104 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



But, whether of Christian or of Pagan origin, whether in Canada or 

 in other lands, the simple Berceuse has all the intimate pathetic charm 

 of one of "Xatnre's old felicities" ; for there is nothing- that can take us 

 back to our own first twilight fancies, and to the very inftmcy of time 

 itself, like a crooning lullaby, whispering of all the little immemorial 

 mysterie.s of cradleland. 



Yin. 



Nursery Iîiivmes. 



Though Xursery rlujmes belong to a later age of childhood than 

 lullabies, they are really a still simpler form of verse, in fact, a mere 

 jingling accompaniment to the action and air of some sort of game, and 

 never make the slightest pretensions to poetry. Assonance is, of course, 

 most important, and generally plays its pranks to the admiration of all 

 concerned ; sometimes, however, opinions differ. To 



Ride a cock-horse to Banbury Cioss, 

 or to Ije ^-'' 



A cheval, à cheval, sur la queue d'un orignal, 

 or t<) gi> 



A Pari.s, à Paris, sur la queue d'un p'tit cheval gris, 

 or 



A Rouen, à Rouen, sur la ([ueue d'un p'tit cheval blanc, 



is all very well ; but, perhaps, Quebccers might rather remain forever 

 unknown to nursery fame, than be immortalized in the couplet 



A Québec, à Québec, sur la queue d'une belette ! i'-' 

 As they have so much in common with lullabies, it is natural enough that 

 nursery rhymes with a suitable rhythm should enjoy an equal ])0))ularity 

 in either form ; J'ai tant d'enfcmts à marier. Ah ! qui marierons- 

 nous I C'est le hou vin qui danse, C'est la plus belie de céans and 

 many other simple rhymes are sung beside the cradle as well as in the 

 play-room,^-** 



The main feature of interest in all nursery rliymes is the wonderful 

 fidelity with which both words and action have been handed down from 

 generation to generation. A Canadian girl or boy singing 



C'est le bon vin C|ui danse ici,'-"' 



reminds us at once, by the single word " vin,"' that this rhyme originally 

 came from France — whence, indeed, all our nursery rhymes have come. 

 When we hear a reference to "le pont de Nantes"'"" or to the more 

 famous "'pont d'Avignon " "' Ave know Ihey are singing of France in the 

 olden time. The mention of "l'assemblé' d'amour"'*^ takes us back to 

 the mediaeval Courts of Love ; in Le premier jour de 31ai^^' we have 

 a reminiscence of the fetes for the rite of May ; and the cou])let 



J'ai trouvé le ni(|ue du lièvre. 

 Mais le lièvre n'y était pas,i-'^ 



