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3i6 LADY OF THE LAND |
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The fairest one that I can see Is pretty [Mary] come to me.
And now poor [Mary] she is gone Without a guinea in her hand, And not so much as a farthing. Good-bye! Good-bye, my love, good-bye !
—Forest of Dean, Gloucester (Miss Matthews).
VIII. Here comes an old woman from Cumberland, With seven poor children in her hand; One can sing, the other can sew; One can sit up in the corner and cry, Alleluia! Choose the fairest you can see.
The fairest one that I can see is------, come to me.
Now my daughter------gone,
A thousand pound in her pocket and a gold ring on her
finger. Good-bye, mother, good-bye!
—Berkshire (Miss Thoyts, Antiquary, xxvii. 254).
IX. There was an old woman from Sandy land With all her children in her hand. One can knit and one can sow [sew], One can make a lily-white bow. Please take one in.
When all the children have been taken in, the Old Woman
says- There was an old woman from Sandiland
With no children by the hand. Will you give me one ?
—Ballynascaw School, co. Down (Miss C. N. Patterson).
(b) The first Dorsetshire game is played as follows:—Two girls are chosen, the one to represent a lady and the other a mother, who is supposed to be taking her children out to service. She has one or more of them in each hand, and leads them up to the lady, saying or singing the first verse. The dialogue then proceeds, and the verse is repeated until all the children are similarly disposed of. A few days are supposed to pass, after which the mother calls to see her children, when the lady |
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