
Five, six, pick up sticks;
Seven, eight, lay them straight;
Nine, ten, a good fat hen;
Eleven, twelve, who will delve?
Thirteen, fourteen, maids a-courting;
Fifteen, sixteen, maids in the kitchen;
Seventeen, eighteen, maids a-waiting;
Nineteen, twenty, my stomach’s empty.
* * *
Here’s one that was published in 1912 in the book, The Little Mother Goose.
One, Two, Buckle My Shoe
One, two, buckle my shoe;
Three, four, shut the door;
Five, six, pick up sticks;
Seven, eight, lay them straight;
Nine, ten, a good fat hen;
Eleven, twelve, who will delve;
Thirteen, fourteen, maids a-courting;
Fifteen, sixteen, maids a-kissing;
Seventeen, eighteen, maids a-waiting;
Nineteen, twenty, my stomach’s empty.
* * *
Finally, here’s the modern version that everyone knows today.
One, Two, Buckle My Shoe
One, two, buckle my shoe.
Three, four, shut the door.
Five, six, pick up sticks.
Seven, eight, lay them straight.
Nine, ten, a big fat hen.
Bookmark or pin this post so you can find it again.
Many blessings,
