Set of nineteen cards printed in England by Richard Marsh in the late nineteenth century

Design: woodcuts on buff card

Each illustration has a title, an illustration and a couplet which gives a moral lesson and a reward or forfeit. For example, a bigger boy hitting a smaller one has the title `You let me alone or I'll heave a stone at yer.' and the couplet states `Cowardly custard who hits little boys/Must pay in four for breaking their toys.'

Rewards: receive counters
Forfeits: payment of counters
No. of Players: any
Equipment required: 19 cards each printed with an illustrations of various character and rhyming couplets

Rules:
DIRECTIONS.
Shuffle the cards and deal them out face downwards. The dealer commences by turning up a card and paying in or taking out nuts etc as directed on their card; the card with Mother Goose winning the pool and repeating the following words on turning up the card and making every player turn up whatever cards they have left.
Mother Goose by starlight flies
On the air with golden prize,
Her share will be the total hoard,
When all are served she clears the board.
The game all o'er her task is done,
Her only aim to cause some fun.
So now good night my children gay,
For Goosey bids me haste away.

Before commencing to play each player must put three forfeits in pool.

PUBLISHED BY RICHARD MARCH, ST. JAMES'S WALK, CLERKENWELL


POSSIBLE RULES
Each player would be given an agreed number of counters, say 20, and a number from each would be placed in a central pool. The cards would be shuffled then dealt out probably face down. Each player in turn would turn over the cards in his pile, read out the couplet and title and pay or receive the counters as stated.

Moral games were particularly popular in the 19th century. This incomplete set of 19 cards is from the Royal Game of Mother Goose. Each card is printed with a title and illustration of a character, and a rhyming couplet. Each verse gives a moral lesson and a reward or forfeit.

For example, a card showing a boy hitting a smaller boy has the title "You let me alone or I'll heave a stone at yer" and the couplet states "Cowardly custard who hits little boys/Must pay in four for breaking their toys". The cards are turned up in turn with players following the printed instructions. Whichever player turns up the card showing Mother Goose wins.

E.182&:1 to 20-1947