Here is a cute song about playing marbles from 1751, the same year the Liberty Bell was commissioned. It’s from a book of songs for children titled Puerilia by John Marchant and published in London.
The songs were intended to entertain children while teaching them a moral lesson, in this case that time spent reading books is more valuable than time spent playing marbles.
These days I fear I am spending more time with my marble collection than my books. Perhaps I will find a happy medium and read my marble books more.
Brother Tommy, come on,
Your Marbles lay down;
Don’t spare me,
Nor fear me,
So long as I’ve one.They are smooth, neat and round,
How they fly, frisk and bound!
I’ll thump ’em
And plump ’em
While a Marble is found.But before we begin,
Place ’em round in a Ring;
I’ll fright ’em
And smite ’em
While my Thumb has a Spring.How I spank ’em about!
Some are in and some out,
I’ll smack ’em
And thwack ’em,
And soon put ’em to rout.Now to finish the Game,
At your Taw I will aim;
I have it!
I brave it!
And Huzzah is my Name.But ’tis Time to have done,
The Clock has struck one;
‘Tis over,
Come Brother,
Now to School let us run.For there I am sure
We shall learn a deal more,
Each looking
His Book in,
Than by playing an Hour.
You can read the original text here on Google Books.
April 25th, 2011 at 12:40 am
Very interesting! What a great find!