My friend Pat responded to my last blog by reminding me that during the 1940's memorizing and reciting of poetry was common in elementary school. She shared a sweet story about a poem she challenged herself to memorize in one night and how her dad stayed up half the night to help her accomplish her goal.

Not only did we memorize poetry, we were also taught to respect and cherish our books. I remember a teacher giving us specific instructions on how to carefully open a new book and smooth each page one by one so we didn't break the back. Books were not so easily available to children of the middle class in those days and I cherished every single one that I owned and I read and reread each one many times.

One day, something wonderful happened at school. Our teacher, Mrs. De Hart, explained that the school was replacing the old set of World Book Encyclopedias that we had in the library. Rather than throw the old copies away they were going to give each one of us second graders one volume to take home and keep. I remember how excited I felt, standing in line, wondering which one I would get. They must have mixed them up because I wasn't first in line but my book was A-B. When she handed me the book it felt amazing, with its leather like cover and it's substantial weight. I had never owned a book like that. For many years it was one of my favorite books. I soon became an expert on Ants, Alice in Wonderland and The Bells of St. Clements, an old English nursery rhyme.

The Bells of St. Clements

Gay go up and gay go down
To Ring the Bells of London Town

Oranges and Lemons say the Bells of St. Clements
Bullseyes and Targets say the Bells of St. Margaret's
Brickbats and Tiles say the Bells of St. Giles
Halfpence and Farthings say the Bells of St. Martin's
Pancakes and Fritters say the Bells of St. Peter's
Two Sticks and an Apple say the Bells of Whitechapel
Maids in white aprons say the Bells at St. Katherine's
Pokers and Tongs say the Bells of St. John's
Kettles and Pans say the Bells of St. Anne's
Old Father Baldpate say the slow Bells of Aldgate

You owe me Ten Shillings say the Bells of St. Helen's
When will you Pay me? say the Bells of Old Bailey
When I grow Rich say the Bells of Shoreditch
Pray when will that be? say the Bells of Stepney
I do not know say the Great Bell of Bow

Gay go up and gay go down
To Ring the Bells of London Town