THE SECOND MILLENIA
AD 1000 -- AD 2000


1719: Who's the REAL Mother Goose?

No one's sure, but the kids will sure love these old tavern songs and street cries

If you spot an old woman with a crooked nose and a large chin, possibly carrying a wand -- don't be afraid. She could be none other than Elizabeth Goose of Boston, the voice behind the collection of songs and rhymes called "Songs for the Nursery" or "Mother Goose's Melodies," which hit the presses this year.

According to her son-in-law, Thomas Fleet, Ms. Goose remembered the stories from her childhood and spouted them off to entertain her grandchildren.

Unfortunately, there are other theories about the author of the beloved tales.

Some believe the real source of the stories may not be the Boston woman after all. Some say the stories were penned by the Queen of Sheba of Biblical times, or by Queen Bertha, mother of the medieval military leader Charlemagne, who was nicknamed "Queen Goosefoot" or "Goose-footed Queen" for her webbed feet, or pigeon toes.

Regardless of their origin, the verses weren't written for children. Some were based on real people or events, and others were rooted in tavern songs or street cries.

Take this perennial sing-song favorite:

This seemingly harmless ditty may actualy describe the horrors of the Great Plague that swept through Europe in the 1600's. A rosy rash signified the onset of the disease, and victims used herbs and spices (or posies) to freshen the stench surrounding them. Just before death, the lungs ruptured, causing the victim to spew up flecks of dried blood, called ashes by doctors of the time.

Or consider this:

      Jack be nimble

      Jack Be Quick!

      Jack jump over

      The candlestick!

This rhyme may have been based on a medieval English custom of jumping over a lighted candle at a wedding. If the flame stayed lit, you'd have good luck for a year. If not, may the force be with you. And if you landed on it? Time to quit hitting the grog!