|No.| Winterton. | Forest of Dean. | Liphook. |
+---+----------------------+----------------------+----------------------+
| 1.|Mary sits a-weeping. | -- |Poor Sarah's a- |
| | | |weeping. |
| 2.|Mary, what are you |Oh! what is Nellie |Oh, what is she a- |
| |weep'ng for? |weeping for? |weeping for? |
| 3.| -- | -- | -- |
| 4.|I'm weeping for a |I'm weeping for my |I'm weeping for a |
| |sweetheart. |sweetheart. |sweetheart. |
| 5.| -- | -- |This bright summer's |
| | | |day. |
| 6.| -- | -- | -- |
| 7.| -- | -- | -- |
| 8.|Close by the sea side.| -- | -- |
| 9.| -- |On a cold and sunshine| -- |
| | |day. | |
|10.|Pray, get up and |Now stand up and |Rise up and choose |
| |choose one. |choose one. |your lover. |
|11.| -- | -- | -- |
|12.| -- | -- |She shall have a |
| | | |sweetheart. |
|13.| -- | -- | -- |
|14.| -- | -- | -- |
|15.| -- | -- | -- |
|16.| -- | -- | -- |
|17.| -- | -- | -- |
|18.| -- | -- | -- |
|19.| -- | -- | -- |
|20.| -- | -- | -- |
|21.| -- | -- | -- |
|22.| -- | -- | -- |
|23.| -- | -- | -- |
|24.| -- | -- | -- |
|25.| -- | -- | -- |
|26.| -- | -- |Go to church, love. |
|27.| -- | -- | -- |
|28.| -- | -- |Say your prayers, |
| | | |love. |
|29.| -- | -- |Kiss your lovers. |
|30.| -- | -- | -- |
|31.| -- | -- | -- |
|32.| -- | -- | -- |
|33.| -- | -- | -- |
|34.| -- | -- | -- |
|35.| -- | -- | -- |
|36.| -- | -- | -- |
|37.| -- | -- | -- |
|38.| -- | -- | -- |
|39.| -- | -- | -- |
|40.| -- | -- | -- |
|41.| -- | -- | -- |
|42.| -- | -- | -- |
|43.| -- | -- | -- |
+---+----------------------+----------------------+----------------------+
+---+----------------------+----------------------+----------------------+
|No.| Earls Heaton. | Suffolk. | Berkshire. |
+---+----------------------+----------------------+----------------------+
| 1.| -- |Poor Mary sits a- |Poor Mary sits a- |
| | |weeping. |weeping. |
| 2.|Poor Mary, what are |What is she weeping | -- |
| |you weeping for? |for? | |
| 3.|Pray tell us what you | -- |Pray tell me what she |
| |are weeping for? | |is weeping for?| |
| 4.| -- |She's weeping for a |I'm weeping for a |
| | |sweetheart. | |
| 5.|On a bright summer's |On a fine summer's |On a bright summer's |
| |day. |day. |day. |
| 6.| -- | -- | -- |
| 7.| -- | -- | -- |
| 8.| -- | -- | -- |
| 9.| -- | -- | -- |
|10.| -- |Pray get up and choose| -- |
| | |one. | |
|11.| -- | -- | -- |
|12.| -- | -- | -- |
|13.| -- | -- | -- |
|14.| -- |Now you're married, we| -- |
| | |wish you joy. | |
|15.| -- | -- | -- |
|16.| -- | -- | -- |
|17.| -- | -- | -- |
|18.| -- | -- | -- |
|19.| -- | -- | -- |
|20.| -- | -- | -- |
|21.| -- | -- | -- |
|22.| -- |Father and mother you | -- |
| | |must obey. | |
|23.| -- |Love one another like | -- |
| | |brother and sister. | |
|24.| -- | -- | -- |
|25.| -- | -- | -- |
|26.| -- |Pray go to church, | -- |
| | |love. | |
|27.| -- | -- | -- |
|28.| -- | -- | -- |
|29.| -- | -- | -- |
|30.|My father he is dead, | -- | -- |
| |sir. | | |
|31.| -- | -- | -- |
|32.| -- |Pray put the ring on. | -- |
|33.| -- |Pray come back, love. | -- |
|34.| -- |Now it's time to go | -- |
| | |away. | |
|35.| -- | -- |Mary's got a |
| | | |shepherd's cross. |
|36.| -- | -- | -- |
|37.| -- | -- | -- |
|38.| -- | -- | -- |
|39.| -- | -- | -- |
|40.| -- | -- | -- |
|41.| -- | -- | -- |
|42.| -- | -- | -- |
|43.| -- | -- | -- |
+---+----------------------+----------------------+----------------------+
+---+----------------------+----------------------+----------------------+
|No.| Staffordshire. | Newbury. | South Devon. |
+---+----------------------+----------------------+----------------------+
| 1.|Poor Mary sits a- |Poor Mary sits a- |Poor Mary is a- |
| |weeping. |weeping. |weeping. |
| 2.| -- |Pray what are you |What is she weeping |
| | |weeping for? |for? |
| 3.| -- | -- | -- |
| 4.|She's weeping for her |She's weeping for a |She's weeping for her |
| |lover. |lover. |lover. |
| 5.|On a bright summer's |This bright summer's |On a fine summer's |
| |day. |day. |day. |
| 6.| -- | -- | -- |
| 7.| -- | -- | -- |
| 8.| -- | -- |[See No. 41.] |
| 9.| -- | -- | -- |
|10.|Stand up and choose |Rise up and choose | -- |
| |your lover. |your lover. | |
|11.| -- | -- | -- |
|12.| -- | -- | -- |
|13.| -- | -- | -- |
|14.| -- |Now Mary she is | -- |
| | |married. | |
|15.| -- | -- | -- |
|16.| -- | -- | -- |
|17.| -- | -- | -- |
|18.| -- | -- | -- |
|19.| -- | -- | -- |
|20.| -- | -- | -- |
|21.| -- | -- | -- |
|22.| -- | -- | -- |
|23.| -- | -- | -- |
|24.| -- | -- | -- |
|25.| -- | -- | -- |
|26.| -- | -- | -- |
|27.| -- | -- | -- |
|28.| -- | -- | -- |
|29.| -- | -- | -- |
|30.| -- | -- | -- |
|31.| -- | -- | -- |
|32.| -- | -- | -- |
|33.| -- | -- | -- |
|34.| -- | -- | -- |
|35.| -- | -- | -- |
|36.|Now she's got a lover.| -- | -- |
|37.| -- | -- |Who is her lover? |
|38.| -- | -- |I. O. is her lover. |
|39.| -- | -- |Where is her lover? |
|40.| -- | -- |Her lover is sleeping.|
|41.| -- | -- |At the bottom of the |
| | | |sea. |
|42.| -- | -- | -- |
|43.| -- | -- | -- |
+---+----------------------+----------------------+----------------------+
+---+----------------------+----------------------+----------------------+
|No.| Cambridge. | Ogbourne. | Manton. |
+---+----------------------+----------------------+----------------------+
| 1.|Poor Mary is a- |Poor Mary is a- |Poor Sally is a- |
| |weeping. |weeping. |weeping. |
| 2.| -- |Pray what is she |Pray tell me what |
| | |weeping for? |you're weeping for. |
| 3.| -- | -- | -- |
| 4.| -- |I'm weeping for my |I'm weeping for my |
| | |true love. |sweetheart. |
| 5.| -- |On a bright summer's | -- |
| | |day. | |
| 6.| -- | -- | -- |
| 7.| -- | -- | -- |
| 8.| -- | -- |Down by the seaside. |
| 9.| -- | -- | -- |
|10.|Stand up upon your |Stand up and choose | -- |
| |feet and show the one |your true love. | |
| |you love so sweet. | | |
|11.| -- | -- | -- |
|12.| -- | -- | -- |
|13.|On the carpet she | -- | -- |
| |shall kneel till the | | |
| |grass grows on the | | |
| |field. | | |
|14.|Now you're married I | -- | -- |
| |wish you joy. | | |
|15.|First a girl and | -- | -- |
| |second a boy. | | |
|16.| -- | -- | -- |
|17.| -- | -- | -- |
|18.| -- | -- | -- |
|19.| -- | -- | -- |
|20.| -- | -- | -- |
|21.| -- | -- | -- |
|22.| -- | -- | -- |
|23.| -- | -- | -- |
|24.| -- | -- | -- |
|25.| -- | -- | -- |
|26.| -- | -- | -- |
|27.| -- | -- | -- |
|28.| -- | -- | -- |
|29.|If one don't kiss, the| -- | -- |
| |other must. | | |
|30.| -- | -- | -- |
|31.| -- | -- | -- |
|32.| -- | -- | -- |
|33.| -- | -- | -- |
|34.| -- | -- | -- |
|35.| -- | -- | -- |
|36.| -- | -- | -- |
|37.| -- | -- | -- |
|38.| -- | -- | -- |
|39.| -- | -- | -- |
|40.| -- | -- | -- |
|41.| -- | -- | -- |
|42.| -- |Ring a ring o' roses a|A ring of roses a |
| | |pocketful of posies. |pocketful of posies. |
|43.| -- | -- |We all tumble down. |
+---+----------------------+----------------------+----------------------+
+---+----------------------+----------------------+
|No.| Berwickshire. | Scotland. |
+---+----------------------+----------------------+
| 1.|What is Jennie weeping|Poor Mary is a- |
| |for? |weeping. |
| 2.| -- |Pray tell me what |
| | |you're weeping for. |
| 3.| -- | -- |
| 4.|I'm weeping for my own| -- |
| |true love. | |
| 5.|All on this summer's |On a fine summer's |
| |day. |day. |
| 6.| -- | -- |
| 7.| -- | -- |
| 8.| -- | -- |
| 9.| -- | -- |
|10.| -- |Stand up and choose |
| | |your love. |
|11.| -- | -- |
|12.|Rise up and choose | -- |
| |another love. | |
|13.| -- | -- |
|14.| -- | -- |
|15.| -- | -- |
|16.| -- | -- |
|17.| -- | -- |
|18.| -- | -- |
|19.| -- | -- |
|20.| -- | -- |
|21.| -- | -- |
|22.| -- | -- |
|23.| -- | -- |
|24.| -- | -- |
|25.| -- | -- |
|26.| -- | -- |
|27.| -- | -- |
|28.| -- | -- |
|29.| -- | -- |
|30.| -- |Because my father's |
| | |dead and gone. |
|31.| -- |She's kneeling by her |
| | |father's grave. |
|32.| -- | -- |
|33.| -- | -- |
|34.| -- | -- |
|35.| -- | -- |
|36.| -- | -- |
|37.| -- | -- |
|38.| -- | -- |
|39.| -- | -- |
|40.| -- | -- |
|41.| -- | -- |
|42.| -- | -- |
|43.| -- | -- |
+---+----------------------+----------------------+
(_b_) A ring is formed by the children joining hands. One child kneels
in the centre, covering her face with her hands. The ring dances round,
and sings the first two verses. The kneeling child then takes her hands
from her face and sings the next verse, still kneeling. While the ring
sings the next verse, she rises and chooses one child out of the ring.
They stand together, holding hands while the others sing the marriage
formula, and kiss each other at the command. The ring of children dance
round quickly while singing this. When finished the first "Mary" takes a
place in the ring, and the other child kneels down (Barnes and other
places). At Enborne school, Newbury (Miss Kimber), this game is played
by boys and girls. All the children in the ring sing the first two
verses. Then the boys alone in the ring sing the next verse; all the
ring singing the fourth. While singing this the kneeling child rises and
holds out her hand to any boy she prefers, who goes into the ring with
her. When he is left in the ring at the commencement of the game again,
a boy's name is substituted for that of "Mary." There appears to be no
kissing. In the Liphook version (Miss Fowler), after the girl has chosen
her sweetheart the ring breaks, and the two walk out and then kneel
down, returning to the ring and kissing each other. A version identical
with that of Barnes is played by the girls of Clapham High School. All
tunes sent me were similar to that given.
(_c_) The analysis of the game rhymes is on pp. 56-60.
This analysis shows that the incidents expressed by the rhymes are
practically the same in all the versions. In the majority of the cases
the weeping is depicted as part of a ceremony, by which it is known that
a girl desires a lover; she is enabled then to choose one, and to be
married. The marriage formula is the usual one in the Barnes' version,
but follows another set of words in three other versions. In the cases
where the marriage is neither expressed by a formula, nor implied by
other means (Winterton and Forest of Dean), the versions are evidently
fragments only, and probably at one time ended, as in the other cases,
with marriage. But in three other cases the ending is not with marriage.
The Earls Heaton and Scottish versions represent the cause of weeping as
the death of a father, the Berkshire version introduces the apparently
unmeaning incident of Mary bearing a shepherd's cross, and the South
Devon version represents the cause of weeping the death of a lover at
sea. It is obvious that at places where sailors abound, the incident of
weeping for a sailor-lover who is dead would get inserted, and the fact
of this change only occurring once in the versions I have collected,
tells all the more strongly in favour of the original version having
represented marriage and love, and not death, but it does not follow
that the marriage formula belongs to the oldest or original form of the
game. I am inclined to think this has been added since marriage was
thought to be the natural and proper result of choosing a sweetheart.
(_d_) The change in some of the verses, as in the Cambridge version, is
due to corruption and the marked decadence now occurring in these games.
No. 13 in the analysis is from the game "Pretty little girl of mine,"
and Nos. 42-3 "Ring o' Roses."
Poor Widow
I. Here's an old widow who lies alone,
Lies alone, lies alone,
Here's an old widow who lies alone,
She wants a man and can't get one.
Choose one, choose two, choose the fairest.
The fairest one that I can see
Is [Mary Hamilton], come unto me.
Now she is married and tied to a bag,
She has got a man with a wooden leg.
--Belfast (W. H. Patterson).
II. There was an old soldier he came from the war,
His age it was sixty and three.
Go you, old soldier, and choose a wife,
Choose a good one or else choose none.
Here's a poor widow she lives her lone,
She hasn't a daughter to marry but one.
Come choose to the east, choose to the west,
And choose the very one you love best.
Here's a couple married in joy,
First a girl and then a boy,
Seven years after, and seven years come,
Pree[1] young couple kiss and have done.
--Belfast (W. H. Patterson).
III. There was a poor widow left alone,
And all her children dead and gone.
Come, choose you east,
Come, choose you west,
Take the man you love best.
Now they're married,
I wish them joy,
Every year a girl or a boy,
I hope this couple may kiss each other.
--Nairn (Rev. W. Gregor).
(_b_) One child is chosen to act the part of the widow. The players join
hands and form a circle. The widow takes her stand in the centre of the
circle in a posture indicating sorrow. The girls in the circle trip
round and round, and sing the first five lines. The widow then chooses
one of the ring. The ring then sings the marriage formula, the two kiss
each other, and the game is continued, the one chosen to be the mate of
the first widow becoming the widow in turn (Nairn).
(_c_) This game is probably the same as "Silly Old Man." Two separate
versions may have arisen by girls playing by themselves without boys.
[1] Sometimes "pray," but "pree" seems to be the Scotch for
taste:--"pree her moo" = taste her mouth = to kiss.
Pop Goes the Weasel
Half a pound of tup'ny rice,
Half a pound of treacle;
Mix it up and make it nice,
Pop goes the weasel.
--Earls Heaton (Herbert Hardy).
(_b_) Children stand in two rows facing each other, they sing while
moving backwards and forwards. At the close one from each side selects a
partner, and then, all having partners, they whirl round and round.
(_c_) An additional verse is sometimes sung with or in place of the
above in London.
Up and down the City Road;
In and out the Eagle;
That's the way the money goes,
Pop goes the weasel.
--(A. Nutt).
Mr. Nutt writes: "The Eagle was (and may be still) a well-known tavern
and dancing saloon."
Pop-the-Bonnet
A game in which two, each putting down a pin on the crown of a hat or
bonnet, alternately pop on the bonnet till one of the pins crosses the
other; then he at whose pop or tap this takes place, lifts the
stakes.--Teviotdale (Jamieson). The same game is now played by boys with
steel pens or nibs.
See "Hattie."
Poppet-Show
See "Pinny Show."
Port the Helm
This is a boys' game. Any number may join in it. The players join hands
and stand in line. The leader, generally a bigger boy, begins to bend
round, at first slowly, then with more speed, drawing the whole line
after him. The circular motion is communicated to the whole line, and,
unless the boys at the end farthest from the leader run very quickly,
the momentum throws them off their feet with a dash if they do not drop
their hold.--Keith, Nairn (Rev. W. Gregor).
Pots, or Potts
Throwing a ball against a wall, letting it bounce and catching it,
accompanied by the following movements:--
1. Simply three times each.
2. Throw, twist hands, and catch.
3. Clap hands in front, behind, in front.
4. Turn round.
5. Beat down ball on ground three times, and catch.
6. Again on ground and catch (once) at end of first "pot," and twice for
second "pot."
--Hexham (Miss J. Barker).
Pray, Pretty Miss
I. Priperty Miss, will you come out,
Will you come out, will you come out?
Priperty Miss, will you come out
To help us with our dancing?
No!
The naughty girl, she won't come out,
She won't come out, she won't come out;
The naughty girl, she won't come out
To help us with our dancing.
Priperty Miss, will you come out,
Will you come out, will you come out?
Priperty Miss, will you come out
To help us with our dancing?
Yes!
Now we've got another girl,
Another girl, another girl;
Now we've got another girl
To help us with our dancing.
--Fochabers (Rev. W. Gregor).
II. Pray, pretty Miss, will you come out,
Will you come out, will you come out?
Pray, pretty Miss, will you come out
To help me in my dancing?
No!
Then you are a naughty Miss!
Then you are a naughty Miss!
Then you are a naughty Miss!
Won't help me in my dancing.
Pray, pretty Miss, will you come out,
Will you come out, will you come out?
Pray, pretty Miss, will you come out
To help me in my dancing?
Yes!
Now you are a good Miss!
Now you are a good Miss!
Now you are a good Miss!
To help me in my dancing.
--Cornwall (_Folk-lore Journal_, v. 47, 48).
III. Pray, pretty Miss, will you come out to help us in our
dancing?
No!
Oh, then you are a naughty Miss, won't help us with our
dancing.
Pray, pretty Miss, will you come out to help us in our
dancing?
Yes!
Now we've got our jolly old lass to help us with our
dancing.
--Sheffield, Yorks. (_Folk-lore Record_, v. 87).
IV. Oh, will you come and dance with me,
Oh, will you come and dance with me?
No!
[They say as above to the next girl, who says "Yes."]
Now we've got our bonny bunch
To help us with our dancing.
--Hurstmonceux, Sussex (Miss Chase).
(_b_) The Scottish version of this game is played as follows:--All the
players stand in a line except two, who stand facing them. These two
join hands crosswise, and then advancing and retiring, sing to the child
at the end of the line the first four lines. The first child refuses,
and they then dance round, singing the second verse. They sing the first
verse again, and on her compliance she joins the two, and all three
dance round together, singing the last verse. The three then advance and
retire, singing the first verse to another child.
The Cornish version is played differently: a ring is formed, boy and
girl standing alternately in the centre. The child in the middle holds
a white handkerchief by two of its corners; if a boy he would single out
one of the girls, dance backwards and forwards opposite to her, and sing
the first verse. If the answer were "No!" spoken with averted head over
the left shoulder, he sang the second verse. Occasionally three or four
in turn refused. When the request was granted the words were changed to
the fourth verse. The handkerchief was then carefully spread on the
floor; the couple knelt on it and kissed: the child formerly in the
middle joined the ring, and the other took his place, or if he preferred
it remained in the centre; in that case the children clasped hands and
sang together the first verse over again, the last to enter the ring
having the privilege of selecting the next partner.
(_c_) Miss Courtney says (_Folk-lore Journal_, v. 47), that this game is
quite a thing of the past. Of the Hurstmonceux version, Miss Chase says,
"This game is not fully remembered. It was played about 1850." The words
indicate an invitation to the dance similar to those in "Cushion Dance,"
"Green Grass."
Pretty Little Girl of Mine
[Music]
--Monton, Lancashire (Miss Dendy).
[Music]
--Tean, North Staffordshire (Miss Burne).
[Music]
--Eccleshall (Miss Burne).
[Music]
--Nottingham (Miss Youngman).
[Music]
--Hanbury, Staffordshire (Edith Hollis).
I. Here's a pretty little girl of mine,
She's brought me many a bottle of wine;
A bottle of wine she gave me too--
See what this little girl can do.
On the carpet she shall kneel
As the grass grows on the fiel';
Stand upright on your feet,
And choose the one you love so sweet.
Now you are married I wish you joy,
First a girl and then a boy;
Seven years after, son and daughter;
Pray, young couple, kiss together.
--Symondsbury, Dorset (Folk-lore Journal, vii. 207).
II. Oh, this pretty little girl of mine,
Brought me many a bottle of wine;
A bottle of wine and a guinea, too,
See what my little girl _can_ do.
Down on the carpet she shall kneel,
As the grass grows in the field;
Stand upright on your feet,
And choose the one you love so sweet.
Now I'm married and wish you joy,
First a girl and then a boy;
Seven years after, seven years past,
Kiss one another and go to your class.
--Hampshire (Miss Mendham).
III. Here's a pretty little girl of mine,
Who's brought her bottle and glass of wine;
A glass of wine and a biscuit too,
See what my pretty girl will do.
On the carpet she shall kneel,
While the grass grows in the field;
Stand upright upon your feet,
Choose the one you love so sweet.
When you're married I wish you joy,
First a girl and second a boy,
Seven years after, son and daughter,
Now, young couple, kiss together.
--Gambledown, Hants (Mrs. Pinsent).
IV. Oh! this pretty little girl of mine,
Has cost me many a bottle of wine;
A bottle of wine and a guinea or two,
So see what my little girl can do.
Down on the carpet she shall kneel,
While the grass grows on her field;
Stand upright upon your feet,
And choose the one you love so sweet.
Now you are married you must obey,
Must be true in all you say;
You must be kind and very good,
And help your wife to chop the wood.
--Maxey (_Northants Notes and Queries_, i. 214).
V. Here's a pretty little girl of mine,
She's cost me many a bottle of wine;
A bottle of wine and a guinea too,
See what my little girl can do.
Down on the carpet she must kneel,
As the grass grows in the field;
Stand upright upon her feet,
And choose the one she loves so sweet.
Now you're married I wish you joy,
Father and mother you must obey;
Love one another like sister and brother,
And pray, young couple, come kiss one another.
--Colchester (Miss G. M. Frances).
VI. Oh! this pretty little girl of mine,
She bought me many a bottle of wine,
A bottle of wine she gave me too,
So see what my little girl could do.
Stand up, stand up upon your feet,
And choose the one you love so sweet.
--Liphook, Hants (Miss Fowler).
VII. See what a pretty little girl have I,
She brings me many a bottle of wi';
A bottle of wine and a biscuit too,
See what a little girl can do.
On the carpet she shall kneel,
As the grass grows in the fiel';
Stand upright upon your feet,
And choose the one you love so sweet.
Now you're married we wish you joy,
First a girl and then a boy,
Seven years after, son and daughter,
May you couple kiss together.
--South Devon (_Notes and Queries_, 8th series, i. 249; Miss R. H.
Busk).
VIII. See what a pretty little girl I am,
She gave me many a bottle of wine,
Many a bottle of wine, and a biscuit too,
See what a pretty little girl can do.
On the carpet you shall kneel,
Stand up straight all in the field,
Choose the one that you love best.
Now we are married and hope we enjoy,
First a girl and then a boy,
Seven years after and seven years to come,
May young company kiss have done.
--Holywood, Co. Down (Miss C. M. Patterson).
IX. See what a pretty little girl I am!
Brought me many a bottle o' wine!
Bottle o' wine to make me shine!
See what a pretty little girl I am!
Upon the carpets we shall kneel,
As the grass grows in yonder field;
Stand up lightly on your feet,
And choose the one you love so sweet.
Now these two are going to die,
First a girl, and then a boy;
Seven years at afterwards, seven years ago,
And now they are parted with a kiss and a go.
--Monton, Lancashire (Miss Dendy).
X. See this pretty little maid of mine!
She's brought me many a bottle of wine;
A bottle of wine, a good thing, too;
See what this pretty maid can do!
Down on the carpet she must kneel,
Till the grass grows on her feet;
Stand up straight upon thy feet,
Choose the very one that you love sweet.
Take her by her lily-white hand,
Lean across the water;
Give a kiss,--one, two, three,--
To Mrs. ----'s daughter.
--Suffolk (Mrs. Haddon).
XI. See what a pretty little girl I am!
They brought me many a bottle of wine--
Bottle of wine to make me shine;
See what a pretty little girl I am!
On the carpets we must kneel,
As the grass grows in yonder field;
Rise up lightly on your feet,
And kiss the one you love so sweet.
My sister's going to get married,
My sister's going to get married,
My sister's going to get married,
Ee! Ii! Oh!
Open your gates as wide as high,
And let the pretty girls come by,
And let the {jolly} matrons[2] by.
{bonny}
One in a bush,
Two in a bush,
Ee! Ii! Oh!
--Colleyhurst, Manchester (Miss Dendy).
XII. On the carpet you shall kneel
Where the grass grows fresh and {green;
{clean;
Stand up, stand up on your pretty feet,
And show me the one you love so sweet.
Now Sally's got married, we wish her good joy,
First a girl, and then a boy;
Seven years arter, a son and darter,
So, young couple, kiss together.
Or,
Seven years now, and seven to come,
Take her and kiss her and send her off home.
--Eccleshall, Staffs. (Miss Burne).
XIII. On the carpet you shall kneel,
As the grass grows on the field;
Stand up straight upon your feet,
And tell me the one you love so sweet.
---- is married with a good child,
First with a girl and then with a boy;
Seven years after son and daughter,
Play with a couple and kiss together.
--Tean, North Staffs. (from a Monitor in the National School).
XIV. On the carpet you shall kneel,
As the grass grows in the field;
Stand up, stand up upon your feet,
And tell me whom you love so sweet.
Now you're married I wish you joy,
First a girl, and then a boy;
Seven years after son and daughter,
Come, young couple, come kiss together.
--Middlesex (Miss Winfield).
XV. On the carpet you shall kneel,
As the grass grows in the field;
Stand up, stand up on your feet,
Show the girl you love so sweet.
Now you're married I hope you'll enjoy
A son and a daughter, so
Kiss and good-bye.
--Long Eaton, Nottinghamshire (Miss Youngman).
XVI. Down on the carpet you shall kneel,
While the grass grows on your field;[3]
Stand up straight upon your feet,
And choose the one you love so sweet.
Marry couple, married in joy,
First a girl and then a boy;
Seven years after, seven years come,
Please,[4] young couple, kiss and have done.
--Belfast (W. H. Patterson).
XVII. On the carpet you shall kneel,
While the grass grows fresh and green;
Stand up straight upon your feet,
And kiss the one you love so sweet.
Now they're married, love and joy,
First a girl and then a boy;
Seven years after, seven years ago,
Now's the time to kiss and go.