Part 25

Elphi Bandy-legs(1)

Traditional

Elphi bandy-legs, Bent, an' wide apart, Nea yan i' this deale Awns a kinder heart. Elphi, great-heead, Greatest iver seen, Nea yan i' this deale Awns a breeter een. Elphi, little chap, Thof he war so small, War big wi' deeds o' kindness, Drink tiv him yan an' all. Him at fails to drain dry, Be it mug or glass, Binnot woth a pescod, Nor a buss(3) frae onny lass.

1. Written in an old cook-book and signed "J. L. 1699"; from Gordon Home's 'The Evolution of an English Town, p208.

2. Is not worth. 3. Kiss

Singing Games

Traditional

Stepping up the green grass Thus and thus and thus; Will you let one of your fair maids Come and play with us.

We will give you pots and pans, We will give you brass; We will give you anything For a pretty lass.

We won't take your pots and pans, We won't take your brass, We won't take your "anything For a pretty lass."

We will give you gold and silver, We will give you pearl; We will give you anything For a pretty girl.

Come, my dearest Mary, Come and play with us; You shall have a young man Born for your sake. And the bells shall ring, And the cats shall sing, And we'll all clap hands together.

Sally made a pudden, Shoo made it ower sweet; Shoo dursn't stick a knife in 't, Till Jack cam home at neet.

John, wilta have a bit like? Don't say nay, For last Monday mornin' Was aar weddin'-day.

III

Sally Water, Sally Water, Come sprinkle your can, Why do you lie mournin' All for a young man? Come, choose o' the wisest, Come, choose o' the best, Come, choose o' the young men The one you love best.

Diller a dollar, A ten o' clock scholar, What maks you coom sae soon? You used to coom at ten o'clock, Bud noo you coom at noon.

1. From S. O. Addy, A Sheffield Glossary, p. 239; current in other parts of England.

Hagmana Song(1)

Fragment of the Hagmana Song!

(As sung at Richmond, Yorkshire, on the eve of the New Year, by the' Corporation Pinder.)

To-night it is the New-year's night, to-morrow is the day," And we are come for our right, and for our ray,(2) As we used to do in old King Henry's day. Sing', fellows, sing, Hagman-heigh.

If you go to the bacon-flick, cut me a good bit; Cut, cut and low, beware of your maw; Cut, cut and round, beware of your thumb, That me and my merry men may have some. Sing, fellows, sing, Hagman-heigh.

If you go to the Black-ark, bring me ten mark; Ten mark, ten pound, throw it down upon the ground, That me and my merry men may have some. Sing, fellows, sing, Hagman-heigh.

1. Hagmena, or Hogmanay, is a north-country name for New Year's eve; the name is also applied to the offering for which children go round and beg on that evening. 2. A Portuguese coin of emall value.

Round the Year

New Year's Day

Lucky-bird, lucky-bird, chuck, chuck, chuck! Maister an' mistress, it's time to git up. If you don't git up, you'll have nea luck; Lucky- bird, lucky-bird, chuck, chuck, chuck!