Part 27

Cleveland Christmas Song(1)

God rist you merry, gentlemen, Let nothin' you dismay, Remember Christ oor Saviour Was born o' Kessmas day, To seave wer sowls fra Sattan's power; Lang taam we've gean astray. This brings tidin's o' comfort an' joy.

Noo stright they went to Bethlehem, Wheer oor sweet Saviour lay; They fan' him iv a manger, Wheer oxen fed on hay, To seave wer sowls fra Sattan's power; Lang taam we've gean astray. This brings tidin's o' comfort an' joy.

God bliss t' maister o' this hoose, An' t' mistress also, An' all your laatle childeren That roond your teable go; An' all your kith an' kindered, That dwell beath far an' near; An' I wish you a Merry Kessamas An' a Happy New Year.

1. From Mrs. Tweddell's Rhymes and Sketches, p. 14.

A Christmas Wassail(1)

Here we coom a-wessellin(2) Among the leaves so green, An' here we coom a-wanderin' So fair as to be seen.

Chorus- An' to your' wessel An' to jolly wessel, Love an' joy be to you An' to your wessel-tree.

The wessel-bob(3) is made O' rosemary tree, An' so is your beer O' the best barley. An' to your wessel, etc.

Weare not beggars' childeren That begs from door to door, But we are neighbours' childeren That has been here before. An' to your wessel, etc.

We have got a little purse Made i' ratchin(4) leather skin, An' we want a little money To line it well within. An' to your wessel, etc.

Bring us out your table An' spread it wi' a cloth; Bring us out your mouldy cheese Likewise your Christmas loaf. An' to your wessel, etc.

God bless the master o' this house, Likewise the mistress too; An' all the little childeren That round the table go. An' to your wessel, etc.

Good master an' good' misteress, While you're sittin' by the fire Pray, think of us poor childeren That's wanderin' i' the mire. An' to your wessel, etc.

1. From Easther and Lees, Almondbury and Huddersfield Glossary (English Dialect Society Publications, vol. 39, pp. xvii.-xviii). 2. Wassailing. 3. Wassail-bough. 4. Urchin, hedgehog.

Sheffield Mumming Song(1)

Come all ye jolly mummers That mum in Christmas time. Come join with us in chorus Come join with us in rhyme. Chorus- And a-mumming we will go, we'll go, And a-mumming we will go ; With a white cockade in all our hats, We'll go to t' gallant show.

It's of St. George's valour So loudly let us sing; An honour to his country And a credit to his King. Chorus- And a-mumming we will go, we'll go, And a-mumming we will go ; We'll face all sorts of weather Both rain, cold, wet, and snow.

It's of the King of Egypt, That came to seek his son; It's of the King of Egypt, That made his sword so wan. Chorus- And a-mumming, etc.

It's of the black Morocco dog That fought the fiery battle; It's of the black Morocco dog That made his sword to rattle. Chorus- And a-mumming, etc.

1 From S. O. Addy, Sheffield Glossary (English Dialect Society Publications, vol. xxii. p. 153). The song is sung at Christmas time in the villages about Sheffield at the conclusion of the folkplay, "The Peace Egg." See S. O. Addy, Sheffield Glossary (English Dialect Society), p. 153.

Charms, "Nominies," and Popular Rhymes

Traditional

Wilful weaste maks weasome want, An' you may live to say: I wish I had that sharve(1) o' breead That yance I flang away.

1. Crust

A rollin' stone gethers no moss, A ram'lin' lad saves no brass; A whistlin' lass an' a crowin' hen Will fotch t' devil oot o' his den.

Than awn a crawin' hen, I seaner wad t' awd divil meet, Hickity O, pickity O, pompolorum jig! Or breed a whistlin' lass, I seaner wad t' awd divil treat, Hickity O, pickity O, pompolorum jig!

Nowt bud ill-luck 'll fester where There craws an' whistles sike(1) a pair; May hens an' women breed nea mair. Pompolorum jig.