Here is the 1859 version of kids arguing over the right rhyme: https://books.google.com/books?id=T80XAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA254 https://books.google.com/books?id=T80XAAA

Here is the 1859 version of kids arguing over the right rhyme: https://books.google.com/books?id=T80XAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA254 https://books.google.com/books?id=T80XAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA254 Or, if that does n't suit, then take 'Eeny, meeny, mony mite; Pesskalana, bona, strike; Parago, walk.'" "Pooh!" said Frank; "that aint right, nor anywhere near it. This is the way I learned that one:-- Eeny, meeny, mony, my; Pistolanee, bony, sly; Argy, dargy, walk. The other boys all objected to this version of the saying, but Frank insisted that if it was not the right one, it was certainly the best. The oldest versions google books records reached print in 1855: https://books.google.com/books?id=v4IkAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA120 https://books.google.com/books?id=v4IkAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA120 "Eeny, meeny, moany, mite, Butter, lather, boney, strike, Hair, bit, frost neck, Harrico, barrico, we, wo, wack." and "Eeny, meeny, tipty, te, Teena, Dinah, Domine, Hocca, proach, Domma, noach, Hi, pon, tus." By 1888 there was a whole book on the topic, and the modern (pre-tiger) version had taken hold: https://books.google.com/books?id=uH8MAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA46 https://books.google.com/books?id=uH8MAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA46 Apparently the doggerel which is the favourite among American children to-day is the senseless jingle: Eeny, meeny, miny, mo, Catch a nigger by the toe! If he hollers let him go! Eeny, meeny, miny, mo.