ID: 903
Date: 1920s - 2000
Title: Early one morning
Gender: Female 
Classification: Skipping 
Rhyme: 

Early one morning at half past eight,
I hear the postman knocking at the gate.
Up jumps [X] to open the door,
How many letters fell on the floor?
1,2,3..

(Christchurch, 2000)

--

Early one morning about half past eight,
What should I hear but the postman's knock.
Up jumps [Mary] to open the door,
See how many letters on the floor,
1,2,3..
Who is it from? Boy, girl, boy, girl ..
What is their first name? A, B, C..
What is their last name? A, B, C..

(NZ, 1920-1950 (Sutton-Smith, 1959:80))

--
 
Background Info: Reported by Gomme, 1898:202, as a skipping rhyme. 

==

Variations recorded by Turner, 1969:25 include:

Early in the morning at half past four,
I hear the postman knocking at the door.
In comes Sally, late for school,
How many smacks does she deserve?
1,2,3..
What shall she be smacked with?
Hand, rope, hand, rope..

(Adelaide, 1957)

==
 
Keywords: corporal punishment, divination, violence 
Location: Various NZ 
Group size: 4 
Incidence: 2