LEGAL EDUCATION

The sons of lawyers, who are intended for their fathers’ profession, cannot too early become familiar with legal phrases and their meanings. Old nursery rhymes might easily be adapted for this purpose. For instance—

Alibi, baby, on the tree top,

Proved ’gainst your foes,

The case it will stop;

When we suppose

The evidence fall,

Down goes the alibi, baby, and all.

II.

Dickory, dickory, dock,

The burglar picks a lock,

Police come down,

Case for Crown,

Dickory, dickory, dock.

III.

Goosey, Goosey, Gander,

Whither do you wander?

Up-stairs and down-stairs into Judges’ Chambers.

Old Baron Longwigs,

Finished his affairs,

Puts him out his left leg,

Puts him out his right leg,

Puts him out his both legs and walks down-stairs.

IV.

Taffy was a Welshman,

Taffy was a thief,

Taffy came to my house,

And stole a leg o’ beef.

P’liceman went to Taffy’s house,

Taffy wouldn’t own;

Took him up to my house,

Thence to Mary’bone.[1]

Ride a cab horse,

Beyond Charing Cross,

To see any lady get a divorce;

Ring on her finger

Still dully shows;

Will she have music wherever she goes?

[1] Subaudi, Police Court.