This is
The Gaping, wide-mouthed, waddling frog : a new and entertaining game of questions and commands as published in 1822.
Compare TMI Z21.2.1
The Twelve Days (Gifts) of Christmas = ATU 2010A. See also
Roud 12828.
Online at
Internet Archive:
Command: Take this.
Question: What's this?
Answer.
A gaping, wide-mouthed, waddling frog.
Command: Take this.
Question: What's this?
Answer.
Two pudding's ends that won't choke a dog,
Nor a gaping, wide-mouthed, waddling frog.
Command: Take this.
Question: What's this?
Answer.
Three monkeys tied to a log.
Two pudding's ends that won't choke a dog,
Nor a gaping, wide-mouthed, waddling frog.
Command: Take this.
Question: What's this?
Answer.
Four horses stuck in a bog.
Three monkeys tied to a log.
Two pudding's ends that won't choke a dog,
Nor a gaping, wide-mouthed, waddling frog.
Command: Take this.
Question: What's this?
Answer.
Five puppies by our dog Ball,
Who daily for their breakfast call.
Four horses stuck in a bog.
Three monkeys tied to a log.
Two pudding's ends that won't choke a dog,
Nor a gaping, wide-mouthed, waddling frog.
Command: Take this.
Question: What's this?
Answer.
Six beetles against the wall,
Close by an old woman's apple stall.
Five puppies by our dog Ball,
Who daily for their breakfast call.
Four horses stuck in a bog.
Three monkeys tied to a log.
Two pudding's ends that won't choke a dog,
Nor a gaping, wide-mouthed, waddling frog.
Command: Take this.
Question: What's this?
Answer.
Seven lobsters in a dish,
As good as any heart can wish.
Six beetles against the wall,
Close by an old woman's apple stall.
Five puppies by our dog Ball,
Who daily for their breakfast call.
Four horses stuck in a bog.
Three monkeys tied to a log.
Two pudding's ends that won't choke a dog,
Nor a gaping, wide-mouthed, waddling frog.
Command: Take this.
Question: What's this?
Answer.
Eight joiners in Joiner's Hall,
Working with the tools and all.
Seven lobsters in a dish,
As good as any heart can wish.
Six beetles against the wall,
Close by an old woman's apple stall.
Five puppies by our dog Ball,
Who daily for their breakfast call.
Four horses stuck in a bog.
Three monkeys tied to a log.
Two pudding's ends that won't choke a dog,
Nor a gaping, wide-mouthed, waddling frog.
Command: Take this.
Question: What's this?
Answer.
Nine peacocks in the air.
I wonder how they all came there;
You don't know and I do not care.
Eight joiners in Joiner's Hall,
Working with the tools and all.
Seven lobsters in a dish,
As good as any heart can wish.
Six beetles against the wall,
Close by an old woman's apple stall.
Five puppies by our dog Ball,
Who daily for their breakfast call.
Four horses stuck in a bog.
Three monkeys tied to a log.
Two pudding's ends that won't choke a dog,
Nor a gaping, wide-mouthed, waddling frog.
Command: Take this.
Question: What's this?
Answer.
Ten comets in the sky,
Some low and some high.
Nine peacocks in the air.
I wonder how they all came there;
You don't know and I do not care.
Eight joiners in Joiner's Hall,
Working with the tools and all.
Seven lobsters in a dish,
As good as any heart can wish.
Six beetles against the wall,
Close by an old woman's apple stall.
Five puppies by our dog Ball,
Who daily for their breakfast call.
Four horses stuck in a bog.
Three monkeys tied to a log.
Two pudding's ends that won't choke a dog,
Nor a gaping, wide-mouthed, waddling frog.
Command: Take this.
Question: What's this?
Answer.
Eleven ships sailing on the main,
Some bound for France, and some for Spain;
I wish them all safe back again.
Ten comets in the sky,
Some low and some high.
Nine peacocks in the air.
I wonder how they all came there;
You don't know and I do not care.
Eight joiners in Joiner's Hall,
Working with the tools and all.
Seven lobsters in a dish,
As good as any heart can wish.
Six beetles against the wall,
Close by an old woman's apple stall.
Five puppies by our dog Ball,
Who daily for their breakfast call.
Four horses stuck in a bog.
Three monkeys tied to a log.
Two pudding's ends that won't choke a dog,
Nor a gaping, wide-mouthed, waddling frog.
Command: Take this.
Question: What's this?
Answer.
Twelve huntsmen with horns and hounds,
Hunting over other men's grounds.
Eleven ships sailing on the main,
Some bound for France, and some for Spain;
I wish them all safe back again.
Ten comets in the sky,
Some low and some high.
Nine peacocks in the air.
I wonder how they all came there;
You don't know and I do not care.
Eight joiners in Joiner's Hall,
Working with the tools and all.
Seven lobsters in a dish,
As good as any heart can wish.
Six beetles against the wall,
Close by an old woman's apple stall.
Five puppies by our dog Ball,
Who daily for their breakfast call.
Four horses stuck in a bog.
Three monkeys tied to a log.
Two pudding's ends that won't choke a dog,
Nor a gaping, wide-mouthed, waddling frog.
Command: Take this.
Question: What's this?
Answer.
Thirteen Sisters all at play,
On a sunshine holiday.
Twelve huntsmen with horns and hounds,
Hunting over other men's grounds.
Eleven ships sailing on the main,
Some bound for France, and some for Spain;
I wish them all safe back again.
Ten comets in the sky,
Some low and some high.
Nine peacocks in the air.
I wonder how they all came there;
You don't know and I do not care.
Eight joiners in Joiner's Hall,
Working with the tools and all.
Seven lobsters in a dish,
As good as any heart can wish.
Six beetles against the wall,
Close by an old woman's apple stall.
Five puppies by our dog Ball,
Who daily for their breakfast call.
Four horses stuck in a bog.
Three monkeys tied to a log.
Two pudding's ends that won't choke a dog,
Nor a gaping, wide-mouthed, waddling frog.
Command: Take this.
Question: What's this?
Answer.
Fourteen Boys at bat-and-ball,
Some short and some tall.
Thirteen Sisters all at play,
On a sunshine holiday.
Twelve huntsmen with horns and hounds,
Hunting over other men's grounds.
Eleven ships sailing on the main,
Some bound for France, and some for Spain;
I wish them all safe back again.
Ten comets in the sky,
Some low and some high.
Nine peacocks in the air.
I wonder how they all came there;
You don't know and I do not care.
Eight joiners in Joiner's Hall,
Working with the tools and all.
Seven lobsters in a dish,
As good as any heart can wish.
Six beetles against the wall,
Close by an old woman's apple stall.
Five puppies by our dog Ball,
Who daily for their breakfast call.
Four horses stuck in a bog.
Three monkeys tied to a log.
Two pudding's ends that won't choke a dog,
Nor a gaping, wide-mouthed, waddling frog.
NOTES
DIRECTIONS for playing the Game of the Gaping, Wide-Mouthed, Waddling Frog.
Of the party who intend playing at this game, one, who to be well acquainted with the rules thereof, should be appointed Treasurer: his office is to demand the forfeits, and to keep them in a little bag or handkerchief.
The Treasurer begins the game. He holds a penknife, pocket book, thimble, or some other trifling article in his hand and addressing the person who sits next to him gives the command "Take this" -- the person spoken to asks the question "What's this?" -- the Treasurer answers "A gaping, wide-mouthed, waddling frog." The second person then turns to the third and gives the command; the third asks the question and the second person answers the same as the Treasurer did before, and in this manner it goes all round.
When it has thus passed round the party, the Treasurer again gives the command "Take this" the second person as before asks "What's this?" and the Treasurer answers,
Two pudding's ends that won't choke a dog,
Nor a gaping, wide-mouthed, waddling frog.
This passes round the company in the same manner as before. The Treasurer then begins the next round, and in this manner the game is played through.
When any person does not remember what to say, he or she must pay a forfeit, and the command passes on to the next And when any person answers incorrectly or commits a blunder or interrupts the game, a forfeit must also be paid.
CRYING THE FORFEITS.
When the game is ended, the Treasurer appoints one of the party as Dictator; whose office it is to direct what is to be done by each person in order to redeem their forfeits.
The Treasurer holds one of the forfeits in his hand, unperceived by the company, and says to the Dictator,
Here's a pretty hing, a very pretty (or useful) thing;
What is he (or she) to do who owns this pretty thing?
The Dictator, kneeling with his or her head in the Treasurer's lap, then imposes some task on the person, which must be performed before the Treasurer is at liberty to return the forfeit; or in the case of refusal, lose the forfeit, unless the company consent to something else.
The following are adapted to promote mirth, --
Spell and pronounce this word twice within ten minutes, without a blunder -- Al-di-bo-ron-ti-phos-ky-phor-ni-os-ti-kus.
Submit to be tickled by the company for five minutes.
Repeat five times, without mispronouncing one word,
Villy Vite and his vife vent a voyage to Vindsor and Vest-Vickham, vou Vitsun Vensday.
Heat a cinder. -- This sounding like eat, causes some mirth before it is discovered it only means to throw it into the fire.
Sit down on the floor, and rise up again, without your hands touching the ground, or a chair, or any thing else.
Tell what word that is in the English language, to which if two letters be added, it becomes shorter. The word is short.
