Volume I Part 9 (1/2)

Minder: ”Who's there?”

Answer: ”Angel.”

Minder: ”What do you want?”

Angel: ”Ribbons.”

Minder: ”What colour?”

Angel: ”Red.”

Minder retorts, if no child is so named, ”Go and learn your A B C.” If the guess is right the child is led away. The Devil then knocks, and the dialogue and action are repeated.-Deptford, Kent (Miss Chase).

See ”Fool, fool, come to School.”

Auntieloomie

The children join hands, and dance in a circle, ”with a front step, a back step, and a side step, round an invisible May-pole,” singing-

Can you dance the Auntieloomie?

Yes, I can; yes, I can.

Then follows kissing.-Brigg, Lincolns.h.i.+re (Miss Peac.o.c.k).

Babbity Bowster

[Music]

-Biggar (Wm. Ballantyne).

Wha learned you to dance, You to dance, you to dance?

Wha learned you to dance Babbity Bowster brawly?

My minnie learned me to dance, Me to dance, me to dance; My minnie learned me to dance Babbity Bowster brawly.

Wha ga'e you the keys to keep, Keys to keep, keys to keep?

Wha ga'e you the keys to keep, Babbity Bowster brawly?

My minnie ga'e me the keys to keep, Keys to keep, keys to keep; My minnie ga'e me the keys to keep, Babbity Bowster brawly.

One, twa, three, B, ba, Babbity, Babbity Bowster neatly; Kneel down, kiss the ground, An' kiss your bonnie la.s.sie [or laddie].

-Biggar (W. H. Ballantyne).

(_b_) Mr. Ballantyne describes the dance as taking place at the end of a country ball. The lads all sat on one side and the girls on the other.

It began with a boy taking a handkerchief and dancing before the girls, singing the first verse (fig. 1). Selecting one of the girls, he threw the handkerchief into her lap, or put it round her neck, holding both ends himself. Some spread the handkerchief on the floor at the feet of the girl. The object in either case was to secure a kiss, which, however, was not given without a struggle, the girls cheering their companion at every unsuccessful attempt which the boy made (fig. 2). A girl then took the handkerchief, singing the next verse (fig. 3), and having thrown the handkerchief to one of the boys, she went off to her own side among the girls, and was pursued by the chosen boy (fig. 4).

When all were thus paired, they formed into line, facing each other, and danced somewhat like the country dance of Sir Roger.