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LADY OF THE LAND |
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tells her she cannot see them. At last she insists upon seeing them, and the children are all "sat down" behind the lady, and the mother asks one child what the lady has done to her ; and she tells her " that the lady has cut off her nose, and made a nose-pie, and never give her a bit of it." Each one says she has done something to her and made a pie, and when all have told their tale " they all turn on her and put her to prison."
The second Dorsetshire game somewhat differs. One child takes seven or eight others whom she pretends are her children. Another child, presumably a mistress in want of servants, stands at a distance. The first child advances, holding the hand of her children, saying the first verse. The dialogue is concluded, and as the woman and her children are supposed to be out of hearing, the last couplet is said or sung. This process is gone through again until the mistress has engaged all the children as her servants, when she is supposed to let them all out to play with the mustard pots, which are represented by sticks or stones, in their hands.
The other versions are played as follows:—The children form a line, the one in the middle being the mother, or widow; they advance and retire, the mother alone singing the first verse. One child, who is standing alone on the opposite side, who has been addressed by the widow, then asks [not sings] the question. The mother, or widow, sings the reply, and points to one child when singing the last line, who thereupon crosses over to the other side, joining the one who is standing alone. This is continued till all have been selected. The Bally-nascaw version (Miss Patterson) is played in a similar way. One child sits on a bank, and the others come up to her in a long line. The " old woman " says the first five lines. No question is asked by the "lady," she simply takes one child. The " old woman" shakes hands with this child, and says good-bye to her. When all the children have been " taken in " by the one who personates the " lady," the " old woman " says the other three lines, and so one by one gets all the children back again. The Berkshire version (Miss Thoyts) is said, not sung, and is played with two leaders, "old woman" and "lover." As the lover chooses a child, that one is sent behind him, |
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