[70] An acquaintance says, that in the interior of New York State the
men and girls stand in the row by sevens; an arrangement which she
suggests may imitate the different colors of strands.
[71]
Oats, oats, oats,
May the good God prosper you!
[72] These choruses, which may be paralleled from Great Britain, do not
in themselves belong to any particular game.
[73] We find the same benevolent wish, under like circumstances, in a
Swedish game. Is the correspondence accident or tradition?
[74]
Qui veut ouir, qui veut savoir,
Comment on sème l'aveine?
Mon père la sèmait ainsi,
Puis il se reposait à demi;
Frappe du pied, puis de la main,
Un petit tour pour ton voisin;
Aveine, aveine, aveine,
Que le Bon Dieu t'amène!
[75] Fauriel supposed the present round to be derived from Massiliot
Greeks; but he was unacquainted with its diffusion in Europe.
[76] Sung "_a this a way_."
[77]
Sur le Pont d'Avignon,
Les messieurs font ça,
Et puis encore ça.
Then come "les dames," "les cordonniers," etc.
In the corresponding Russian game, a single player mimics the walk of
old men, priests, or the habits of any trade or person in the company.
[78]
Nous sommes à trois fillettes,
Pour aller cueillir noisettes;
Quand les noisettes sont cueillies,
Nous sommes mises à danser.
[79] "We considered this a personal compliment. I remember we used to
feel very much pleased--children are so sensitive!"--_Informant._