"A goose's quill"! Quill pens were first used in the 1600's. The best pens were made from the flight feathers of geese because the goose feather shaft has a unique characteristic which allows ink to be held until light pressure is applied which then allows the ink to flow. After the feathers were plucked the shaft needed to be carved - the word "penknife" came into the English language! The word pen comes from the Latin word "Penna" which means feather. Sometimes only two or three goose feathers were found suitable by the quill-makers - but the quill-pen was reusable!
Help us to maintain our history and heritage through the words and lyrics of old Nursery Rhymes like 'My father left me three acres of land' My Father left me Three Acres of Land Nursery Rhyme lyrics, origins and history My father left me three acres of land, Sing ivy, sing ivy; My father left me three acres of land, Sing holly, go whistle and ivy!
I ploughed it with a ram's horn, Sing ivy, sing ivy; And sowed it all over with one peppercorn, Sing holly, go whistle and ivy!
I harrowed it with a bramble bush, Sing ivy, sing ivy; And reaped it with my little penknife, Sing holly, go whistle and ivy!
I got the mice to carry it to the barn, Sing ivy, sing ivy; And threshed it with a goose's quill, Sing holly, go whistle and ivy!
I got the puss to carry it to the mill, Sing ivy, sing ivy; The miller he swore he would have her paw, And the cat she swore she would scratch his face, Sing holly, go whistle and ivy. My Father left me Three Acres of Land Nursery Rhyme lyrics, origins and history |