without a special form. The game appears to be purely a love and
marriage game, and has probably had its origin in a ballad, and this
idea is strengthened by the fact that only one version (London) has the
marriage formula sung at the end, and this is probably an arbitrary
addition. The lover is represented as lonely and disconsolate, and the
remedy suggested is to choose a sweetheart. The marriage ceremony is of
the simplest description--the clasping of hands and the kissing within
the circle probably implying the betrothal at a spot sacred to such
functions, similar to the Standing Stones of Stenness. Whatever may have
been the original intention of these stones, they came in more recent
times to be the resort of lovers, who joined their right hands through
the hole in the altar stones in the belief that this ceremony would add
additional solemnity to the betrothal. Miss Gordon Cumming, in her _Tour
in the Hebrides_, mentions the fact of the marriage ceremony being of
the simplest--a man and woman standing facing each other and clasping
hands over a particular stone. Walking arm-in-arm is a sign in
Dorsetshire that a couple are married. The mention of the "roast beef
and plum pudding" for dinner has probably had its origin in the wedding
dinner or breakfast, and the inviting of friends to assemble for the
wedding dinner. The word "Isabella" may have been originally something
quite different from the name of a girl. I am inclined to think the word
was not the name of a person at all; possibly it was something addressed
to a particular person in words the sense of which are now lost, and the
nearest idea to it was this name. The same thing may also apply to the
word "farewell," and hence the incongruity of the first few lines in
nearly all versions.
Jack's Alive.
A number of people sit in a row, or on chairs round a parlour. A
lighted wooden spill or taper is handed to the first, who says--
Jack's alive, and likely to live;
If he dies in your hand you've a forfeit to give.
The one in whose hand the light expires has to pay a forfeit. As the
spill is getting burnt out the lines are said very quickly, as everybody
is anxious not to have to pay the forfeit.--Addy's _Sheffield Glossary_.
At Egan, in Derbyshire, a number of persons sit round a fire; one of
them lights a stick, twirls it round, and says--
Little Nanny Cockerthaw,
What if I should let her fa'?
The others reply--
Nine sticks and nine stones
Shall be laid on thy bare back bones
If thou shouldst let fa'
Little Nanny Cockerthaw.
If the ember or lighted stick goes out whilst any one is twirling it
round, and whilst the lines are being said, he has to lie on the floor,
when stones, chairs, or other articles of furniture are piled upon
him.--S. O. Addy.
Mactaggart calls it "Preest Cat," and says that it is an ingleside game.
A piece of stick is made red in the fire; one hands it to another,
saying--
About wi' that, about wi' that,
Keep alive the preest cat.
Then round is handed the stick, and whomsoever's hand it goes out in,
that one is in a wad, and must kiss the crook, the cleps, and what not,
ere he gets out of it.
Lilly cuckoo, lilly cuckoo,
Sticks and stanes lie at thy weary banes
If thou fa', for a' I blaw,
Lilly cuckoo, lilly cuckoo.
This rhyme is common in the "Preest Cat" sport toward the border.
Anciently, when the priest's cat departed this life, wailing began in
the country side, as it was thought it became some supernatural being--a
witch, perhaps, of hideous form--so to keep it alive was a great
matter.--Mactaggart's _Gallovidian Encyclopædia_.
He also refers to a game called "Robin-a-Ree," much like "Preest Cat,"
only in passing the burnt stick round the ring the following rhyme is
said--
Robin-a-Ree, ye'll no dee wi' me,
Tho' I birl ye roun' three times and three;
O Robin-a-Ree, O Robin-a-Ree,
O dinna let Robin-a-Reerie dee.
Robin-a-Ree occurs in an old song.--Mactaggart's _Gallovidian
Encyclopædia_.
In Cornwall it is known as "Robin's a-light," and is played around the
fire. A piece of stick is set on fire and whirled around rapidly in the
hand of the first player, who says, "Robin's a-light, and if he go out I
will saddle your back." It is then passed to the next, who says the same
thing, and so on. The person who lets the spark die out has to pay a
forfeit.--Scilly (Courtney's West _Cornwall Glossary_). A rhyme at
Lostwithiel is known as follows--
Jack's alive, and likely to live;
If he die in my hand a pawn (forfeit) I'll give.
--(J. W.)
Jamieson (_Dictionary_) says, "To do 'Dingle-dousie,' a stick is ignited
at one end and given as a plaything to a child." Elworthy (_West
Somerset Words_) does not give this as a game, but says a burning stick
was whirled round and round very quickly, so as to keep up the
appearance of a ribbon of fire. Miss Burne (_Shropshire Folk-lore_, p.
530), says, "Children wave a burning stick in the air, saying--
A girdle o' gold, a saddle o' silk,
A horse for me as white as milk,
an evident relic of divinations or incantations practised with
bonfires." Halliwell (_Nursery Rhymes_, p. 213) gives the rhyme as--
Jack's alive, and in very good health,
If he dies in your hand you must look to yourself;
the game being played in the same way as the Sheffield version (see also
Halliwell's _Dictionary_ and Moor's _Suffolk Words_).
(_b_) This is a very significant game, and its similarity in miniature
to the old tribal custom of carrying the fiery cross to rouse the clans
at once suggests the possible origin of it. The detention of the fiery
cross through neglect or other impediment was regarded with much dread
by the inhabitants of the place in which it should occur. This subject
is discussed in _Gomme's Primitive Folkmoots_, p. 279 _et seq._
Jack, Jack, the Bread's a-burning
Jack, Jack, the bread's a-burning,
All to a cinder;
If you don't come and fetch it out
We'll throw it through the winder.
These lines are chanted by players that stand thus. One places his back
against a wall, tree, &c., grasping another, whose back is toward him,
round the waist; the second grasps a third, and so on. The player called
Jack walks apart until the conclusion of the lines. Then he goes to the
others and pokes at or pats them, saying, "I don't think you're done
yet," and walks away again. The chant is repeated, and when he is
satisfied that the bread is "done" he endeavours to pull the foremost
from the grasp of the others, &c.--Warwickshire (Northall's _Folk
Rhymes_, p. 390).
See "Mother Mop."
Jack upon the Mopstick
See "Bung the Bucket."
Jackysteauns
A game among school-girls, played with small pebbles, and sometimes with
plum or cherry stones (Dickinson's _Cumberland Glossary_). "A children's
game, played with five white pebbles called Jackstones," says Mr.
Patterson (_Antrim and Down Glossary_). The game is called "Jack."
See "Fivestones," "Hucklebones."
Jauping Paste-eggs
A youthful amusement in Newcastle and the neighbourhood at Easter. One
boy, holding an egg in his hand, challenges another to give blow for
blow. One of the eggs is sure to be fractured in the conflict, and its
shattered remains become the spoil of the conqueror.
See "Conkers."
Jenny Jones
[Music]
--Platt, near Wrotham, Kent (Miss Burne).
[Music]
--Northants (Rev. W. D. Sweeting).
[Music]
--Belfast (W. H. Patterson).
I. I'm come to court Janet jo,
Janet jo, Janet jo,
I'm come to court Janet jo,
How's she the day?
She's up the stair washin',
Washin', washin',
She's up the stair washin',
Ye canna see her the day.
[Then follow verses, the words of which are not given by Chambers,
representing Jenny as bleaching, drying, and ironing clothes. At last
they say--]
Janet jo's dead and gane,
Dead and gane, dead and gane;
Janet jo's dead and gane,
She'll never come hame!
--Chambers' _Popular Rhymes_, pp. 140-41.
II. I'm come to court Janet jo, Janet jo, Janet jo,
Come to court Janet jo,
How is she the day?
She's butt the house washing, washing, washing
She's butt the house washing,
You can't see her to-day.
Fare ye well, ladies, ladies, ladies,
Fare ye well, ladies,
For I must away.
--West Scotland (_Folk-lore Record_, iv. 474).
III. We've come to court Jinny jo,
Jinny jo, Jinny jo,
We've come to court Jinny jo,
Is she within?
Jinny jo's washing clothes,
Washing clothes, washing clothes,
Jinny jo's washing clothes,
You can't see her to-day.
So fare ye well, ladies,
O ladies, O ladies,
So fare ye well, ladies
And gentlemen too.
[These verses are repeated for--
(1) drying clothes,
(2) starching,
(3) ironing,
(4) ill,
(5) dying.
Then--]
Jinny jo's lying dead,
Lying dead, lying dead,
Jinny jo's lying dead,
You can't see her to-day.
So turn again, ladies,
Ladies, ladies, ladies,
So turn again, ladies,
And gentlemen too.
What shall we dress her in?
Dress her in, dress her in?
What shall we dress her in?
Shall it be red?
Red's for the soldiers,
The soldiers, the soldiers,
Red's for the soldiers,
And that will not do.
[Various other colours are suggested in the same way, but are found
unsuitable--black because "black's for the mourners," green because
"green's for the croppies," and so on till at last white is named.]
White's for the dead people,
Dead people, the dead people,
White's for the dead people,
And that will just do.
--Belfast (_Notes and Queries_, 7th series, xii. 492, W. H. Patterson).
IV. I came to see Jenny jo, Jenny jo, Jenny jo,
I came to see Jenny jo, is she within?
Jenny jo's washing clothes, washing clothes, washing clothes,
Jenny jo's washing clothes, and ye can't see her to-day.
Oh but I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry,
Oh but I'm sorry, I can't see her to-day.
Farewell ladies, O ladies, O ladies,
Farewell ladies, and gentlemen too.
[Then the same verses are repeated for--
(1) starching clothes,
(2) smoothing clothes,
(3) dead,
the four lines above being repeated after each, and the verses proceed
with--]
What shall we dress her in, dress her in, dress her in?
What shall we dress her in? Shall it be black?
Black for the sweeps, the sweeps, the sweeps,
Black for the sweeps, and that shall not do.
What shall we dress her in, dress her in, dress her in?
What shall we dress her in? Shall it be blue?
Blue for the sailors, sailors, sailors,
Blue for the sailors, and that shall not do.
What shall we dress her in, dress her in, dress her in?
What shall we dress her in? Shall it be red?
Red for the soldiers, soldiers, soldiers,
Red for the soldiers, and that shall not do.
What shall we dress her in, dress her in, dress her in?
What shall we dress her in? Shall it be orange?
Orange for the Orange-men, Orange-men, Orange-men,
Orange for the Orange-men, and that shall not do.
What shall we dress her in, dress her in, dress her in?
What shall we dress her in? Shall it be white?
White for the corpse, the corpse, the corpse,
White for the corpse, and that will just do.
We have lost a soldier, soldier, soldier,
We have lost a soldier, and the Queen has lost a man.
We will bury him in the bed of glory, glory, glory,
We will bury him in the bed of glory, and we'll never see him
any more.
--Holywood, co. Down (Miss C. N. Patterson).
V. I've come to see Jenny jo, Jenny jo, Jenny jo,
I've come to see Jenny jo,
How is she now?
Jenny jo is washing clothes, washing clothes, washing
clothes,
Jenny jo is washing clothes,
You can't see her now.
I've come to see Jenny jo, Jenny jo, Jenny jo,
I've come to see Jenny jo,
How is she now?
Jenny jo is ironing clothes, ironing clothes, ironing
clothes,
Jenny jo is ironing clothes,
You can't see her now.
I've come to see Jenny jo, Jenny jo, Jenny jo,
I've come to see Jenny jo,
How is she now?
Jenny jo is sick, my dear, sick, my dear, sick, my dear,
Jenny jo is sick, my dear,
You can't see her now.
I've come to see Jenny jo, Jenny jo, Jenny jo,
I've come to see Jenny jo,
How is she now?
Jenny jo is underboard, underboard, underboard,
Jenny jo is underboard,
You can't see her now.
--Lismore (Miss F. Keane, collected from Miss Ward, National
Schoolmistress).
VI. We've come to see Jenny Jones,
Jenny Jones, Jenny Jones,
We've come to see Jenny Jones,
And how is she now?
O Jenny is washing,
O washing, O washing,
O Jenny is washing,
And you can't see her now.
Very well, ladies, ladies, ladies,
Very well, ladies, and gentlemen too.
We've come to see Jenny Jones,
Jenny Jones, Jenny Jones,
We've come to see Jenny Jones,
And how is she now?
O Jenny is starching,
O starching, O starching,
O Jenny is starching,
And you can't see her now.
Very well, ladies, ladies, ladies,
Very well, ladies, and gentlemen too.
We've come to see Jenny Jones,
Jenny Jones, Jenny Jones,
We've come to see Jenny Jones,
And how is she now?
O Jenny is ironing,
O ironing, O ironing,
O Jenny is ironing,
And you can't see her now.
Very well, ladies, ladies, ladies,
Very well, ladies, and gentlemen too.
We've come to see Jenny Jones,
Jenny Jones, Jenny Jones,
We've come to see Jenny Jones,
And how is she now?
O Jenny is ill,
O ill, O ill,
O Jenny is ill,
And you can't see her now.
Very well, ladies, ladies, ladies,
Very well, ladies, and gentlemen too.
We've come to see Jenny Jones,
Jenny Jones, Jenny Jones,
We've come to see Jenny Jones,
And how is she now?
O Jenny is dying,
O dying, O dying,
O Jenny is dying,
And you can't see her now.
Very well, ladies, ladies, ladies,
Very well, ladies, and gentlemen too.
We've come to see Jenny Jones,
Jenny Jones, Jenny Jones,
We've come to see Jenny Jones,
And how is she now?
O Jenny is dead,
Is dead, is dead,
O Jenny is dead,
And you can't see her now.
Very well, ladies, ladies, ladies,
Very well, ladies, and gentlemen too.
What shall we lay her in, lay her in, lay her in?
What shall we lay her in? Shall it be red?
Red is for soldiers, soldiers, soldiers,
Red is for soldiers, and that won't do.
Very well, ladies, ladies, ladies,
Very well, ladies, and gentlemen too.
What shall we lay her in, lay her in, lay her in?
What shall we lay her in? Shall it be blue?
Blue is for sailors, sailors, sailors,
Blue is for sailors, and that won't do.
Very well, ladies, ladies, ladies,
Very well, ladies, and gentlemen too.
What shall we lay her in, lay her in, lay her in?
What shall we lay her in? Shall it be black?
Black is for mourners, mourners, mourners,
Black is for mourners, and that won't do.
Very well, ladies, ladies, ladies,
Very well, ladies, and gentlemen too.
What shall we lay her in, lay her in, lay her in?
What shall we lay her in? Shall it be white?
White's what the dead wear, dead wear, dead wear,
White's what the dead wear, and that will just do.
--Hanwell, Middlesex, 1878 (A. B. Gomme).
VII. We've come to see poor Jenny Jones, poor Jenny Jones, poor
Jenny Jones,
We've come to see poor Jenny Jones, how is she to-day?
Poor Jenny is washing, washing, washing,
Poor Jenny is washing, washing hard to-day.
What time can we see her?
At one o'clock. (Clock strikes one.)
We've come to see poor Jenny Jones, poor Jenny Jones, poor
Jenny Jones,
We've come to see poor Jenny Jones, how is she to-day?
Poor Jenny is starching, starching, starching,
Poor Jenny is starching, you can't see her to-day.
When can we see her?
At two o'clock. (Clock strikes two.)
We've come to see poor Jenny Jones, poor Jenny Jones, poor
Jenny Jones,
We've come to see poor Jenny Jones, how is she to-day?
Poor Jenny is folding, folding, folding,
Poor Jenny is folding, you can't see her to-day.
When can we see her?
At three o'clock. (Clock strikes three.)
We've come to see poor Jenny Jones, poor Jenny Jones, poor
Jenny Jones,
We've come to see poor Jenny Jones, how is she to-day?
Poor Jenny is ironing, ironing, ironing,
Poor Jenny is ironing, you can't see her to-day.
When can we see her?
At four o'clock. (Clock strikes four.)
We've come to see poor Jenny Jones, poor Jenny Jones, poor
Jenny Jones,
We've come to see poor Jenny Jones, how is she to-day?
Poor Jenny is poorly, poorly, poorly,
Poor Jenny is poorly, you can't see her to-day.
When can we see her?
At five o'clock. (Clock strikes five.)
We've come to see poor Jenny Jones, poor Jenny Jones, poor
Jenny Jones,
We've come to see poor Jenny Jones, how is she to-day?
Poor Jenny is dying, dying, dying,
Poor Jenny is dying, you can't see her to-day.
When shall we see her?
(Come) at six o'clock. (Clock strikes six.)
We've come to see poor Jenny Jones, poor Jenny Jones, poor
Jenny Jones,
We've come to see poor Jenny Jones, how is she to-day?
Poor Jenny is dead, dead, dead,
Poor Jenny is dead, you can't see her to-day.
What colour will you have for the funeral for poor Jenny
Jones?
Red?
Red is for the soldiers, soldiers, soldiers,
Red is for the soldiers, and that won't do.
Blue?
Blue is for the sailors, sailors, sailors,
Blue is for the sailors, and that won't do.
Pink?
Pink is for the babies, babies, babies,
Pink is for the babies, and that won't do.
White?
White is for a wedding, a wedding, a wedding,
White is for a wedding, and that won't do.
Black?
Black is for the mourners, mourners, mourners,
Black is for the mourners, and that will do.
Poor Jenny Jones is dead, dead, dead,
Poor Jenny Jones is dead, and lies in her grave.
--Southampton (from nursemaid of Mrs. W. R. Carse).
VIII. We've come to see Jenny Jones, Jenny Jones, Jenny Jones,
We've come to see Jenny Jones, is she at home?
Jenny Jones is scrubbing, scrubbing, scrubbing,
Jenny Jones is scrubbing, you can't see her now.
[Then follow verses asking alternately "Is she at home?" in the same
words as the first verse, and answering that she is
(1) washing,
(2) ill,
(3) dying,
(4) dead;
all of them in the same form as the second verse. Then the verses
continue with--]
Jenny Jones is dead, she is dead, she is dead,
Jenny Jones is dead, you can't see her now.
We'll come to the funeral, funeral, funeral,
We'll come to the funeral, and how shall we dress?
You can come in yellow, in yellow, in yellow,
You can come in yellow, that's how you can dress.
Yellow's for jealousy, jealousy, jealousy,
Yellow's for jealousy, so _that_ won't do.
You can come in green, in green, in green,
You can come in green, that's how you can dress.
Green's forsaken, forsaken, forsaken,
Green's forsaken, so _that_ won't do.
You can come in white, in white, in white,
You can come in white, that's how you can dress.
White's for weddings, weddings, weddings,
White's for weddings, so _that_ won't do.
You can come in black, in black, in black,
You can come in black, that's how you can dress.
Black is for funerals, funerals, funerals,
Black is for funerals, so black will do.
--Colchester (from Miss G. M. Frances, Colchester, through Miss Morris).
IX. We've come to see Jenny Jones, Jenny Jones,
We've come to see Jenny Jones. How is she now?
Jenny is washing, washing, washing,
Jenny is washing, you can't see her now.
[Then follow the alternate question and answer; the questions in the
same words as the first verse, and the answers in the same form as the
second verse, stating that Jenny is
(1) folding,
(2) starching,
(3) ironing,
(4) ill,
(5) dying,
(6) dead;
then the verses proceed with--]
May we come to the funeral?
Yes.
May we come in red?
Red is for soldiers, you can't come in red.
May we come in blue?
Blue is for sailors, you can't come in blue.
May we come in white?
White is for weddings, you can't come in white.
May we come in black?
Black is for funerals, so you can come in that.
--Bocking, Essex (_Folk-lore Record_, iii. 471).
X. I come to see poor Jenny Joe,
Jenny Joe, Jenny Joe,
I come to see poor Jenny Joe,
And how is she now?
She's washing, she's washing,
And you can't see her now.
Very well, ladies, ladies, ladies,
Very well, ladies, and gentlemen too.
I come to see poor Jenny Joe,
Jenny Joe, Jenny Joe,
I come to see poor Jenny Joe,
And how is she now?
She's folding, she's folding,
And you can't see her now.
Very well, ladies, ladies, ladies,
Very well, ladies, and gentlemen too.
I come to see poor Jenny Joe,
Jenny Joe, Jenny Joe,
I come to see poor Jenny Joe,
And how is she now?
She's ironing, she's ironing,
And you can't see her now.
Very well, ladies, ladies, ladies,
Very well, ladies, and gentlemen too.
[Then follow alternate questions and answers in the same manner for--
(1) dying,
(2) dead.
Then--]
I come in my white dress, white dress, white dress,
I come in my white dress, and how will that do?
White is for wedding, wedding, wedding,
White is for wedding, and that won't do.
Very well, ladies, ladies, ladies,
Very well, ladies, and gentlemen too.
I come in my blue dress, blue dress, blue dress,
I come in my blue dress, and how will that do?
Blue is for sailors, sailors, sailors,
Blue is for sailors, and that won't do.
[Then follow verses as before, beginning--
Very well, ladies.
I come in my red dress.
Red is for soldiers,
Very well, ladies.
Then--]
I come in my black dress, black dress, black dress,
I come in my black dress, and how will that do?
Black is for funeral,
And that will do
To carry poor Jenny to the grave.
--Sporle, Norfolk (Miss Matthews).
XI. We're come to see Jenny Jones, Jenny Jones, Jenny Jones,
Come to see Jenny Jones, how is she now?
Jenny is a-washing, a-washing, a-washing,
Jenny is a-washing, you can't see her now.
Very well, ladies, very well, ladies,
Very well, ladies, we can't see her now.
[Then follow the same verses for--
(1) ironing,
(2) badly,
(3) dead;
And the singing proceeds with--]
Please, will white do, white do, white do?
Please, will white do, please, will it do?
White's for the weddingers, the weddingers,
White's for the weddingers, that won't do.
Please, will blue do, blue do, blue do?
Please, will blue do, please will it do?
[Then follow verses as before, beginning--
Blue's for the sailors, the sailors, the sailors.
Please, will red do, red do?
Red's for the soldiers.
Then--]
Please, will black do, black do, black do?
Black's for the funeral, black will do.
--Northamptonshire (Rev. W. D. Sweeting).
XII. I've come to see how Jenny Jones is to-day.
You can't see her, she's washing.
I've come to see how Jenny Jones is to-day.
You can't see her, she's ironing [she's starching, she's
brewing, she's baking, _successively_].
I've come to see how Jenny Jones is to-day.
You can't see her, she's ill [then she's worse].
I've come to see how Jenny Jones is to-day.
You can't see her, she's dead!
_Chorus._ There's red for the soldiers,
Blue for the sailors,
White for the angels [for the _baby_, Chirbury],
And black for the mourners [of poor Jenny Jones].
--Berrington, Chirbury (_Shropshire Folk-lore_, p. 577).
XIII. We've come to see poor Jenny Jones.
Poor Jenny Jones is washing, you can't see her.
We've come to see poor Jenny Jones.
Poor Jenny Jones is drying, you can't see her.
We've come to see poor Jenny Jones.
Poor Jenny Jones is starching, you can't see her.
We've come to see poor Jenny Jones.
Poor Jenny Jones is ironing, you can't see her.
We've come to see poor Jenny Jones.
Poor Jenny Jones is dead, you can't see her.
What shall we follow, in red, blue, or black?
Red's for the soldier, blue for the sailor,
Black for the dead.
--Enborne School, Berks (Miss M. Kimber).
XIV. Come to see Miss Jenny Jones,
Miss Jenny Jones, Miss Jenny Jones;
Come to see Miss Jenny Jones,
And how is she to-day?
Miss Jenny Jones is washing, washing, washing,
Miss Jenny Jones is washing,
You can't see her to-day.
Farewell, ladies, ladies, ladies, and gentlemen too.
[Miss Jenny Jones is drying, starching, ironing, ill, worse, dying, and
dead in turn. Then--]
What shall we dress her in,
Dress her in, dress her in?
What shall we dress her in,
Dress her in red?
Red's what the soldiers wear,
The soldiers wear, the soldiers wear,
Red's what the soldiers wear,
And that won't do.
What shall we dress her in,
Dress her in, dress her in?
What shall we dress her in,
Dress her in blue?
Blue's what the sailors wear,
Sailors wear, sailors wear;
Blue's what the sailors wear,
And that won't do.
What shall we dress her in,
Dress her in, dress her in?
What shall we dress her in,
Dress her in black?
Black's what the mourners wear,
The mourners wear, the mourners wear;
Black's what the mourners wear,
And that won't do.
What shall we dress her in,
Dress her in, dress her in?
What shall we dress her in,
Dress her in white?
White's what the dead wear,
The dead wear, the dead wear;
White's what the dead wear,
And that will do.
--Liphook, Hants (Miss Fowler).
XV. Come to see Jinny Jones, Jinny Jones
Come to see Jinny Jones,
And where is she now?
Jinny is washing, is washing,
Jinny is washing,
And you can't see her now.
Very well, very well, lady, lady,
Very well, lady,
That will do.
[Then follow--
(1) starching,
(2) ironing,
(3) dying,
(4) dead.]
What shall we follow in, follow in?
What shall we follow in?
We'll follow in blue.
Blue is for sailors, for sailors,
Blue is for sailors,
And that won't do.
[_or_, You can't follow her so.]
[Then follow--
Red is for soldiers,
White is for weddings,
Yellow is for babies.]
Black is not deep enough, deep enough,
That won't do.
What shall we follow in, follow in?
We'll follow her in crape, crape [pronounced _cray-ape_].
You may follow her in crape, crape,
You may follow her in crape,
That will do.
--Deptford (Miss E. Chase).
XVI. I've come to see Georgina, Georgina, Georgina,
I've come to see Georgina, how's she to-day?
She's upstairs washing, washing, washing,
She's upstairs washing, and can't get away.
O very well, ladies, ladies, ladies,
We'll come another day.
We've come to see Georgina, Georgina, Georgina,
We've come to see Georgina, how's she to-day?
She's upstairs ironing, ironing, ironing,
She's upstairs ironing, and can't get away.
[Then the two verses are repeated--