Did you ever wonder why rhymes and writings are forever embedded in your mind from childhood, but you can't remember other things that seem more important? All of a sudden, a rhyme that you learned or were read fifty years ago or more pops into your head for no apparent reason. The other day I was thinking about March, and this rhyme that I learned in grade school came to me. It is as follows:

The North Wind Doth Blow The North Wind doth blow, And we shall have snow, And what shall the poor robin do then? Poor thing! He'll sit in the barn, And keep himself warm, And hide his head under his wing, Poor thing! The North Wind doth blow, And we shall have snow, And what will the dormouse do then? Poor thing! Rolled up like a ball, In his nest snug and small, He'll sleep till warm weather comes in. Poor thing!

Now, why on earth do I remember this? Not only do I remember this rhyme, but I remember it with a warm fondness. The little library in the basement of my grade school holds equally fond memories. It was kind of musty and cool in the summer. I remember books I read and even illustrations from the books. I have looked some of them up on the Internet, and low and behold they are still recorded there for posterity. Some of these books were published in the 40's and earlier, but children are still reading them. Some of them were series, like the Bobbsey Twins and Nancy Drew. Some of them are now collectibles. The Bobbsey Twins' books came out in 1904 and are known as the longest running series of books in history for children. I wish I had some of my books from childhood, but only one remains, and it is a book of poetry by James Witcomb Riley that I received for my birthday when I was in the third grade. I don't know how it survived. I still remember and love his poems. He was a Hoosier poet, and since I grew up in Indiana that is probably why I know his writing. It was read to children growing up in Indiana as part of the school curriculum. Like many other stories, songs and poems, I remember them well. Can you picture yourself in music class? The old song books were held in the hands of the children while they lifted their voices in choruses of Jeannie With The Light Brown Hair, My Old Kentucky Home and Camp Town Races as the music teacher played the old upright piano. I can almost hear them as they sing. Do you remember the reading circle? The little painted chairs were brought into a half circle with the teacher at the front. Everyone had their reader; Dick and Jane will live forever in our minds. Do you remember reading your paragraph or sentence out loud when your turn came? These childhood school days had a great impact on who we are today whether we think so or not.

I leave you with this profound learning rhyme.

Knick, Knack, Paddy Whack (This Old Man)

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This old man , he played one, (1)
He played knick knack on his thumb,
With a knick, knack, paddy whack,
Give the dog a bone;
This old man came rolling home.

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This old man , he played two, (2)
He played knick knack on his shoe,
With a knick, knack, paddy whack,
Give the dog a bone;
This old man came rolling home.

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This old man , he played three, (3)
He played knick knack on his knee,
With a knick, knack, paddy whack,
Give the dog a bone;
This old man came rolling home.

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This old man , he played four, (4)
He played knick knack on his door,
With a knick, knack, paddy whack,
Give the dog a bone;
This old man came rolling home.

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This old man , he played five, (5)
He played knick knack on his hive,
With a knick, knack, paddy whack,
Give the dog a bone;
This old man came rolling home.

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This old man , he played six, (6)
He played knick knack on his sticks,
With a knick, knack, paddy whack,
Give the dog a bone;
This old man came rolling home.

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This old man , he played seven, (7)
He played knick knack with his pen,
With a knick, knack, paddy whack,
Give the dog a bone;
This old man came rolling home.

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This old man , he played eight, (8)
He played knick knack on his gate,
With a knick, knack, paddy whack,
Give the dog a bone;
This old man came rolling home.

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This old man , he played nine, (9)
He played knick knack, rise and shine,
With a knick, knack, paddy whack,
Give the dog a bone;
This old man came rolling home.

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This old man , he played ten, (10)
He played knick knack on his hen,
With a knick, knack, paddy whack,
Give the dog a bone;
This old man came rolling home.

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This old man , he played eleven, (11)
He played knick knack up in heaven,
With a knick, knack, paddy whack,
Give the dog a bone;
This old man came rolling home.

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This old man , he played twelve, (12)
He played knick knack, dig and delve,
With a knick, knack, paddy whack,
Give the dog a bone;
This old man came rolling home.

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� Phyllis Ann ([email protected])