Mr. Leigh died early in June, 1883, and the following graceful parody of his poem appeared in _Judy_, June 27, 1883. IN THE STRAND. In form and feature, face, and limb, He tried to build a double, And folks got taking it for him, For want of taking trouble. “A bitter-minded cynic this!” Said those who argued blindly. He took their finding not amiss, Nor thought it meant unkindly. He dreamed long dreams, and meant to do A heap of great grand work; ’T is p’r’aps the same with me and you, And still the race we shirk. Another face gone from the Strand, A voice we hear no more; We miss the pressure of a hand, Oft pressed on this LEIGH shore. ――――:o:―――― NURSERY RHYMES. A learned dissertation might be written――entitled “The Wisdom of our Nursery Rhymes”――which should go to prove that every important Rhyme was either founded on some historical basis, or illustrated an old custom of our forefathers long since fallen into oblivion. Such an essay would be out of place here, but a few notes will be inserted to show the undoubted antiquity of such of the principal Nursery Rhymes as have given rise to the Parodies to be quoted. Parodies of Nursery Rhymes exist in such numbers that only a small percentage can be inserted, especially as some of the best are of a political and personal nature, and rapidly become obsolete. The selection has been made as carefully and impartially as possible, with indications as to where such other Parodies may be found as have had to be omitted. ―――― Some of our Nursery Rhymes owe their origin to names distinguished in our literature; as Oliver Goldsmith, for instance, is believed in his earlier days to have written such compositions. Dr. E. F. Rimbault gives the following particulars as to some well-known favourites; “Sing a Song of Sixpence,” he states, is as old as the 16th century. “The Frog and the Mouse” was licensed in 1580. “London Bridge is broken Down” is of unfathomed antiquity. “Girls and Boys come out to Play” is certainly as old as the reign of Charles II.; as is also “Lucy Locket lost her Pocket,” to the tune of which the American song of “Yankee Doodle” was written. “Pussy Cat, Pussy Cat, where have you been?” is of the age of Queen Bess. “Little Jack Horner” is older than the seventeenth century. “The Old Woman Tossed in a Blanket” is of the reign of James II., to which monarch it is supposed to allude. J. O. Halliwell, in his “Nursery Rhymes of England,” gives the following:―― Three blind mice, see how they run! They all ran after the farmer’s wife, Who cut off their tails with the carving knife, Did you ever see such fools in your life? Three blind mice. and states that the original is to be found in “Deuteromelia; or, the Second Part of Músicks Melodie,” 4to., London, 1609, where the music is also given.