Genealogical Puzzle
A wedding there was, and a dance there must be,
And who should be first? Thus all did agree—
First grandsire and grandame should lead the dance down;
Two fathers, two mothers, should step the same ground.
Two daughters stood up and danced with their sires
(The room was so warm they wanted no fires);
And also two sons who danced with their mothers.
Two sisters there were who danced with their brothers;
Two uncles vouchsafed with nieces to dance,
With nephews to jig it and please their two aunts.
Three husbands would dance with none but their wives
(As bent so to do for the rest of their lives).
The granddaughter chose the jolly grandson;
And bride—she would dance with bridegroom—or none.
A company choice! their number to fix,
I told them all over, and found them but six.