Volume I Part 88 (1/2)

Where's your father going to lie?

Lie on the footman's bed.

Where's the footman going to lie?

Lie in the cowshed.

Where's the cows going to lie?

Lie in the pig-sty.

Where's the pig going to lie?

Lie in the dolly-tub.

And what am I to wash in?

Wash in a thimble.

A thimble wunna hold a cap.

Wash in an egg-sh.e.l.l.

An egg-sh.e.l.l wunna hold a s.h.i.+rt.

Wash by the river-side.

Suppose the clothes should float away?

Get a boat and fetch them back.

Suppose the boat should overthrow?

Serve you right for going after them!

-Berrington, Oswestry, Chirbury (Burne's _Shrops.h.i.+re Folk-lore_, p.

515).

IV. Mother, will you buy me a milking-can, A milking-can, a milking-can?

Mother, will you buy me a milking-can, To me, I, O, OM?

Where's the money to buy it with, To buy it with, to buy it with, Where's the money to buy it with, To me, I, O, OM?

[Then the following verses-]

Sell my father's feather bed.

Where will your father sleep?

My father can sleep in the boys' bed.

Where will the boys sleep?

The boys can sleep in the pig-sty.

Where will the pigs sleep?

The pigs can sleep in the wash-tub.

Where shall I wash my clothes?

You can wash them in a thimble.

A thimble is not large enough.

You can wash them in an egg-sh.e.l.l.

An egg-sh.e.l.l would not hold them.

You can wash them by the river side.

But what if I should fall in?

We'll get a rope and pull you out, To me, I, O, OM.

-Sheffield (S. O. Addy).

V. Mother, come buy me two milking-pails, Two milking-pails, two milking-pails, Mother, come buy me two milking-pails, O sweet mother o' mine.

[Then verses beginning with the following lines-]