Weary

Have you any bread and wine?We are the Romans!Have you any bread and wine?For we’re the government soldiers!Yes! we have some bread and wine, &c.Will you give us a glass of it? &c.We will give you a glass of it, &c.A glass of it won’t serve us all, &c.We will give you a gallon of it, &c.We will break all your glasses, &c.We will tell the magistrates, &c.What care we for the magistrates, &c.Are you ready for a fight? &c.Yes, we’re ready for a fight, &c.Tuck up your sleeves up to your arms, &c.Present! Shoot! Bang! Fire!!

Have you any bread and wine?We are the Romans!Have you any bread and wine?For we’re the government soldiers!

Yes! we have some bread and wine, &c.

Will you give us a glass of it? &c.

We will give you a glass of it, &c.

A glass of it won’t serve us all, &c.

We will give you a gallon of it, &c.

We will break all your glasses, &c.

We will tell the magistrates, &c.

What care we for the magistrates, &c.

Are you ready for a fight? &c.

Yes, we’re ready for a fight, &c.

Tuck up your sleeves up to your arms, &c.Present! Shoot! Bang! Fire!!

—Maxey, Northamptonshire (Rev. W. D. Sweeting).

VII.

Have you any bread and wine?We are the English!Have you any bread and wine?We are the English soldiers!No, we have no bread and wine,We are the Romans!No, we have no bread and wine,We are the Roman soldiers!A quart of ale won’t serve us all, &c.Take a gallon and go your way, &c.A gallon of ale won’t serve us all, &c.We will fetch the magistrate, &c.We don’t care for the magistrate, &c.We will fetch the p’liceman, &c.We don’t care for the p’liceman, &c.Are you ready for a fight? &c.Yes, we’re ready for a fight, &c.

Have you any bread and wine?We are the English!Have you any bread and wine?We are the English soldiers!

No, we have no bread and wine,We are the Romans!No, we have no bread and wine,We are the Roman soldiers!

A quart of ale won’t serve us all, &c.

Take a gallon and go your way, &c.

A gallon of ale won’t serve us all, &c.

We will fetch the magistrate, &c.

We don’t care for the magistrate, &c.

We will fetch the p’liceman, &c.

We don’t care for the p’liceman, &c.

Are you ready for a fight? &c.

Yes, we’re ready for a fight, &c.

—Hanbury, Staffs. (Miss Edith Hollis).

VIII.

Have you any bread and wine, bread and wine, bread and wine,Have you any bread and wine,For we are English soldiers!Yes, we have some bread and wine, bread and wine, bread and wine,For we are French soldiers!Will you give us a quarter of it? &c.No, we won’t give you a quarter of it, &c.Then we will send the magistrate, &c.What do we care for the magistrate, &c.What do we care for the convent dogs, &c.Are you ready for a fight, &c.Yes, we are ready for a fight, &c.

Have you any bread and wine, bread and wine, bread and wine,Have you any bread and wine,For we are English soldiers!

Yes, we have some bread and wine, bread and wine, bread and wine,For we are French soldiers!

Will you give us a quarter of it? &c.

No, we won’t give you a quarter of it, &c.

Then we will send the magistrate, &c.

What do we care for the magistrate, &c.

What do we care for the convent dogs, &c.

Are you ready for a fight, &c.

Yes, we are ready for a fight, &c.

—Hurstmonceux, Sussex (Miss E. Chase, 1892).

IX.

Have you any bread and wine,Bread and wine, bread and wine?Have you any bread and wine,My Theerie and my Thorie?Yes, we have some bread and wine, bread and wine, &c.We shall have one glass of it, one glass of it, &c.Take one glass and go your way, go your way, &c.We shall have two glasses of it, two glasses of it, &c.Take two glasses and go your way, go your way, &c.

Have you any bread and wine,Bread and wine, bread and wine?Have you any bread and wine,My Theerie and my Thorie?

Yes, we have some bread and wine, bread and wine, &c.

We shall have one glass of it, one glass of it, &c.

Take one glass and go your way, go your way, &c.

We shall have two glasses of it, two glasses of it, &c.

Take two glasses and go your way, go your way, &c.

[Repeat for three, four, and five glasses of it, then—]

We shall have a bottle of it, a bottle of it, &c.A bottle of it yeshall nothave, ye shall not have, &c.We will break your glasses all, your glasses all, &c.We will send for the magistrates, the magistrates, &c.What care we for the magistrates, the magistrates? &c.We will send for the policemen, the policemen, &c.What care we for the policemen, the policemen? &c.We will send for the red coat men, the red coat men, &c.What care we for the red coat men, the red coat men? &c.What kind of men are ye at all, are ye at all? &c.We are all Prince Charlie’s men, Prince Charlie’s men, &c.But what kind of men areyeat all, areyeat all? &c.We are all King George’s men, King George’s men, &c.Are ye for a battle of it, a battle of it? &c.Yes, we’re for a battle of it,A battle of it, a battle of it,Yes, we’re for a battle of it,My Theerie and my Thorie.

We shall have a bottle of it, a bottle of it, &c.

A bottle of it yeshall nothave, ye shall not have, &c.

We will break your glasses all, your glasses all, &c.

We will send for the magistrates, the magistrates, &c.

What care we for the magistrates, the magistrates? &c.

We will send for the policemen, the policemen, &c.

What care we for the policemen, the policemen? &c.

We will send for the red coat men, the red coat men, &c.

What care we for the red coat men, the red coat men? &c.

What kind of men are ye at all, are ye at all? &c.

We are all Prince Charlie’s men, Prince Charlie’s men, &c.

But what kind of men areyeat all, areyeat all? &c.

We are all King George’s men, King George’s men, &c.

Are ye for a battle of it, a battle of it? &c.

Yes, we’re for a battle of it,A battle of it, a battle of it,Yes, we’re for a battle of it,My Theerie and my Thorie.

—Perthshire (Rev. W. Gregor).

What men are ye of?What men are ye of?What men are ye of?Metherie and Metharie.We are of King George’s men,King George’s men, King George’s men,We are of King George’s men,Metherie and Metharie.We will send for the policemen, &c.What care we for the policemen? &c.We will have a bottle of wine, &c.You shall not have, &c.We will have three bottles of wine, &c.You shall not have, &c.We will send for Cripple Dick, &c.What care we for Cripple Dick, &c.We finish off with a battle three, &c.

What men are ye of?What men are ye of?What men are ye of?Metherie and Metharie.

We are of King George’s men,King George’s men, King George’s men,We are of King George’s men,Metherie and Metharie.

We will send for the policemen, &c.

What care we for the policemen? &c.

We will have a bottle of wine, &c.

You shall not have, &c.

We will have three bottles of wine, &c.

You shall not have, &c.

We will send for Cripple Dick, &c.

What care we for Cripple Dick, &c.

We finish off with a battle three, &c.

—Northumberland (from a lady friend of Hon. J. Abercromby).

XI.

We shall have a glass of wine,A glass of wine, a glass of wine,We shall have a glass of wine,Methery I methory.You shall not have a glass of wine,A glass of wine, a glass of wine,You shall not have a glass of wine,Methery I methory.Then we’ll break your dishes, then, &c.Then we’ll send for the blue coat men, &c.What care I for the blue coat men, &c.Then we’ll send for the red coat men, &c.What care we for the red coat men, &c.We are all King George’s men, &c.We are all King William’s men, &c.

We shall have a glass of wine,A glass of wine, a glass of wine,We shall have a glass of wine,Methery I methory.

You shall not have a glass of wine,A glass of wine, a glass of wine,You shall not have a glass of wine,Methery I methory.

Then we’ll break your dishes, then, &c.

Then we’ll send for the blue coat men, &c.

What care I for the blue coat men, &c.

Then we’ll send for the red coat men, &c.

What care we for the red coat men, &c.

We are all King George’s men, &c.

We are all King William’s men, &c.

—Auchencairn, Kirkcudbright (Prof. A. C. Haddon).

XII.

Have you any bread and wine, bread and wine, bread and wine?Have you any bread and wine?Come a theiry, come a thory.Yes, we have some bread and wine, &c.Will you give us a glass of it? &c.Yes, we’ll give you a glass of it, &c.Will you give us two glasses of it? &c.Yes, we’ll give you two glasses of it, &c.Will you give us a pint of it? &c.A pint of it you shall not get, &c.We will break your window pane, &c.We will tell the policemen, &c.What care we for the policemen, &c.We will tell the red coat men, &c.What care we for the red coat men, &c.We will tell the magistrate, &c.What care we for the magistrate, &c.Will you try a fight with us? &c.Yes, we’ll try a fight with you, &c.Are you ready for it now? &c.Yes, we’re ready for it now, &c.

Have you any bread and wine, bread and wine, bread and wine?Have you any bread and wine?Come a theiry, come a thory.

Yes, we have some bread and wine, &c.

Will you give us a glass of it? &c.

Yes, we’ll give you a glass of it, &c.

Will you give us two glasses of it? &c.

Yes, we’ll give you two glasses of it, &c.

Will you give us a pint of it? &c.

A pint of it you shall not get, &c.

We will break your window pane, &c.

We will tell the policemen, &c.

What care we for the policemen, &c.

We will tell the red coat men, &c.

What care we for the red coat men, &c.

We will tell the magistrate, &c.

What care we for the magistrate, &c.

Will you try a fight with us? &c.

Yes, we’ll try a fight with you, &c.

Are you ready for it now? &c.

Yes, we’re ready for it now, &c.

—Perth (Rev. W. Gregor).

XIII.

Have you got any bread and wine, bread and wine, bread and wine?Have you got any bread and wine?Come a theory, oary mathorie.Yes, we have some bread and wine, &c.We shall have one glass of it, &c.You shall not have one glass of it, &c.To what men do you belong? &c.We are all King George’s men, &c.To what men do you belong, &c.We are all King William’s men, &c.We shall have a fight, then, &c.

Have you got any bread and wine, bread and wine, bread and wine?Have you got any bread and wine?Come a theory, oary mathorie.

Yes, we have some bread and wine, &c.

We shall have one glass of it, &c.

You shall not have one glass of it, &c.

To what men do you belong? &c.

We are all King George’s men, &c.

To what men do you belong, &c.

We are all King William’s men, &c.

We shall have a fight, then, &c.

—Perth (Rev. W. Gregor).

XIV.

Have you any bread and wine,Ye o’ the boatmen?Have you any bread and wine,Ye the drunk and sober?Yes, we have some bread and wine, &c.Will you give us of your wine, &c.Take one quart and go your way, &c.One quart is not enough for us, &c.Take two quarts and go your way, &c.

Have you any bread and wine,Ye o’ the boatmen?Have you any bread and wine,Ye the drunk and sober?

Yes, we have some bread and wine, &c.

Will you give us of your wine, &c.

Take one quart and go your way, &c.

One quart is not enough for us, &c.

Take two quarts and go your way, &c.

[Continue up to six quarts, then—]

Pray, what sort of men are you? &c.We are all King George’s men, &c.Are you ready for a fight? &c.Yes, we’re ready for a fight, &c.

Pray, what sort of men are you? &c.

We are all King George’s men, &c.

Are you ready for a fight? &c.

Yes, we’re ready for a fight, &c.

—Forest of Dean (Miss Matthews).

XV.

I will fetch you a pint of beer,He I over;I will fetch you a pint of beer,Whether we are drunk or sober.I will fetch you a quart of beer,He I over;I will fetch you a quart of beer,Whether we are drunk or sober.I will fetch you two quarts of beer, &c.I will fetch you three quarts of beer, &c.I will fetch you a gallon of beer, &c.I will fetch you a barrel of beer, &c.I will fetch the old police, &c.Are you ready for a fight, &c.

I will fetch you a pint of beer,He I over;I will fetch you a pint of beer,Whether we are drunk or sober.

I will fetch you a quart of beer,He I over;I will fetch you a quart of beer,Whether we are drunk or sober.

I will fetch you two quarts of beer, &c.

I will fetch you three quarts of beer, &c.

I will fetch you a gallon of beer, &c.

I will fetch you a barrel of beer, &c.

I will fetch the old police, &c.

Are you ready for a fight, &c.

—Earls Heaton (H. Hardy)

[Another variant from Earls Heaton is:—]

Have you got a bottle of gin?He I over;Have you got a bottle of gin,As in that golden story?

—(H. Hardy).

XVI.

Have you any bread and wine,Bread and wine, bread and wine?Have you any bread and wine?Cam a teerie, arrie ma torry.Yes, we have some bread and wine,Bread and wine, bread and wine;Yes, we have some bread and wine,Cam a teerie, arrie ma torry.We shall have one glass of it, &c.One glass of it you shall not get, &c.We are King George’s loyal men,Loyal men, loyal men;We are King George’s loyal men,Cam a teerie, arrie ma torry.What care we for King George’s men,King George’s men, King George’s men;What care we for King George’s men,Cam a teerie, arrie ma torry.

Have you any bread and wine,Bread and wine, bread and wine?Have you any bread and wine?Cam a teerie, arrie ma torry.

Yes, we have some bread and wine,Bread and wine, bread and wine;Yes, we have some bread and wine,Cam a teerie, arrie ma torry.

We shall have one glass of it, &c.

One glass of it you shall not get, &c.

We are King George’s loyal men,Loyal men, loyal men;We are King George’s loyal men,Cam a teerie, arrie ma torry.

What care we for King George’s men,King George’s men, King George’s men;What care we for King George’s men,Cam a teerie, arrie ma torry.

—People’s Friend, quoted in a review of “Arbroath: Past and Present,” by J. M. M’Bain.

XVII.

We shall have one glass of wine,We are the robbers;We shall have one glass of wine,For we are the gallant soldiers.You shall have no glass of wine,We are the robbers;You shall have no glass of wine,For we are the gallant soldiers.We shall have two glasses of it, &c.You shall have no glass of it, &c.We will break your tumblers, then, &c.We shall send for the policeman, &c.What care we for the policeman, &c.We shall send for the red coat men, &c.What care we for the red coat men, &c.We shall send for the blue coat men, &c.What care we for the blue coat men, &c.We shall send for the magistrate, &c.What care we for the magistrate, &c.We shall send for Cripple Dick, &c.What care we for Cripple Dick, &c.We shall have a battle then, &c.Yonder is a battle field, &c.

We shall have one glass of wine,We are the robbers;We shall have one glass of wine,For we are the gallant soldiers.

You shall have no glass of wine,We are the robbers;You shall have no glass of wine,For we are the gallant soldiers.

We shall have two glasses of it, &c.

You shall have no glass of it, &c.

We will break your tumblers, then, &c.

We shall send for the policeman, &c.

What care we for the policeman, &c.

We shall send for the red coat men, &c.

What care we for the red coat men, &c.

We shall send for the blue coat men, &c.

What care we for the blue coat men, &c.

We shall send for the magistrate, &c.

What care we for the magistrate, &c.

We shall send for Cripple Dick, &c.

What care we for Cripple Dick, &c.

We shall have a battle then, &c.

Yonder is a battle field, &c.

—Laurieston School, Kirkcudbright (J. Lawson).

XVIII.

Here comes three dukes a-riding, a-riding, a-riding;Here comes three dukes a-riding, a-riding, a-riding;My fair ladies.Have you any bread and wine, bread and wine, bread and wine?Have you any bread and wine, bread and wine, bread and wine,My fair ladies?How do you sell your bread and wine, &c.I sell it by a gallon, sir, &c.A gallon is too much, fair ladies, &c.Sell it by a gallon, my fair ladies, &c.Then we’ll have none at all, &c.Are you ready for a fight, &c.Yes, we are ready for a fight, &c.My dear sirs.

Here comes three dukes a-riding, a-riding, a-riding;Here comes three dukes a-riding, a-riding, a-riding;My fair ladies.

Have you any bread and wine, bread and wine, bread and wine?Have you any bread and wine, bread and wine, bread and wine,My fair ladies?

How do you sell your bread and wine, &c.

I sell it by a gallon, sir, &c.

A gallon is too much, fair ladies, &c.

Sell it by a gallon, my fair ladies, &c.

Then we’ll have none at all, &c.

Are you ready for a fight, &c.

Yes, we are ready for a fight, &c.My dear sirs.

—Sporle, Norfolk (Miss Matthews).

(c) The players divide into two sides of about equal numbers, and form lines. The lines walk forwards and backwards in turn, each side singing their respective verses alternately. When the last verse is sung both lines prepare for a fight.

This is the usual way of playing, and there is but little variation in the methods of the different versions. In some versions (Enbourne, Berks.;Maxey, Northants., and Bath) sleeves are tucked up previous to the pretended fight, and in one or two places sticks and stones are used; again in theNorthamptonshireand Bath games, at “Present! Shoot! Bang! Fire!!” imitations are given of firing of guns before the actual fight takes place. In theHants(H. S. May) andLancashire(Mrs. Harley) versions, when the last verse is reached the players all join hands, form a ring, and dance round while they sing the last verse. In several versions too, when they sing “We don’t care for the magistrates,” or other persons of authority, the players all stamp their feet on the ground. In theHurstmonceux versionthe children double their fists before preparing to fight. Some pretend to have swords to fight with, but the greater number use their fists. In most of the versions the players on both sides join in the refrain or chorus.

(d) This game represents an attacking or invading party and the defenders. It probably owes its origin to the border warfare which prevailed for so long a period between Highlanders and Lowlanders of Scotland, the Scotch and English of the northern border counties, and in the country called themarches between Wales and England. Contests between different nationalities living in one town or place, as at Southampton and Nottingham, would also tend to produce this game. That the game represents this kind of conflict rather than an ordinary battle between independent countries is shown by several significant points. These are, the dialogue between the opposing parties before the fight begins, the mention of bread, ale, or other food, and more particularly the threat to appeal to the civil authorities, called in the different versions, magistrates, blue coat men, red coat men, highest men, policemen, and Cripple Dick. Such an appeal is only applicable where the opposing parties were, theoretically at all events, subordinate to a superior authority. The derision, too, with which the threat is received by the assailants is in strict accord with the facts of Border society. Scott inWaverleyand theBlack Dwarfdescribes such a raid, and the suggestion to appeal to the civil authority in lieu of a raid is met with the cry of such an act being useless. The passage from theBlack Dwarfis: “‘We maun tak the law wi’ us in thae days, Simon,’ answered the more prudent elder. ‘And besides,’ said another old man, ‘I dinna believe there’s ane now living that kens the lawful mode of following a fray across the Border. Tam o’ Whittram kend a’ about it; but he died in the hard winter.’ ‘Hout,’ exclaimed another of these discording counsellors, ‘there’s nae great skill needed; just put a lighted peat on the end of a spear, a hayfork, or siclike, and blaw a horn and cry the gathering word, and then it’s lawful to follow gear into England and recover it by the strong hand, or to take gear frae some other Englishmen, providing ye lift nae mair than’s been lifted frae you. That’s the auld Border law made at Dundrennan in the days of the Black Douglas.’” InWaverleythe hero suggests “to send to the nearest garrison for a party of soldiers and a magistrate’s warrant,” but is told that “he did not understand the state of the country and of the political parties which divided it” (chap. xv.). The position of this part of the country is best understood from the evidence of legal records, showing how slowly the king’s record ran in these parts. Thus Mr. Clifford (Hist. of Private Legislation)quotes from Hodgson’sHist. of Northumberland(vol. iii. pt. 2, p. 171), a paper, in the Cotton MS., on “The bounds and means of the ’batable land belonging to England and Scotland.” It was written in 1550 by Sir Robert Bowes, a Northumbrian, at the request of the Marquis of Dorset, then Warden General of the Marches, and gives a graphic picture of Border life at that time. The writer describes Cassope bridge as “a common passage for the thieves of Tyndalle, in England, and for the thieves of Liddesdalle, in Scotland, with the stolen goods from one realm to the other.” The head of Tyndalle is a place “where few true men have list to lodge.” North Tyndall “is more plenished with wild and misdemeaned people” than even South Tyndall. The people there “stand most by four surnames,” the Charltons, Robsons, Dodds, and Milbornes. “Of every surname there be sundry families, or graves, as they call them, of every of which there be certain headsmen that leadeth and answereth for all the rest. There be some among them that have never stolen themselves, which they call true men. And yet such will have rascals to steal either on horseback or foot, whom they do reset, and will receive part of the stolen goods. There be very few able men in all that country of North Tyndalle, but either they have used to steal in England or Scotland. And if any true man of England get knowledge of the theft or thieves that steal his goods in Tyndalle or Ryddesdale, he had much rather take a part of his goods again in composition than pursue the extremity by law against the thief. For if the thief be of any great surname or kindred, and be lawfully executed by order of justice, the rest of his kin or surname bear as much malice, which they call deadly feade (feud), against such as follow the law against their cousin the thief, as though he had unlawfully killed him with a sword; and will by all means they can seek revenge thereupon.” At sundry times the dalesmen “have broken out of all order, and have then, like rebels or outlaws, committed very great and heinous attempts, as burning and spoiling of whole townships and murdering of gentlemen and others whom they have had grief or malice unto, so that for defence of them there have been great garrisons laid, and raidsand incourses both against them and by them, even as it were between England and Scotland in time of war. And even at such times they have done more harm than they have received.” A number of the Tyndaller’s houses are set together, so that they may give each other succour in frays, and they join together in any quarrel against a true man, so that for dread of them “almost no man dare follow his goods stolen or spoiled into that country.”

The sides in the game are under the different names or leadership of Romans and English, King William’s men, rovers and guardian soldiers, Prince Charlie’s men, King George’s men, &c. These names have probably been given in memory of some local rising, or from some well-known event which stamped itself upon the recollection of the people. It is very curious that in four or five versions a refrain, which may well be a survival of some of the slogans or family “cries” (see “Three Dukes”), should occur instead of the “Roman” and “English” soldiers, &c. These refrains are, “My theerie and my thorie,” “Metherie and metharie,” “Methory I methory,” “Come a theeiry, come a thory,” “Come a theory, oary mathorie,” “Cam a teerie, arrie ma torry,” and the three which apparently are still further degradations of these, “Ye o’ the boatmen,” “Drunk and sober,” “He I over.” That “slogans” or “war cries” were used in this species of tribal war there is little doubt. In theNorthumberlandandLaurieston versionsthe name is “Cripple Dick,” these words, now considered as the name of a powerful and feared leader, may also indicate the same origin. The versions with these refrains come fromPerthshire(three versions),Auchencairn, andNorthumberland;Yorkshirehas He I over; while the Romans and English, King George’s men, King William’s men, guardian soldiers, rovers, &c., are found inShropshire,Staffordshire,Gloucester,Kent,Hants, Bath,Berks,Northamptonshire,Sussex, some of which are Border counties to Wales, and others have sea-coasts where at different times invasions have been expected. InSussex, Miss Chase says the game is said to date from the alarm of Napoleon’s threatened landing on the coast; this is also said inKentandHampshire. Miss Burne considers the game inShropshireto have certainly originated from the old Border warfare. She also considers that the bread and wine, barrels of ale, &c., are indications of attempts made to bribe the beleaguered garrison and their willingness to accept it; but I think it more probably refers to the fact that some food, cattle, and goods were oftentime given to the raiders by the owners of the lands as blackmail, to prevent the carrying off of all their property, and to avoid fighting if possible. It will be noticed that fighting ensues as the result of a sufficient quantity of food and drink being refused. Scott alludes to the practice of blackmail, having to be paid to a Highland leader inWaverley, in the raid upon the cattle of the baron of Bradwardine (see chap. xv.). The farms were scattered, and before the defenders could combine to offer resistance, cattle and goods would be carried off, and the ground laid waste, if resistance were offered.

The tune of theNorthants game(Rev. W. Sweeting) andHants(H. S. May) are so nearly like theBath tunethat it seemed unnecessary to print them. The tune of the Surrey game is that of “Nuts in May.” The words of the Bath version collected by me are nearly identical with theShropshire, except that “We are the Romans” is said instead of “We are the Rovers.” They are not therefore printed here, but I have used this version in myChildren’s Singing Games, series I.,illustrated. The tune of theHants version(H. S. May) is similar to that ofWrotham, Kent (Miss D. Kimball).[Addendum]

Weary, weary, I’m waiting on you,I can wait no longer on you;Three times I’ve whistled on you—Lovey, are you coming out?I’ll tell mamma when I go home,The boys won’t let my curls alone;They tore my hair, and broke my comb—And that’s the way all boys get on.

Weary, weary, I’m waiting on you,I can wait no longer on you;Three times I’ve whistled on you—Lovey, are you coming out?

I’ll tell mamma when I go home,The boys won’t let my curls alone;They tore my hair, and broke my comb—And that’s the way all boys get on.

—Aberdeen Training College (Rev. W. Gregor).

The girls stand in a row, and one goes backwards and forwardssinging the first four lines. She then takes one out of the row, and they swing round and round while they all sing the other four lines.

Weave the diaper tick-a-tick tick,Weave the diaper tick;Come this way, come that,As close as a mat,Athwart and across, up and down, round about,And forwards and backwards and inside and out;Weave the diaper thick-a-thick thick,Weave the diaper thick.

—Halliwell’sNursery Rhymes, p. 65.

(b) This game should be accompanied by a kind of pantomimic dance, in which the motions of the body and arms express the process of weaving, the motion of the shuttle, &c.

(c) Mr. Newell (Games and Songs of American Children, p. 80) mentions a dance called “Virginia Reel,” which he says is an imitation of weaving. The first movement represents the shooting of the shuttle from side to side and the passage of the woof over and under the threads of the warp; the last movements indicate the tightening of the threads and bringing together of the cloth. He also says that an acquaintance told him that in New York the men and girls stand in rows by sevens, an arrangement which may imitate the different colours of strands. Mr. Newell does not say whether any words are sung during the dancing of the reel. Halliwell gives another rhyme (p. 121), which may have belonged to this weaving game. It is extremely probable that in these fragments described by him we have remains of one of the old trade dances and songs.

Two children stand back to back, with their arms locked. One stoops as low as he can, supporting the other on his back, and says, “Weigh the butter;” he rises, and the second stoops in his turn with “Weigh the cheese.” The first repeats with“Weigh the old woman;” and it ends by the second with “Down to her knees.”—Folk-lore Journal, v. 58.

The players turn their backs to each other, and link their arms together behind. One player then bends forward, and lifts the other off his [her] feet. He rises up, and the other bends forward and lifts him up. Thus the two go on bending and rising, and lifting each other alternately, and keep repeating—

Weigh butter, weigh cheese,Weigh a pun (pound) o’ can’le grease.

—Keith (Rev. W. Gregor).

Mr. Northall (English Folk Rhymes) gives this game with the words as—

A bag o’ malt, a bag o’ salt,Ten tens a hundred.

This game is described as played in the same way in Antrim and Down (Patterson’sGlossary), and also by Jamieson in Roxburgh.

See “Way-Zaltin.”

[Play]

Tune When I was a Young Girl Platt School—Platt School, nr. Wrotham, Kent (Miss Burne).

—Platt School, nr. Wrotham, Kent (Miss Burne).

[Play]

Tune When I was a Young Girl Hanbury—Hanbury, Staffs. (Miss Edith Hollis).

—Hanbury, Staffs. (Miss Edith Hollis).

[Play]

Tune When I was a Young Girl Market Drayton—Market Drayton, Salop (Shropshire Folk-lore).

—Market Drayton, Salop (Shropshire Folk-lore).

[Playpart 1,part 2]

Tune When I was a Young Girl Ogbourne—Ogbourne, Wilts. (H. S. May).

—Ogbourne, Wilts. (H. S. May).

When I was a young girl, a young girl, a young girl,When I was a young girl, how happy was I.This way and that way, and this way and that way,And this way and that way, and this way went I.When I had a sweetheart, a sweetheart, a sweetheart,When I had a sweetheart, how happy was I.This way and that way, and this way and that way,And this way and that way, and this way went I.When I got married, got married, got married,When I got married, how happy was I.This way and that way, and this way and that way,And this way and that way, and this way went I.When I had a baby, a baby, a baby,When I had a baby, how happy was I.This way and that way, and this way and that way,And this way and that way, and this way went I.When my baby died, died, died,When my baby died, how sorry was I.This way and that way, and this way and that way,And this way and that way, and this way went I.When my husband died, died, died,When my husband died, how sorry was I.This way and that way, and this way and that way,And this way and that way, and this way went I.When I kept a donkey, a donkey, a donkey,When I kept a donkey, how happy was I.This way and that way, and this way and that way,And this way and that way, and this way went I.When I was a washerwoman, a washerwoman, a washerwoman,When I was a washerwoman, how happy was I.This way and that way, and this way and that way,And this way and that way, and this way went I.When I was a beggar, a beggar, a beggar,When I was a beggar, how happy was I.This way and that way, and this way and that way,And this way and that way, and this way went I.

When I was a young girl, a young girl, a young girl,When I was a young girl, how happy was I.This way and that way, and this way and that way,And this way and that way, and this way went I.

When I had a sweetheart, a sweetheart, a sweetheart,When I had a sweetheart, how happy was I.This way and that way, and this way and that way,And this way and that way, and this way went I.

When I got married, got married, got married,When I got married, how happy was I.This way and that way, and this way and that way,And this way and that way, and this way went I.

When I had a baby, a baby, a baby,When I had a baby, how happy was I.This way and that way, and this way and that way,And this way and that way, and this way went I.

When my baby died, died, died,When my baby died, how sorry was I.This way and that way, and this way and that way,And this way and that way, and this way went I.

When my husband died, died, died,When my husband died, how sorry was I.This way and that way, and this way and that way,And this way and that way, and this way went I.

When I kept a donkey, a donkey, a donkey,When I kept a donkey, how happy was I.This way and that way, and this way and that way,And this way and that way, and this way went I.

When I was a washerwoman, a washerwoman, a washerwoman,When I was a washerwoman, how happy was I.This way and that way, and this way and that way,And this way and that way, and this way went I.

When I was a beggar, a beggar, a beggar,When I was a beggar, how happy was I.This way and that way, and this way and that way,And this way and that way, and this way went I.

—Platt School, near Wrotham, Kent (Miss Burne).

II.

When I was a young girl, a young girl, a young girl,When I was I young girl, how happy was I.And this way and that way, and this way and that way, and this way and that way, and this way went I.When I was a school-girl, a school-girl, a school-girl,When I was a school-girl, oh, this way went I.And this way and that way, and this way and that way, and this way and that way, and this way went I.When I was a teacher, a teacher, a teacher,When I was a teacher, oh, this way went I.And this way and that way, and this way and that way, and this way and that way, and this way went I.When I had a sweetheart, a sweetheart, a sweetheart,When I had a sweetheart, oh, this way went I.And this way and that way, and this way and that way, and this way and that way, and this way went I.When I had a husband, a husband, a husband,When I had a husband, oh! this way went I.And this way and that way, and this way and that way, and this way and that way, and this way went I.When I had a baby, a baby, a baby,When I had a baby, how happy was I.And this way and that way, and this way and that way, and this way and that way, and this way went I.When my baby died, oh, died, oh, died,When my baby died, how sorry was I.And this way and that way, and this way and that way, and this way and that way, and this way went I.When I took in washing, oh, washing, oh, washing,When I took in washing, oh, this way went I.And this way and that way, and this way and that way, and this way and that way, and this way went I.When I went out scrubbing, oh, scrubbing, oh, scrubbing,When I went out scrubbing, oh, this way went I.And this way and that way, and this way and that way, and this way and that way, and this way went I.When my husband did beat me, did beat me, did beat me,When my husband did beat me, oh, this way went I.And this way and that way, and this way and that way, and this way and that way, and this way went I.When my husband died, oh, died, oh, died,When my husband died, how happy was I.And this way and that way, and this way and that way, and this way and that way, and this way went I.Hurrah!

When I was a young girl, a young girl, a young girl,When I was I young girl, how happy was I.And this way and that way, and this way and that way, and this way and that way, and this way went I.

When I was a school-girl, a school-girl, a school-girl,When I was a school-girl, oh, this way went I.And this way and that way, and this way and that way, and this way and that way, and this way went I.

When I was a teacher, a teacher, a teacher,When I was a teacher, oh, this way went I.And this way and that way, and this way and that way, and this way and that way, and this way went I.

When I had a sweetheart, a sweetheart, a sweetheart,When I had a sweetheart, oh, this way went I.And this way and that way, and this way and that way, and this way and that way, and this way went I.

When I had a husband, a husband, a husband,When I had a husband, oh! this way went I.And this way and that way, and this way and that way, and this way and that way, and this way went I.

When I had a baby, a baby, a baby,When I had a baby, how happy was I.And this way and that way, and this way and that way, and this way and that way, and this way went I.

When my baby died, oh, died, oh, died,When my baby died, how sorry was I.And this way and that way, and this way and that way, and this way and that way, and this way went I.

When I took in washing, oh, washing, oh, washing,When I took in washing, oh, this way went I.And this way and that way, and this way and that way, and this way and that way, and this way went I.

When I went out scrubbing, oh, scrubbing, oh, scrubbing,When I went out scrubbing, oh, this way went I.And this way and that way, and this way and that way, and this way and that way, and this way went I.

When my husband did beat me, did beat me, did beat me,When my husband did beat me, oh, this way went I.And this way and that way, and this way and that way, and this way and that way, and this way went I.

When my husband died, oh, died, oh, died,When my husband died, how happy was I.And this way and that way, and this way and that way, and this way and that way, and this way went I.Hurrah!

—Barnes, Surrey (A. B. Gomme).

III.

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