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As follows are a set of collected children rhymes handed down through the Vanderkloot and Tanis generations. Rhymes were most likely handed down from mother to children and repeated over through the generations. Like family stories, we have a chance through these pages to preserve them and also to be connected with the sayings and rhymes of our ancestors.
Nabet! Nabet!
This first one was handed down by Grace Vanderkloot to her children and then to her grandchildren. Most likely Grandma Grace learned it from her mother, Martha Tanis, and perhaps Martha learned it from her mother Dirkje Aletta Tanis. If others recognize it, let Dave know so we can see how widespread it might have become. The rhyme begins with the child on the mother's lap and the mother grasping the young childs thumb and gently wiggling the thumb back and forth. At the end of each sentence, the mother moves to the next finger. Perhaps it was a way of both telling a story and teaching the young child about counting and the names of the fingers.
Nabet! Nabet!
In Phonetic Dutch (the way the Jeanne said it): Nabet! Nabet! Says domalot. I kep not keateyet says slikapot. Wheres the slikaholla says yungilun. In Mudder's cussie says the fingea ring. Then salick wa sala says the klina ding.
To Bed! To Bed! Says the big finger. I haven't eaten yet says the second finger. Where you going to get the food says the third finger. In Mother's cupboard says the ring finger. Then I'll tell on you all says the little finger. Related by Jeanne Jordan, daughter of Grace Vanderkloot, on the night of October 24, 1986 to her son David and her grandson Michael. Of course all of Jeanne's children learned this one as kids, but in 1986, I thought we better write it down. Naar Bed, Naar Bed In early 2004, Willy Ryder found my version above of Nabet, Nabet. He wrote: Yes I have heard this rhyme many times, my mother used to say it when we were children, when we lived in Rheden Gelderland. I have lived in NZ since 1967 and when my children were young I used you say it to them. This is the way my mother said it in Dutch: Naar Bed, Naar Bed zegt duimelot, Eerst nog wat te eten zegt likkepot, Waar moet ik het halen zegt Lange Jaap In moeder's kastje zegt Ringeling Dan zal ik het vertellen zegt het kleine ding. |
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