Rhymes
Mother Goose Rhymes: Jack and Jill — Then and Now
Abstract shapes
A retro illustration of a young boy, reminiscent of Little Jack Horner, sitting at a table with a cherry pie, excitedly holding up a spoon, with festive holly accents in the foreground.
Mother Goose published in 1725 in “Namby Pamby”
Little Jack Horner sat in the corner
Eating his Christmas pie,
He put in his thumb
And pulled out a plum
And said, “What a good boy am I.”
A retro-style illustration of a sophisticated woman sitting in a chair, holding a drink, next to a decorated Christmas tree. The woman wears a red dress and has an elegant pose, capturing a vintage holiday atmosphere.
Olive published in “Olive: Issue 8”
Christmas Day and a grown-up Jill Horner
Was sipping on holiday rye,
Enjoying the smell
And the bourbon as well,
She sighed, “What a good girl am I.”
A retro-style illustration of a boy joyfully leaping over a tall candle with a flame, set against a bold red background with sparkling stars surrounding him.
Mother Goose published in 1815 in a collection by James Orchard Halliwell
Jack be nimble,
Jack be quick,
Jack jump over the candlestick.
A retro illustration of a young boy happily jumping over a candelabra with three lit candles, while a woman in a green dress watches with a smile, against an orange backdrop.
Olive published in “Olive: Issue 8”
Jane is nimble, (or Jill)
Jane is quick, (or Jenny)
Jane’s too smart for a candlestick trick. (or Justine)
A retro-style illustration of a slender man and a plump woman sitting at a dinner table, with contrasting body types. The woman in a red dress enjoys her meal while the man looks at her with interest, creating a whimsical dining scene.
Mother Goose published in 1619 in John Clarke’s “Collection of Sayings”
Jack Sprat could eat no fat,
His wife could eat no lean
And so between the two of them,
They licked the platter clean.
A humorous retro-style illustration of four joyful, plump men in suits, enthusiastically eating from a large spread of food on a dinner table, showcasing a lively and cheerful dining scene.
Unidentified author unpublished
Darrell and Daryl ate only fat,
Sam and Sami could never eat lean.
And so between the two (four?) of them,
They never (or ever?) licked the platter clean.

Or in the words of Groucho Marx:

“I’m not a vegetarian, but I eat animals who are.”
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