"Jack and Jill (ret.)" © 2001 wood engraving (ed. 35) image: 3.5 x 4.75 in. $130.00 (go to "Hi There" for purchase information)
Here's a nursery rhyme that everyone knows by heart. At least they know the first verse. Apparently there was more to the story than a clumsy kid and his girl friend going after some water.
After breaking his "crown" in the fall (everyone assumes crown means head), he goes off to some dame's place and has his "nob" patched with brown paper ("nob"?). When Jill sees the brown paper patch on his "nob", she breaks up, as anyone with a sense of humour would. The dame then beats her for making Jack fall. Nowhere, in the account, does it indicate that Jack fell because of Jill. She just followed his lead and rolled down the hill after him.
I figure, when they retired, Jill kept that sense of humour, in spite of the beating she got.
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JACK AND JILL Jack and Jill went up the hill, To fetch a pail of water; Jack fell down and broke his crown, And Jill came tumbling after.
Then up Jack got and off did trot, As fast as he could caper, To old Dame Dob, who patched his nob With vinegar and brown paper.
When Jill came in, how she did grin, To see Jack's paper plaster; Dame Dob was vexed, did whip her next For causing Jack's disaster.
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