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JENNY JONES |
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Red for the soldiers, soldiers, soldiers, Red for the soldiers, and that shan't do.
[Then follow blue for the sailors, black for the mourners, and finally—]
What shall we dress her in, dress her in, dress her in ? What shall we dress her in ? Dress her in white.
White for the dead people, dead people, dead people, White for the dead people, and that will do.
—Auchencairn, Kirkcudbright (A. C. Haddon).
XVII. How's poor Jenny jo, Jenny jo, Jenny jo ? He's very ill.
Oh, very good, very good, very good. How's poor Jenny jo, Jenny jo, Jenny jo ? He's fallen downstairs and broken his neck. Oh, very good, very good, very good. How's poor Jenny jo, Jenny jo, Jenny jo ? He's dead. Oh, very good, very good, very good.
—Annaverna, Louth, Ireland (Miss R. Stephen).
(p) Two children stand apart; one, who personates the Mother, stands still and holds out her skirts with both hands; the other personates Jenny Jones, and kneels or stoops down in a crouching position behind her companion's outstretched skirts. The other players form a line by joining hands. They sing the first, third, and every alternate verse, advancing and retiring in line while doing so. The Mother sings the answers to their questions, standing still and hiding Jenny Jones all the time from view. When the verses are finished, Jenny Jones lies down as if she were dead, and the Mother stands aside. Two of the other players then take up Jenny Jones, one by the shoulders and the other by the feet, and carry her a little distance off, where they lay her on the ground. All the players follow, generally two by two, with their handkerchiefs at their eyes and heads lowered, pretending to grieve.
This is the more general way of playing the game. In those versions where the reply, "Very well, ladies," occurs, this is |
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