h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Is it an American influence? I always thought this was part of Tinker, Tailor:

Tinker, Tailor,
Soldier, Sailor,
Rich Man, Poor Man,
Beggar man, Thief

I thought so too. We never used it as a selection rhyme but when we had prunes or cherries or any fruit with stones in for pudding. You saved all the stones around the edge of your plate and then counted off when you'd finished, going through the rhyme again if necessary, until you discovered the type of man you would marry.

.....or would become, yes I was used to the prune/cherry stone thing too.

There was a whole bunch of associated rhymes I knew to that as well... where you'd get married, what colour would the dress be.. etc. I think I've forgotten them all, though
But we definitely played it with cherry stones, although now I come to think of it we may have used it as a skipping rhyme too.

I remember the same thing - cherry, prune stones from school lunches lined up around the edge of the bowl helping you to decide your future career.

I got very good at ensuring I had 5 stones each time, so's I'd wind up on Rich Man!

Did you swallow the spares then? I'm full of admiration, I was never that cunning.

Various ways... hiding... throwing them away.... carefully counting them into my lunchbox... I was a devious child.

But did it work?

Yes it did, with a little practice.

(take that from me who forgot she promised to logout andra first)

We used it to count buttons on our blouses in school.