Expert: The Jeopardy Guy - 9/12/2004

Question
I am a writer. I am currently writing a short story and in this story an old childhood skipping game is going to play a key factor. The problem is I remember a part of the rhyme for this game but not the entire thing. Here is what I remember:
"The butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker
rich man, poor man, beggar man, thief
doctor, lawyer, indian chief"
I am not even certain they are in the right order. Can you tell me the entire rhyme?

Answer
Hi, Susan...

Man, you had me tied up in knots with this one... finally figured out why... you have two different rhymes mixed together....

The Mother Goose rhyme, "Rub-a-Dub-Dub" goes:

Rub-a-dub-dub, three men in a tub,
And how do you think they got there?
The butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker,
They all jumped out of a rotten potato,
'Twas enough to make a fish stare..."

I know, not the best rhyme scheme... not by a long shot...

Then, there's the rhyme that gets used by rope-skippers...

"Tinker, Tailor,
Soldier, Sailor,
Rich Man, Poor Man,
Beggarman, Thief,
Doctor, Lawyer,
Indian Chief..."

Hope this helps, Susan....

Would love to read the short story... can send my e-mail address when you're ready to share... lemme know...

EB