Little Sally Walker sitting in a sigh,Weeping and waiting for a young man.Come choose you east, come choose you west,The very one that you love best.
Little Sally Walker sitting in a sigh,Weeping and waiting for a young man.Come choose you east, come choose you west,The very one that you love best.
—Nairn (Rev. W. Gregor).
XXV.
Little Sally Walker sitting on the sand,Crying and weeping for a young man.Rise, Sally, rise, Sally, wipe away your tears,Try for the east, and try for the west,Try for the (little) very one you love best.Now they’re married I wish them joy,Every year a girl and boy,Loving each other like sister and brother,I hope to see them meet again.
Little Sally Walker sitting on the sand,Crying and weeping for a young man.Rise, Sally, rise, Sally, wipe away your tears,Try for the east, and try for the west,Try for the (little) very one you love best.
Now they’re married I wish them joy,Every year a girl and boy,Loving each other like sister and brother,I hope to see them meet again.
—Fraserburgh (Rev. W. Gregor).
XXVI.
Little Sally SanderSitting in the sander,Weeping and crying for her young man.Rise, Sally, riseAnd wipe away your tears;Choose to the east,Choose to the west,And choose to the very one that you love best.Now you’re married we wish you joy,First a girl and then a boy;Twelve months after son and daughter,All join hands and kiss together.
Little Sally SanderSitting in the sander,Weeping and crying for her young man.Rise, Sally, riseAnd wipe away your tears;Choose to the east,Choose to the west,And choose to the very one that you love best.Now you’re married we wish you joy,First a girl and then a boy;Twelve months after son and daughter,All join hands and kiss together.
—Penzance, Cornwall (Mrs. Mabbott).
XXVII.
Sally, Sally Walker, tinkle in a can;Rise up, Sally, and choose a young man.Look to the east, and look to the west,Choose the one that you love the best.
Sally, Sally Walker, tinkle in a can;Rise up, Sally, and choose a young man.Look to the east, and look to the west,Choose the one that you love the best.
—Settle, Yorkshire (Rev. W. S. Sykes).
XXVIII.
Sally Water, Sally Water,Come sprinkle your fan;Sally, Sally Waters, sprinkle in a pan;Rise, Sally, rise, Sally, for a young man.Choose to the east, and choose to the west,And choose the dearest one that you love best.Now you’re married, we wish you joy,First a girl and then a boy;Love one another like sister and brother,And never lose time by kissing one another.
Sally Water, Sally Water,Come sprinkle your fan;Sally, Sally Waters, sprinkle in a pan;Rise, Sally, rise, Sally, for a young man.Choose to the east, and choose to the west,And choose the dearest one that you love best.
Now you’re married, we wish you joy,First a girl and then a boy;Love one another like sister and brother,And never lose time by kissing one another.
—West Haddon (Northamptonshire Notes and Queries, ii. 104).
XXIX.
Little Sally Waters, sitting in the sun,Crying and weeping for her young man.Rise, Sally, rise, wipe up your tears,Fly to the east, fly to the west,Fly to the one that you love the best.
Little Sally Waters, sitting in the sun,Crying and weeping for her young man.Rise, Sally, rise, wipe up your tears,Fly to the east, fly to the west,Fly to the one that you love the best.
—Brigg, Lincolnshire (Miss Barker).
XXX.
Hie Sally Walker, hie Sally Ken,Hie Sally Walker, follow young men.Choose to the east, and choose to the west,Choose to the very one you love best.Marriage comfort and marriage joy,First a girl and then a boy.Seven years after, seven years to come,Fire on the mountain, kiss and run.
Hie Sally Walker, hie Sally Ken,Hie Sally Walker, follow young men.Choose to the east, and choose to the west,Choose to the very one you love best.
Marriage comfort and marriage joy,First a girl and then a boy.Seven years after, seven years to come,Fire on the mountain, kiss and run.
—Belfast, Ireland (W. H. Patterson).
XXXI.
Little Alice SanderSat upon a cinder,Weeping and crying for her young man.Rise up, Alice, dry your tears,Choose the one that you love best,Alice my dear.Now they have got marriedI hope they will joy,Seven years afterwards, seven years ago,Now is the time to kiss and go.
Little Alice SanderSat upon a cinder,Weeping and crying for her young man.Rise up, Alice, dry your tears,Choose the one that you love best,Alice my dear.
Now they have got marriedI hope they will joy,Seven years afterwards, seven years ago,Now is the time to kiss and go.
—Earls Heaton, Yorks. (Herbert Hardy).
XXXII.
Rise, Sally Walker,Rise if you can,Rise, Sally Walker, and follow your good man;Choose to the east, and choose to the west,Choose to the one you love best.There is a couple married in joy,Past a girl and then a boy,Seven years after, seven years to come,Kiss you couple, kiss and be done.A’ the many hours to us a happy life,Except —— and he wants a wife.A wife shall he have,And a widower shall he be,Except —— that sits on his knee,A guid fauld hoose and a blacket fireside,Draw up your gartens and show all your bride.
Rise, Sally Walker,Rise if you can,Rise, Sally Walker, and follow your good man;Choose to the east, and choose to the west,Choose to the one you love best.There is a couple married in joy,Past a girl and then a boy,Seven years after, seven years to come,Kiss you couple, kiss and be done.A’ the many hours to us a happy life,Except —— and he wants a wife.A wife shall he have,And a widower shall he be,Except —— that sits on his knee,A guid fauld hoose and a blacket fireside,Draw up your gartens and show all your bride.
—(Rev. W. Gregor).
XXXIII.
Arise, Sally Walker, arise, if you can,Arise, Sally Walker, and follow your good man;Come choose to the east, come choose to the west,Come choose to the very one you love best.This is a couple married with joy;First a girl and then a boy,Seven years after and seven years to come,This young couple married and begun.[The Christian name of a girl] made a pudding so nice and sweet,[Boy’s Christian name] took a knife and tasted it.Taste love, taste love, don’t say No,The next Sunday morningTo church we shall go.Clean the brazen candlesticks,And clean the fireside,Draw back the curtains.And lat’s see the bride.A’ the men in oor toon leads a happy life,Except [a boy’s full name], and he wants a wife.A wife shall he hae, and a widow she shall be;For look at [a girl’s full name] diddling on’s knee.He paints her cheeks and he curls her hair,And he kisses the lass at the foot o’ the stair.
Arise, Sally Walker, arise, if you can,Arise, Sally Walker, and follow your good man;Come choose to the east, come choose to the west,Come choose to the very one you love best.
This is a couple married with joy;First a girl and then a boy,Seven years after and seven years to come,This young couple married and begun.[The Christian name of a girl] made a pudding so nice and sweet,[Boy’s Christian name] took a knife and tasted it.Taste love, taste love, don’t say No,The next Sunday morningTo church we shall go.Clean the brazen candlesticks,And clean the fireside,Draw back the curtains.And lat’s see the bride.A’ the men in oor toon leads a happy life,Except [a boy’s full name], and he wants a wife.A wife shall he hae, and a widow she shall be;For look at [a girl’s full name] diddling on’s knee.He paints her cheeks and he curls her hair,And he kisses the lass at the foot o’ the stair.
—Tyrie (Rev. W. Gregor).
[The form of words at Cullen is the same for the first seven lines, and then the words are:—]
XXXIV.
This young couple be married and be done,A’ the men in oor toon leads a happy life,Except —— and he wants a wife.A wife he shall have, and a widow she shall be,Except [a girl’s name] that sits on his knee,Painting her face and curling her hair,Kissing [a girl’s name] at the foot o’ the stair.
This young couple be married and be done,A’ the men in oor toon leads a happy life,Except —— and he wants a wife.A wife he shall have, and a widow she shall be,Except [a girl’s name] that sits on his knee,Painting her face and curling her hair,Kissing [a girl’s name] at the foot o’ the stair.
—Cullen (Rev. W. Gregor).
XXXV.
Rise, Sally Walker, rise if you can,Rise, Sally Walker, follow your gudeman.Come choose to the east, come choose to the west,Come choose to the very one that you love best.Now they’re married I wish them joy,Every year a girl or boy,Loving each other like sister and brother,And so they may be kissed together.Cheese and bread for gentlemen,And corn and hay for horses,A cup of tea for a’ good wives,And bonnie lads and lassies.When are we to meet again?And when are we to marry?Raffles up, and raffles down, and raffles a’ a dancin’,The bonniest lassie that ever I saw,Was [child in the centre] dancin’.
Rise, Sally Walker, rise if you can,Rise, Sally Walker, follow your gudeman.Come choose to the east, come choose to the west,Come choose to the very one that you love best.
Now they’re married I wish them joy,Every year a girl or boy,Loving each other like sister and brother,And so they may be kissed together.
Cheese and bread for gentlemen,And corn and hay for horses,A cup of tea for a’ good wives,And bonnie lads and lassies.When are we to meet again?And when are we to marry?Raffles up, and raffles down, and raffles a’ a dancin’,The bonniest lassie that ever I saw,Was [child in the centre] dancin’.
—Aberdeen Training College (Rev. W. Gregor.)
XXXVI.
Sally, Sally Walker, sitting in the sun,Weeping and wailing for a young man,Rise, Sally, rise, and wipe away your tears,Fly to the east, fly to the west,And fly to the very one that you love best.Uncle John is very sick,He goes a courting night and day;Sword and pistol by his side,Little Sally is his bride.He takes her by the lily white hand,He leads her over the water;Now they kiss and now they clap,Mrs. Molly’s daughter.
Sally, Sally Walker, sitting in the sun,Weeping and wailing for a young man,Rise, Sally, rise, and wipe away your tears,Fly to the east, fly to the west,And fly to the very one that you love best.
Uncle John is very sick,He goes a courting night and day;Sword and pistol by his side,Little Sally is his bride.He takes her by the lily white hand,He leads her over the water;Now they kiss and now they clap,Mrs. Molly’s daughter.
—Nairn, Perth, Forfar (Rev. W. Gregor).
XXXVII.
Sally, Sally Waters, why are you so sad?You shall have a husband, either good or bad;Then rise, Sally Waters, and sprinkle your pan,For you’re just the young woman to get a nice man.Now you’re married, we wish you joy,Father and mother and little boy,Love one another like sister and brother,And now, good people, kiss each other.
Sally, Sally Waters, why are you so sad?You shall have a husband, either good or bad;Then rise, Sally Waters, and sprinkle your pan,For you’re just the young woman to get a nice man.
Now you’re married, we wish you joy,Father and mother and little boy,Love one another like sister and brother,And now, good people, kiss each other.
—Halliwell,Popular Rhymer, p. 229.
XXXVIII.
Now you’re married,I wish you joy,First a girl,And then a boy.
Now you’re married,I wish you joy,First a girl,And then a boy.
—Hexham (Miss J. Barker).
XXXIX.
Sally Waters, Sally Waters, come rise if you can,Come rise in the morning, all for a young man;Come choose, come choose, come choose if you can,Come choose a good one or let it alone.
Sally Waters, Sally Waters, come rise if you can,Come rise in the morning, all for a young man;Come choose, come choose, come choose if you can,Come choose a good one or let it alone.
—Monton, Lancashire (Miss Dendy).
XL.
Sally Waters, Sally Waters,Come rise if you can,Come rise in the morning,All for a young man.First to the east, then to the west,Then to the bonny lass that you love best.Now, Sally, you are married,I hope you’ll agree,Seven years at afterwards, seven years ago,And now they are parted with a kiss and a blow.
Sally Waters, Sally Waters,Come rise if you can,Come rise in the morning,All for a young man.First to the east, then to the west,Then to the bonny lass that you love best.
Now, Sally, you are married,I hope you’ll agree,Seven years at afterwards, seven years ago,And now they are parted with a kiss and a blow.
—Monton, Lancashire (Miss Dendy).
The last two lines were supplied by a girl in a very poor district of Manchester (note by Miss Dendy).
XLI.
Rise, Sally Walker, rise, if you can,Rise, Sally Walker, and follow your gueedman,Choose to the east, and choose to the west,Choose to the one that you love best.There is a couple married in joy,First a girl and then a boy,Seven years after, seven years to come.
Rise, Sally Walker, rise, if you can,Rise, Sally Walker, and follow your gueedman,Choose to the east, and choose to the west,Choose to the one that you love best.There is a couple married in joy,First a girl and then a boy,Seven years after, seven years to come.
—Rosehearty (Rev. W. Gregor).
XLII.
Little Polly Sanders sits on the sand,Weeping and crying for her young man;Rise up, Polly, wipe your tears,Pick the one you love so sweet.Now Polly’s got married, we hope she’ll have joy,For ever and ever a girl or a boy.If one won’t do, she must have two,So I pray you, young damsels, to kiss two and two.
Little Polly Sanders sits on the sand,Weeping and crying for her young man;Rise up, Polly, wipe your tears,Pick the one you love so sweet.Now Polly’s got married, we hope she’ll have joy,For ever and ever a girl or a boy.If one won’t do, she must have two,So I pray you, young damsels, to kiss two and two.
—Liverpool (C. C. Bell).
XLIII.
Here sits poor Sally on the ground,Sighing and sobbing for her young man.Arise, Sally, rise, and wipe your weeping eyes,And turn to the east, and turn to the west,And show the little boys that you love best.A bogie in, a bogie out,A bogie in the garden,I wouldn’t part with my young manFor fourpence ha’penny farthing.
Here sits poor Sally on the ground,Sighing and sobbing for her young man.Arise, Sally, rise, and wipe your weeping eyes,And turn to the east, and turn to the west,And show the little boys that you love best.
A bogie in, a bogie out,A bogie in the garden,I wouldn’t part with my young manFor fourpence ha’penny farthing.
—Long Eaton, Nottingham (Miss Youngman).
[In London the above is:]—
XLIV.
A beau in front and a beau behind,And a bogie in the garden oh!I wouldn’t part with my sweetheartFor tuppence (two) ha’penny farthing.
A beau in front and a beau behind,And a bogie in the garden oh!I wouldn’t part with my sweetheartFor tuppence (two) ha’penny farthing.
—London (Mrs. Merck).
XLV.
Sally Walker, Sally Walker,Come spring time and love,She’s lamenting, she’s lamenting,All for her young man.Come choose to the east, come choose to the west,Come choose the one that you love best.Here’s a couple got married together,Father and mother they must agree,Love each other like sister and brother,I pray this couple to kiss together.
Sally Walker, Sally Walker,Come spring time and love,She’s lamenting, she’s lamenting,All for her young man.Come choose to the east, come choose to the west,Come choose the one that you love best.
Here’s a couple got married together,Father and mother they must agree,Love each other like sister and brother,I pray this couple to kiss together.
—Morpeth (Henderson’sFolk-lore of Northern Counties, p. 26).
XLVI.
Rise, Sally Walker, rise if you can,Rise, Sally Walker, and choose your good man,Choose to the east, and choose to the west,And choose the very one you love best.Now they’re married, wish them joy,First a girl, and then a boy,Seven years after, seven years to come,Now’s the time to kiss and be done.
Rise, Sally Walker, rise if you can,Rise, Sally Walker, and choose your good man,Choose to the east, and choose to the west,And choose the very one you love best.Now they’re married, wish them joy,First a girl, and then a boy,Seven years after, seven years to come,Now’s the time to kiss and be done.
—Gainford, Durham (Miss A. Edleston).
XLVII.
Little Alexander sitting on the sand,Weeping and crying for a young man;Rise up, Sally, and wipe your tears,Pick the very one that you like best.Now, Sally, now married, I hope she’ll (or you’ll) enjoy,For ever and ever with that little boy(or with her or your young boy).
Little Alexander sitting on the sand,Weeping and crying for a young man;Rise up, Sally, and wipe your tears,Pick the very one that you like best.Now, Sally, now married, I hope she’ll (or you’ll) enjoy,For ever and ever with that little boy(or with her or your young boy).
—Beddgelert, Wales (Mrs. Williams).
XLVIII.
Rice, Sally Water, rice if you can,Rice, Sally Water, and choose your young man;Choose to the east, choose to the west,Choose to the prettiest that you love.Now you’re married, we wish you good joy,First a little girl, and then a little boy;Seven years after, seven years to come,Seven years of plenty, and kiss when you done.
Rice, Sally Water, rice if you can,Rice, Sally Water, and choose your young man;Choose to the east, choose to the west,Choose to the prettiest that you love.
Now you’re married, we wish you good joy,First a little girl, and then a little boy;Seven years after, seven years to come,Seven years of plenty, and kiss when you done.
—Norfolk (Mrs. Haddon).
(c) A ring is formed by the children joining hands. One girl kneels or sits down in the centre, and covers her face with her hands as if weeping. The ring dances round and sings the words. The child in the centre rises when the command is given, and chooses a boy or girl from the ring, who goes into the centre with her. These two kiss together when the words are said. The child who was first in the centre then joins the ring, the second remaining in the centre, and the game continues.
All versions of this game are played in the same way, except slight variations in a few instances. Kissing does not prevail in all the versions. In theEarls Heaton game, the child who kneels in the centre also pretends to weep and dries her tears before choosing a partner. Miss Burne, inShropshire Folklore, says the girl kneels disconsolately in the middle of the ring. In theStixwould version, the child stands in the centre holding in her hands something resembling a saucer; she then pretends to “knock it in a mortar,” and gives the saucer to the one whom she chooses. This one exchanges places with her. In theNorthants version, at the words “clash the bells,” the children dash down their joined hands to imitate ringing bells. Addy,Sheffield Glossary, says one girl sits in the middle weeping. When the girl has chosen, the young man remains in the centre, and the word “Sally” is changed to “Billy,” or some other name, and “man” to “girl.” In theBeddgelert version, the centre child wipes her eyes with a handkerchief in the beginning of the game. Several other versions have been sent me, all being the same as those printed here, or varying so slightly, it is unnecessary to repeat them.
(d) The analysis of the game-rhymes is as follows:—
[168-173]