In that early childish day I was never tired to play Games that children every one Love until twelve years are done; To dam up a rivulet With a tile, or else to let A small saucer for a boat Down the purling gutter float; Over two bricks, at our will, To erect a water-mill; And in the end wash clean from dirt, In the streamlet, cap and shirt. We gave heart and eye together To see scud a sailing feather; After I was put to school, Where ignorance is brought to rule, _There were girls as young as I_; _These I courted, by-and-by_, _Little trinkets offering-- A pear, an apple, or glass ring_; For their favor to obtain Seemed great prowess to me then, _And, sober earnest, so it is_. And now and then it pleased us well To sift dust through a piercèd shell On our coats; or in time ripe, To cut out a wheaten pipe. In those days for dice and chess Cared we busy children less Than mud pies and buns to make, And heedfully in oven bake Of four bricks; and when came Lent, Out was brought a complement Of river-shells, from secret hold, Estimated above gold, To play away, as I thought meet, With the children of our street; And as they tossed a counter, I Stood and shouted, "Pitch it high!" When the moon was shining bright We would play in summer night _Pince-merine_; and time so passed, I was more eager at the last Than outset, and I thought it shame When I was made to stop my game. More to tell, we practised too The sport entitled _Queue loo loo_,[34] _Hook_, _Trottot Merlot_, _Pebbles_, _Ball_; And when we had assembled all, _Pears_, swiftly running; or were lief To play at _Engerrant the Thief_. Now and then, for a race-course, Of a staff we made a horse, And called him _Gray_; or, in knight's guise, We put our caps on helmet-wise; And many a time, beside a maid, A mimic house of shells I made. Upon occasions we would choose _The one who hit me I accuse_, _Take Colin off_; and by-and-by Selected _King who does not lie_, _Ring_, _Prison-bars_; or were content, When in-doors, with _Astonishment_, _Oats_, _Scorn_, or _Riddles_; nor forget _Replies_, and _Grasses_, _Cligne-musette_, _Retreat_, and _Mule_, and _Hunt the Hare_; _Leaping_ and _Palm-ball_ had their share, _Salt Cowshorn_, and _Charette Michaut_; And oftentimes we chose to throw Pebbles or pence against a stake; Or small pits in the ground would make, And play at nuts, which he who lost, His pleasure bitterly was crossed. To drive a top was my delight From early morning until night; Or to blow, single or double, Through a tube a bright soap-bubble, Or a batch of three or four, To rejoice our eyes the more. Games like these, and more beside, Late and early have I plied.