Wee Willie Winkie

Wee Willie Winkie runs through the town,
Upstairs and downstairs in his nightgown,
Crying through the windows,
Rapping on the lock,
'Are all the children in their beds,
Its past eight o' clock.'
 

This Scottish rhyme was first published in 1841

It was written by William Miller and does not appear to have any historical or political hidden meaning. Rather, Wee Willie Winkie takes on the role of a children's town crier to persuade children that eight o' clock is bedtime.