Appletree, Peartree, Plumtree Pie
Appletree, peartree, plumtree pie, / How many children before I die…
Appletree, peartree, plumtree pie,
How many children before I die?
One, two, three etc.
How to play
Keep counting until the skipper misses.
Where this rhyme comes from
- Printed
- 1916
- Where
- London
We have copied these words exactly as they were printed in 1916, spelling and all. It is one of the London girls' chants Douglas lists alongside their skipping, clapping and ring games.
An early form of "Birthday Plum" ("Apples, peaches, pears and plums").
Source: Norman Douglas, London Street Games (London: The St. Catherine Press, 1916) (public domain).
Older and newer versions
The same rhyme, changed by children over the years.
More rhymes like this
CountingPrinted 1916Old Mother MasonOld mother Mason--broke a basin:
What did it cost her? One penny, tuppence, etc…CountingChantsPrinted 1916One, Two, Buckle My ShoeOne, two, buckle my shoe,
Three, four, knock at the door…CountingActionsby 1916Postman KnockingEarly in the morning at half past eight,
I heard the postman knocking at the gate…Countingafter 1908I Know a ScoutI know a scout
Who took me out…CountingI Had a Little SisterI had a little sister,
Dressed in pink…
What did it cost her? One penny, tuppence, etc…CountingChantsPrinted 1916One, Two, Buckle My ShoeOne, two, buckle my shoe,
Three, four, knock at the door…CountingActionsby 1916Postman KnockingEarly in the morning at half past eight,
I heard the postman knocking at the gate…Countingafter 1908I Know a ScoutI know a scout
Who took me out…CountingI Had a Little SisterI had a little sister,
Dressed in pink…
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