'Twas my second case at Christmas, and what clue did I see?
Two secret subs,
And a shadow o'er the elm tree.

'Twas my third case at Christmas, and what clue did I see?
Three French wives,
Two secret subs,
And a shadow o'er the elm tree.

'Twas my fourth case at Christmas, and what clue did I see?
Four missing pearls,
Three French wives,
Two secret subs,
And a shadow o'er the elm tree.

'Twas my fifth case at Christmas, and what clue did I see?
Five orange pips,
Four missing pearls,
Three French wives,
Two secret subs,
And a shadow o'er the elm tree.

'Twas my sixth case at Christmas, and what clue did I see?
Six hounds a-baying,
Five orange pips,
Four missing pearls,
Three French wives,
Two secret subs,
And a shadow o'er the elm tree.

'Twas my seventh case at Christmas, and what clue did I see?
Seven dons a-fainting,
Six hounds a-baying,
Five orange pips,
Four missing pearls,
Three French wives,
Two secret subs,
And a shadow o'er the elm tree.

'Twas my eighth case at Christmas, and what clue did I see?
Eight con-men bilking,
Seven dons a-fainting,
Six hounds a-baying,
Five orange pips,
Four missing pearls,
Three French wives,
Two secret subs,
And a shadow o'er the elm tree.

'Twas my ninth case at Christmas, and what clue did I see?
Nine ciphers dancing,
Eight con-men bilking,
Seven dons a-fainting,
Six hounds a-baying,
Five orange pips,
Four missing pearls,
Three French wives,
Two secret subs,
And a shadow o'er the elm tree.

'Twas my tenth case at Christmas, and what clue did I see?
Ten men a-creeping,
Nine ciphers dancing,
Eight con-men bilking,
Seven dons a-fainting,
Six hounds a-baying,
Five orange pips,
Four missing pearls,
Three French wives,
Two secret subs,
And a shadow o'er the elm tree.

'Twas my eleventh case at Christmas, and what clue did I see?
Eleven vipers biting,
Ten men a-creeping,
Nine ciphers dancing,
Eight con-men bilking,
Seven dons a-fainting,
Six hounds a-baying,
Five orange pips,
Four missing pearls,
Three French wives,
Two secret subs,
And a shadow o'er the elm tree.

'Twas my twelfth case at Christmas, and what clue did I see?
Twelve suspects grumbling,
Eleven vipers biting,
Ten men a-creeping,
Nine ciphers dancing,
Eight con-men bilking,
Seven dons a-fainting,
Six hounds a-baying,
Five orange pips,
Four missing pearls,
Three French wives,
Two secret subs,
And a shadow o'er the elm tree.