In the "Materials for the Study of the Gypsies," by M. I. Kounavine, which I have not yet seen, there are, according to A. B. Elysseeff (Gypsy-Lore Journal, July, 1890), three or four score of gypsy proverbial sayings and maxims. These refer to Slavonian or far Eastern Russian Romanis. I may here state in this connection that all who are interested in this subject, or aught relating to it, will find much to interest them in this journal of the Gypsy-Lore Society, printed by T. & A. Constable, Edinburgh. The price of subscription, including membership of the society, is £1 a year--Address: David Mac Ritchie, 4, Archibald Place, Edinburgh. CHAPTER XIV. [21] A GYPSY MAGIC SPELL.--HOKKANI BASO--LELLIN DUDIKABIN, OR THE GREAT SECRET--CHILDREN'S RHYMES AND INCANTATIONS--TEN LITTLE INDIAN BOYS AND TEN LITTLE ACORN GIRLS OF MARCELLUS BURDIGALENSIS. There is a meaningless rhyme very common among children. It is repeated while "counting off"--or "out"--those who are taking part in a game, and allotting to each a place. There are many versions of it, but the following is exactly word for word what I learned when a boy in Philadelphia:-- Ekkeri (or ickery), akkery, u-kéry an, Fillisi', follasy, Nicholas John, Queebee-quabee--Irishman (or, Irish Mary), Stingle 'em--stangle 'em--buck! With a very little alteration in sounds, and not more than children make of these verses in different places, this may be read as follows:-- Ek-keri (yekori) akairi, you kair an, Fillissin, follasy, Nákelas jan Kivi, kávi--Irishman, Stini, stani--buck! This is, of course, nonsense, but it is Romany or gypsy nonsense, and it may be thus translated very accurately:-- First--here--you begin! Castle, gloves. You don't play! Go on! Kivi--a kettle. How are you? Stáni, buck. The common version of the rhyme begins with-- "One--ery--two--ery, ickery an." But one-ery is an exact translation of ek-keri; ek, or yek, meaning one in gypsy. (Ek-orus, or yek-korus, means once). And it is remarkable that in-- "Hickory dickory dock, The rat ran up the clock, The clock struck one, And down he run, Hickory dickory dock." We have hickory, or ek-keri, again followed by a significant one. It may be observed that; while my first quotation abounds in what are unmistakably Romany words, I can find no trace of any in any other child-rhymes of the kind. I lay stress on this, for if I were a great Celtic scholar I should not have the least difficulty in proving that every word in every rhyme, down to "Tommy, make room for your uncle," was all old Irish or Gaelic. Word for word every person who understands Romany will admit the following:-- Ek, or yek, means one. Yekorus, ekorus, or yeckori, or ekkeri, once. U-kair-an. You kair an, or begin. Kair is to make or do, ankair to begin. "Do you begin?" Fillissin is a castle, or gentleman's country seat (H. Smith).