Paip

The ring it is going;Oh where? oh where?I don’t care where,I can’t tell where.

Three cherry stones are placed together, and another above them. These are all called a castle. The player takes aim with a cherry stone, and when he overturns the castle he claims the spoil.—Jamieson. See “Cob Nut.”

A Scottish name for “Hop Scotch.”—Jamieson.

See “Hop Scotch.”

A child’s name for the simple game of throwing a ball from one to another.—Lowsley’sBerkshire Glossary.

A boys’ game, somewhat similar to “Duckstone.” Each boy, when he threw his stone, had to say “Pay-swad,” or he had to go down himself.—Holland’sCheshire Glossary.

See “Duckstone.”

A game played with pins: also called “Pinny Ninny,” “Pedna-a mean,” “Heads and Tails,” a game of pins.—Courtenay’sWest Cornwall Glossary.

The game of “Hide and Seek.” When the object is hidden the word “Peesie-weet” is called out.—Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire (Rev. W. Gregor).

See “Hide and Seek (2).”

The players provide themselves with short, stout sticks, and a peg (a piece of wood sharpened at one or both ends). A ring is made, and the peg is placed on the ground so as to balance. One boy then strikes it with his stick to make it spring or bounce up into the air; while in the air he strikes it with his stick, and sends it as far as he possibly can. His opponent declares the number of leaps in which the striker is to cover the distance the peg has gone. If successful, he counts the number of leaps to his score. If he fails, his opponent leaps, and, if successful, the number of leaps count to his score. He strikes the next time, and the same process is gone through.—Earls Heaton, Yorks. (Herbert Hardy).

See “Tip-cat.”

A west country game. The performers in this game are each furnished with a sharp-pointed stake. One of them then strikes it into the ground, and the others, throwing their sticks across it, endeavour to dislodge it. When a stick falls, the owner has to run to a prescribed distance and back, while the rest, placing the stick upright, endeavour to beat it into the ground up to the very top.—Halliwell’sDictionary.

A boyish game with nuts.—Dickinson’sCumberland Glossary.

A game of “Peg-top.” The object of this game is to spin the top within a certain circle marked out, in which the top is to exhaust itself without once overstepping the bounds prescribed (Halliwell’sDict. Provincialisms). Holloway (Dictionary) says, “When boys play at ‘Peg-top,’ a ring is formed on the ground, within which each boy is to spin his top. If the top, when it has ceased spinning, does not roll without the circle, it must remain in the ring to be pegged at by the other boys, or he redeems it by putting in an inferior one, which is called a ‘Mull.’ When the top does not roll out, it is said to be ‘mulled.’” Mr. Emslie writes: “When the top fell within the ring the boys cried, ‘One a penny!’ When two had fallen within the ring it was, ‘Two a penny!’ When three, ‘Three a penny, good as any!’ The aim of each spinner was to do what was called ‘drawing,’i.e., bring his top down into the ring, and at the same time draw the string so as to make the top spin within the ring, and yet come towards the player and out of the ring so as to fall without.”

See “Tops.”

One of the players, chosen by lot, spins his top. The other players endeavour to strike this top with the pegs of their own tops as they fling them down to spin. If any one fails to spin his top in due form, he has to lay his top on the ground for the others to strike at when spinning. The object of eachspinner is to split the top which is being aimed at, so as to release the peg, and the boy whose top has succeeded in splitting the other top obtains the peg as his trophy of victory. It is a matter of ambition to obtain as many pegs in this manner as possible.—London (G. L. Gomme).

See “Peg-in-the-Ring,” “Tops.”

A game played with round flat stones, about four or six inches across, being similar to the game of quoits; sometimes played with pennies when the hobs are a deal higher. It was not played with pennies in 1810.—Easther’sAlmondbury Glossary. In an article inBlackwood’s Magazine, August 1821, p. 35, dealing with children’s games, the writer says, Pennystanes are played much in the same manner as the quoits or discus of the ancient Romans, to which warlike people the idle tradesmen of Edinburgh probably owe this favourite game.

See “Penny Prick.”

A rude dance, which formerly took place in the common taverns of Sheffield, usually held after the bull-baiting.—Wilson’s Notes toMather’s Songs, p. 74, cited by Addy,Sheffield Glossary.

“A game consisting of casting oblong pieces of iron at a mark.”—Hunter’sHallamsh. Gloss., p. 71. Grose explains it, “Throwing at halfpence placed on sticks which are called hobs.”

Their idle houres, I meane all houres besideTheir houres to eate, to drinke, drab, sleepe, and ride,They spend at shove-boord, or at pennie-pricke.

—Scots’Philomythie, 1616.

Halliwell gives these references in hisDictionary; Addy,Sheffield Glossary, describes it as above; adding, “An old game once played by people of fashion.”

See “Penny Cast.”

The name of a dance mentioned in an old nursery rhyme. A correspondent gave Halliwell the following lines of a very old song, the only ones he recollected:—

Cannot you dance the Phœbe?Don’t you see what pains I take;Don’t you see how my shoulders shake?Cannot you dance the Phœbe?

—Halliwell’sDictionary.

These words are somewhat of the same character as those of “Auntie Loomie,” and are evidently the accompaniment of an old dance.

See “Lubin.”

The game of “Pitch and Toss.”—Brogden’sProvincial Words, Lincolnshire. It is called Pickenhotch in Peacock’sManley and Corringham Glossary.

A game in which one half of the players are supposed to keep a castle, while the others go out as a foraging or marauding party. When the latter are all gone out, one of them criesPee-ku, which is a signal to those within to be on the alert. Then those who are without attempt to get in. If any one of them gets in without being seized by the holders of the castle, he cries to his companions,The hole’s won; and those who are within must yield the fortress. If one of the assailants be taken before getting in he is obliged to change sides and to guard the castle. Sometimes the guards are successful in making prisoners of all the assailants. Also the name given to the game ofHide and Seek.—Jamieson.

A boy’s game [undescribed].—Patterson’sAntrim and Down Glossary.

A game at marbles where a ring is made about four feet in diameter, and boys “shoot” in turn from any point in thecircumference, keeping such marbles as they may knock out of the ring, but loosing their own “taw” if it should stop within.—Lowsley’sBerkshire Glossary. See “Ring Taw.”

A sport among children in Fife. An egg, an unfledged bird, or a whole nest is placed on a convenient spot. He who has what is called the firstpill, retires a few paces, and being provided with a cowt or rung, is blindfolded, or gives his promise to wink hard (whence he is calledWinkie), and moves forward in the direction of the object, as he supposes, striking the ground with the stick all the way. He must not shuffle the stick along the ground, but always strike perpendicularly. If he touches the nest without destroying it, or the egg without breaking it, he loses his vice or turn. The same mode is observed by those who succeed him. When one of the party breaks an egg he is entitled to all the rest as his property, or to some other reward that has been previously agreed on. Every art is employed, without removing the nest or egg, to mislead the blindfolded player, who is also called the Pinkie.—Jamieson. See “Blind Man’s Stan.”

The game of “Pitch-Halfpenny,” or “Pitch and Hustle.”—Halliwell’sDictionary. Addy (Sheffield Glossary) says this game consists of pitching halfpence at a mark.

See “Penny Cast,” “Penny Prick.”

A child’s peep-show. The charge for a peep is a pin, and, under extraordinary circumstances of novelty, two pins.

I remember well being shown how to make a peep or poppet-show. It was made by arranging combinations of colours from flowers under a piece of glass, and then framing it with paper in such a way that a cover was left over the front, which could be raised when any one paid a pin to peep. The following words were said, or rather sung, in a sing-song manner:—

A pin to see the poppet-show,All manner of colours oh!See the ladies all below.

—(A. B. Gomme).

Pansies or other flowers are pressed beneath a piece of glass, which is laid upon a piece of paper, a hole or opening, which can be shut at pleasure, being cut in the paper. The charge for looking at the show is a pin. The children say, “A pin to look at a pippy-show.” They also say—

A pinnet a piece to look at a show,All the fine ladies sat in a row.Blackbirds with blue feetWalking up a new street;One behind and one before,And one beknocking at t’barber’s door.

—Addy’sSheffield Glossary.

In Perth (Rev. W. Gregor) the rhyme is—

A pin to see a poppy show,A pin to see a die,A pin to see an old manSitting in the sky.

Described also in Holland’sCheshire Glossary, and Lowsley’sBerkshire Glossary. Atkinson’sCleveland Glossarydescribes it as having coloured pictures pasted inside, and an eye-hole at one of the ends. TheLeed’s Glossarygives the rhyme as—

A pin to look in,A very fine thing.

Northall (English Folk-rhymes, p. 357), also gives a rhyme.

On the 1st of January the children beg for some pins, using the words, “Please pay Nab’s New Year’s gift.” They then play “a very childish game,” but I have not succeeded in getting a description of it.—Yorkshire.

See “Prickie and Jockie.”

A game played by boys, “and the name demonstrates that it is a native one, for it would require a page of close writing to make it intelligible to an Englishman.” The rhyme used at this play is—

Scotsman, Scotsman, lo!Where shall this poor Scotsman go?Send him east, or send him west,Send him to the craw’s nest.

Scotsman, Scotsman, lo!Where shall this poor Scotsman go?

Send him east, or send him west,Send him to the craw’s nest.

—Blackwood’s Magazine, August 1821, p. 37.

The rhyme suggests comparison with the game of “Hot Cockles.”

A game played with pennies, or other round discs. The object is to pitch the penny into a hole in the ground from a certain point.—Elworthy,West Somerset Words.

Probably “Pick and Hotch,” mentioned in an article inBlackwood’s Mag., Aug. 1821, p. 35. Common in London streets.

“Chuck-Farthing.” The game of “Pitch and Toss” is very common, being merely the throwing up of halfpence, the result depending on a guess of heads or tails.—Halliwell’sDictionary.

This game was played by two or more players with “pitchers”—the stakes being buttons. The ordinary bone button, or “scroggy,” being the unit of value. The “pitcher” was made of lead, circular in form, from one and a half inch to two inches in diameter, and about a quarter of an inch thick, with an “H” to stand for “Heads” cut on one side, and a “T” for “Tails” on the other side. An old-fashioned penny was sometimes used, and an old “two-penny” piece I have by me bears the marks of much service in the same cause. A mark having been set up—generally a stone—and the order of play having been fixed, the first player, A, threw his “pitcher” to the mark, from a point six or seven yards distant. If he thought he lay sufficiently near the mark to make it probable that he would be the nearest after the others had thrown, he said he would “lie.” The effect of that was that the players who followed had to lie also, whatever the character of their throw. If A’s throw was a poor one he took up his “pitcher.” B then threw, if he threw well he “lay,” if not he took up his pitcher, in hope of making a better throw, as A had done. C then played in the same manner. D followed and “lay.” E played his pitcher,and had no choice but to lie. F followed in the same way. These being all the players, A threw again, and though his second might have been worse than his first, he has to lie like the others. B and C followed. All the pitchers have been thrown, and are lying round the mark, in the following order of proximity—for that regulates the subsequent play—B’s is nearest, then D’s follows, in order by A, C, F, E. B takes the pitchers, and piles them up one above the other, and tosses them into the air. Three (let us say) fall head up, D’s, A’s, and F’s. These three B keeps in his hand. D, who was next nearest the mark, takes the three remaining pitchers, and in the same manner tosses them into the air. B’s and C’s fall head up, and are retained by D. A, who comes third, takes the remaining pitcher, E’s, and throws it up. If it falls a head he keeps it, and the game is finished except the reckoning; if it falls a tail it passes on to the next player, C, who throws it up. If it falls a head he keeps it, if a tail, it is passed on to F, and from him to E, and on to B, till it turns up a head. Let us suppose that happens when F throws it up. The game is now finished, and the reckoning takes place—

Strictly speaking, D, A, and F should each pay a button to B. B and C should each pay one to D. E should pay one to F. But in practice it was simpler, F holding one pitcher had, in the language of the game, “freed himself.” D had “freed himself,” and was in addition one to the good. B had “freed himself,” and was two to the good. A, C, and E, not having “freed themselves,” were liable for the one D had won and the two B had won, and settled with D and B, without regard to the actual hand that held the respective pitchers. It simplified the reckoning, though theoretically the reckoning should have followed the more roundabout method. Afterwards the game was begunde novo. E, who was last, having first pitch—the advantage of that place being meant to compensate himin a measure for his ill luck in the former game. The stakes were the plain horn or bone buttons—buttons with nicks were more valuable—a plain one being valued at two “scroggies,” or “scrogs,” the fancy ones, and especially livery buttons, commanding a higher price.—Rev. W. Gregor. See “Buttons.”

A game played by boys, who roll counters in a small hole. The exact description I have not been able to get.—Halliwell’sDictionary.

A game at marbles. The favourite recreation with the young fishermen in West Cornwall. Forty years ago “Pits” and “Towns” were the common games, but the latter only is now played. Boys who hit their nails are looked on with great contempt, and are said “to fire Kibby.” When two are partners, and one in playing accidentally hits the other’s marble, he cries out, “No custance,” meaning that he has a right to put back the marble struck; should he fail to do so, he would be considered “out.”—Folk-lore Journal, v. 60. There is no description of the method of playing. It may be the same as “Cherry Pits,” played with marbles instead of cherry stones (vol. i. p. 66). Mr. Newell,Games and Songs of American Children, p. 187, says “The pits are thrown over the palm; they must fall so far apart that the fingers can be passed between them. Then with a fillip of the thumb the player makes his pit strike the enemy’s and wins both.”

Sides are picked; as, for example, six on one side and six on the other, and three or four marks or tuts are fixed in a field. Six go out to field, as incricket, and one of these throws the ball to one of those who remain “at home,” and the one “at home” strikes or pizes it with his hand. After pizing it he runs to one of the “tuts,” but if before he can get to the “tut” he is struck with the ball by one of those in the field, he is said to beburnt, or out. In that case the other side go out to field.—Addy’sSheffield Glossary.

See “Rounders.”

A game at marbles of two or more boys. Each puts an equal number of marbles in a row close together, a mark is made at some little distance called taw; the distance is varied according to the number of marbles in a row. The first boy tosses at the row in such a way as to pitch just on the marbles, and so strike as many as he can out of the line; all that he strikes out he takes; the rest are put close together again, and two other players take their turn in the same manner, till all the marbles are struck out of the line, when they all stake afresh and the game begins again.—Baker’sNorthamptonshire Glossary.

Mentioned by Moor,Suffolk Words and Phrases, as the name of a game. Undescribed, but nearly the same asFrench and English.

A small mark is made on the wall. The one to point out the point, who must not know what is intended, is blindfolded, and is then sent to put the finger on the point or mark. Another player has taken a place in front of the point, and bites the finger of the blindfolded pointer.—Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire (Rev. W. Gregor).

Name of a girl’s game the same as Cheeses.—Holland’sCheshire Glossary. See “Turn Cheeses, Turn.”

An old game mentioned in Taylor’sMotto, sig. D, iv. London, 1622.

[Playpart 1,part 2]

Tune Poor Mary sits a-weeping—Barnes (A. B. Gomme).

—Barnes (A. B. Gomme).

Poor Mary sits a-weepin’,A-weepin’, a-weepin’;Poor Mary sits a-weepin’On a bright summer’s day.Pray, Mary, what’re you weepin’ for,A-weepin’ for, a-weepin’ for?Pray, Mary, what’re you weepin’ for?On a bright summer’s day.I’m weepin’ for a sweetheart,A sweetheart, a sweetheart;I’m weepin’ for a sweetheart,On a bright summer’s day.Pray, Mary, choose your lover,Your lover, your lover;Pray, Mary, choose your loverOn a bright summer’s day.Now you’re married, I wish you joy;First a girl, and then a boy;Seven years after, son and daughter;Pray, young couple, come kiss together.Kiss her once, kiss her twice,Kiss her three times over.

Poor Mary sits a-weepin’,A-weepin’, a-weepin’;Poor Mary sits a-weepin’On a bright summer’s day.

Pray, Mary, what’re you weepin’ for,A-weepin’ for, a-weepin’ for?Pray, Mary, what’re you weepin’ for?On a bright summer’s day.

I’m weepin’ for a sweetheart,A sweetheart, a sweetheart;I’m weepin’ for a sweetheart,On a bright summer’s day.

Pray, Mary, choose your lover,Your lover, your lover;Pray, Mary, choose your loverOn a bright summer’s day.

Now you’re married, I wish you joy;First a girl, and then a boy;Seven years after, son and daughter;Pray, young couple, come kiss together.

Kiss her once, kiss her twice,Kiss her three times over.

—Barnes, Surrey (A. B. Gomme).

Game Poor Mary sits a-weeping“Poor Mary sits a-weeping.”

“Poor Mary sits a-weeping.”

II.

Poor Mary is weeping, is weeping, is weeping,Poor Mary is weeping on a bright summer’s day.Pray tell me what you’re weeping for, weeping for, weeping for,Pray tell me what you’re weeping for, on a bright summer’s day?I’m weeping for my true love, my true love, my true love,I’m weeping for my true love, on a bright summer’s day.Stand up and choose your lover, your lover, your lover,Stand up and choose your lover, on a bright summer’s day.Go to church with your lover, your lover, your lover,Go to church with your lover, on a bright summer’s day.Be happy in a ring, love; a ring, love; a ring, love.Kiss both together, love, on this bright summer’s day.

Poor Mary is weeping, is weeping, is weeping,Poor Mary is weeping on a bright summer’s day.

Pray tell me what you’re weeping for, weeping for, weeping for,Pray tell me what you’re weeping for, on a bright summer’s day?

I’m weeping for my true love, my true love, my true love,I’m weeping for my true love, on a bright summer’s day.

Stand up and choose your lover, your lover, your lover,Stand up and choose your lover, on a bright summer’s day.

Go to church with your lover, your lover, your lover,Go to church with your lover, on a bright summer’s day.

Be happy in a ring, love; a ring, love; a ring, love.Kiss both together, love, on this bright summer’s day.

—Upton-on-Severn, Worcestershire (Miss Broadwood).

III.

Pray, Sally, what are you weeping for—Weeping for—weeping for?Pray, Sally, what are you weeping for,On a bright shiny day?I am weeping for a sweetheart—A sweetheart—a sweetheart;I am weeping for a sweetheart,On a bright shiny day.Pray, Sally, go and get one—Go and get one—get one;Pray, Sally, go and get one,On a bright shiny day.Pray, Sally, now you’ve got one—You’ve got one—got one;Pray, Sally, now you’ve got one,On a bright sunny day.One kiss will never part you—Never part you—part you;One kiss will never part you,On a bright sunny day.

Pray, Sally, what are you weeping for—Weeping for—weeping for?Pray, Sally, what are you weeping for,On a bright shiny day?

I am weeping for a sweetheart—A sweetheart—a sweetheart;I am weeping for a sweetheart,On a bright shiny day.

Pray, Sally, go and get one—Go and get one—get one;Pray, Sally, go and get one,On a bright shiny day.

Pray, Sally, now you’ve got one—You’ve got one—got one;Pray, Sally, now you’ve got one,On a bright sunny day.

One kiss will never part you—Never part you—part you;One kiss will never part you,On a bright sunny day.

—Dorsetshire (Folk-lore Journal, vii. 209).

IV.

Poor —— sat a-weeping,A-weeping, a-weeping;Poor —— sat a-weeping,On a bright summer’s day.I’m weeping for a sweetheart,A sweetheart, a sweetheart;I’m weeping for a sweetheart,On a bright summer’s day.Oh, pray get up and choose one,And choose one, and choose one;Oh, pray get up and choose one,On a bright summer’s day.Now you’re married, you must obey;You must be true to all you say.You must be kind, you must be good,And help your wife to chop the wood.

Poor —— sat a-weeping,A-weeping, a-weeping;Poor —— sat a-weeping,On a bright summer’s day.

I’m weeping for a sweetheart,A sweetheart, a sweetheart;I’m weeping for a sweetheart,On a bright summer’s day.

Oh, pray get up and choose one,And choose one, and choose one;Oh, pray get up and choose one,On a bright summer’s day.

Now you’re married, you must obey;You must be true to all you say.You must be kind, you must be good,And help your wife to chop the wood.

—Sporle, Norfolk (Miss Matthews).

Poor Mary sat a-weeping, a-weeping, a-weeping,Poor Mary sat a-weeping, down by the sea-side.By the side of the river, by the side of the river,She sat down and cried.Oh, pray get up and choose one, and choose one, and choose one,Oh, pray get up and choose one, down by the sea-side.Now you’re married, I wish you joy;Father and mother you must obey;Love one another like sister and brother,And pray, young couple, come kiss one another.

Poor Mary sat a-weeping, a-weeping, a-weeping,Poor Mary sat a-weeping, down by the sea-side.

By the side of the river, by the side of the river,She sat down and cried.

Oh, pray get up and choose one, and choose one, and choose one,Oh, pray get up and choose one, down by the sea-side.

Now you’re married, I wish you joy;Father and mother you must obey;Love one another like sister and brother,And pray, young couple, come kiss one another.

—Colchester (Miss G. M. Frances).

VI.

Poor Mary is a-weeping, a-weeping, a-weeping,Poor Mary is a-weeping on a fine summer’s day.What is she weeping for, weeping for, weeping for,What is she weeping for on a fine summer’s day?She’s weeping for her sweetheart, her sweetheart, her sweetheart,She’s weeping for her sweetheart on a fine summer’s day.Pray get up and choose one, choose one, choose one,Pray get up and choose one on a fine summer’s day.Pray go to church, love; church, love; church, love;Pray go to church, love, on a fine summer’s day.Pray put the ring on, ring on, ring on,Pray put the ring on, on a fine summer’s day.Pray come back, love; back, love; back, love;Pray come back, love, on a fine summer’s day.Now you’re married, we wish you joy;Your father and mother you must obey;Love one another like sister and brother;And now it’s time to go away.

Poor Mary is a-weeping, a-weeping, a-weeping,Poor Mary is a-weeping on a fine summer’s day.

What is she weeping for, weeping for, weeping for,What is she weeping for on a fine summer’s day?

She’s weeping for her sweetheart, her sweetheart, her sweetheart,She’s weeping for her sweetheart on a fine summer’s day.

Pray get up and choose one, choose one, choose one,Pray get up and choose one on a fine summer’s day.

Pray go to church, love; church, love; church, love;Pray go to church, love, on a fine summer’s day.

Pray put the ring on, ring on, ring on,Pray put the ring on, on a fine summer’s day.

Pray come back, love; back, love; back, love;Pray come back, love, on a fine summer’s day.

Now you’re married, we wish you joy;Your father and mother you must obey;Love one another like sister and brother;And now it’s time to go away.

—(Suffolk County Folk-lore, pp. 66, 67.)

VII.

Poor Mary sits a-weeping, a-weeping, a-weeping,Poor Mary sits a-weeping on a bright summer’s day.Pray tell me what you are weeping for, weeping for, weeping for,Pray tell me what you are weeping for on a bright summer’s day?I’m weeping for a sweetheart, a sweetheart, a sweetheart,I’m weeping for a sweetheart on a bright summer’s day.Poor Mary’s got a shepherd’s cross, a shepherd’s cross, a shepherd’s cross,Poor Mary’s got a shepherd’s cross on a bright summer’s day.

Poor Mary sits a-weeping, a-weeping, a-weeping,Poor Mary sits a-weeping on a bright summer’s day.

Pray tell me what you are weeping for, weeping for, weeping for,Pray tell me what you are weeping for on a bright summer’s day?

I’m weeping for a sweetheart, a sweetheart, a sweetheart,I’m weeping for a sweetheart on a bright summer’s day.

Poor Mary’s got a shepherd’s cross, a shepherd’s cross, a shepherd’s cross,Poor Mary’s got a shepherd’s cross on a bright summer’s day.

—Berkshire (Miss Thoyts,Antiquary, xxvii. 254).

VIII.

Mary sits a-weeping, a-weeping, a-weeping,Mary sits a-weeping, close by the sea-side.Mary, what are you weeping for, weeping for, weeping for,Mary, what are you weeping for, close by the sea-side?I’m a-weeping for my sweetheart, my sweetheart, my sweetheart,I’m a-weeping for my sweetheart, close by the sea-side.Pray get up and choose one, and choose one, and choose one,Pray get up and choose one, close by the sea-side.

Mary sits a-weeping, a-weeping, a-weeping,Mary sits a-weeping, close by the sea-side.

Mary, what are you weeping for, weeping for, weeping for,Mary, what are you weeping for, close by the sea-side?

I’m a-weeping for my sweetheart, my sweetheart, my sweetheart,I’m a-weeping for my sweetheart, close by the sea-side.

Pray get up and choose one, and choose one, and choose one,Pray get up and choose one, close by the sea-side.

—Winterton and Lincoln (Miss M. Peacock).

IX.

Poor Mary sits a-weeping, a-weeping,Poor Mary sits a-weeping, on a bright summer’s day.She is weeping for her lover, her lover,She is weeping for her lover on a bright summer’s day.Stand up and choose your lover, your lover,Stand up and choose your lover, on a bright summer’s day.And now she’s got a lover, a lover,And now she’s got a lover, on a bright summer’s day.

Poor Mary sits a-weeping, a-weeping,Poor Mary sits a-weeping, on a bright summer’s day.

She is weeping for her lover, her lover,She is weeping for her lover on a bright summer’s day.

Stand up and choose your lover, your lover,Stand up and choose your lover, on a bright summer’s day.

And now she’s got a lover, a lover,And now she’s got a lover, on a bright summer’s day.

—Hanbury, Staffs. (Miss E. Hollis).

Oh, what is Nellie weeping for,A-weeping for, a-weeping for?Oh, what is Nellie weeping for,On a cold and sunshine day?I’m weeping for my sweetheart,My sweetheart, my sweetheart;I’m weeping for my sweetheartOn a cold and sunshine day.So now stand up and choose the one,And choose the one, and choose the one;So now stand up and choose the one,On a cold and sunshine day.

Oh, what is Nellie weeping for,A-weeping for, a-weeping for?Oh, what is Nellie weeping for,On a cold and sunshine day?

I’m weeping for my sweetheart,My sweetheart, my sweetheart;I’m weeping for my sweetheartOn a cold and sunshine day.

So now stand up and choose the one,And choose the one, and choose the one;So now stand up and choose the one,On a cold and sunshine day.

—Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire (Miss Matthews).

XI.

Poor Mary sits a-weeping, a-weeping, a-weeping,Poor Mary sits a-weeping, on a bright summer’s day.Pray what are you a-weeping for, a-weeping for, a-weeping for,Pray what are you a-weeping for on a bright summer’s day?She’s weeping for a lover, a lover, a lover,She’s weeping for a lover, this bright summer’s day.Rise up and choose your lover, your lover, your lover,Rise up and choose your lover, this bright summer’s day.Now Mary she is married, is married, is married,Now Mary she is married this bright summer’s day.

Poor Mary sits a-weeping, a-weeping, a-weeping,Poor Mary sits a-weeping, on a bright summer’s day.

Pray what are you a-weeping for, a-weeping for, a-weeping for,Pray what are you a-weeping for on a bright summer’s day?

She’s weeping for a lover, a lover, a lover,She’s weeping for a lover, this bright summer’s day.

Rise up and choose your lover, your lover, your lover,Rise up and choose your lover, this bright summer’s day.

Now Mary she is married, is married, is married,Now Mary she is married this bright summer’s day.

—Enborne School, Newbury, Berks. (Miss M. Kimber).

XII.

Poor Sarah’s a-weeping,A-weeping, a-weeping;Oh, what is she a-weeping for,A-weeping for, a-weeping for?I’m weeping for a sweetheart,A sweetheart, a sweetheart;I’m weeping for a sweetheartThis bright summer day.Oh, she shall have a sweetheart,A sweetheart, a sweetheart;Oh, she shall have a sweetheartThis bright summer day.Go to church, loves,Go to church, loves.Say your prayers, loves,Say your prayers, loves.Kiss your lovers,Kiss your lovers;Rise up and choose your love.

Poor Sarah’s a-weeping,A-weeping, a-weeping;Oh, what is she a-weeping for,A-weeping for, a-weeping for?

I’m weeping for a sweetheart,A sweetheart, a sweetheart;I’m weeping for a sweetheartThis bright summer day.

Oh, she shall have a sweetheart,A sweetheart, a sweetheart;Oh, she shall have a sweetheartThis bright summer day.

Go to church, loves,Go to church, loves.Say your prayers, loves,Say your prayers, loves.Kiss your lovers,Kiss your lovers;Rise up and choose your love.

—Liphook, Hants. (Miss Fowler).

XIII.

Poor Mary sits weeping, weeping, weeping,Poor Mary sits weeping on a bright summer’s day;On the carpet she must kneel till the grass grows on the field.Stand up straight upon your feet,And show me the one you love so sweet.Now you’re married, I wish you joy;First a girl, and second a boy;If one don’t kiss, the other must,So kiss, kiss, kiss.

Poor Mary sits weeping, weeping, weeping,Poor Mary sits weeping on a bright summer’s day;On the carpet she must kneel till the grass grows on the field.

Stand up straight upon your feet,And show me the one you love so sweet.

Now you’re married, I wish you joy;First a girl, and second a boy;If one don’t kiss, the other must,So kiss, kiss, kiss.

—Cambridge (Mrs. Haddon).

XIV.

Poor Mary is a-weeping, a-weeping, a-weeping,Poor Mary is a-weeping on a bright summer’s day;Pray what is she a-weeping for, a-weeping for, a-weeping for,Pray what is she a-weeping for, on a bright summer’s day?I’m weeping for my true love, my true love, my true love,I’m weeping for my true love, on a bright summer’s day.Stand up and choose your true love, your true love, your true love,Stand up and choose your true love, on a bright summer’s day.Ring a ring o’ roses, o’ roses, o’ roses,Ring a ring o’ roses; a pocketful of posies.

I’m weeping for my true love, my true love, my true love,I’m weeping for my true love, on a bright summer’s day.

Stand up and choose your true love, your true love, your true love,Stand up and choose your true love, on a bright summer’s day.

Ring a ring o’ roses, o’ roses, o’ roses,Ring a ring o’ roses; a pocketful of posies.

—Ogbourne, Wilts. (H. S. May).

XV.

Back to Index Next