Here's a poor widow she lives her lone, She hasn't a daughter to marry but one. Come choose to the east, choose to the west, And choose the very one you love best.
Here's a couple married in joy, First a girl and then a boy, Seven years after, and seven years come, Pree[1] young couple kiss and have done.
III. There was a poor widow left alone, And all her children dead and gone. Come, choose you east, Come, choose you west, Take the man you love best. Now they're married, I wish them joy, Every year a girl or a boy, I hope this couple may kiss each other.
(_b_) One child is chosen to act the part of the widow. The players join hands and form a circle. The widow takes her stand in the centre of the circle in a posture indicating sorrow. The girls in the circle trip round and round, and sing the first five lines. The widow then chooses one of the ring. The ring then sings the marriage formula, the two kiss each other, and the game is continued, the one chosen to be the mate of the first widow becoming the widow in turn (Nairn).
(_c_) This game is probably the same as "Silly Old Man." Two separate versions may have arisen by girls playing by themselves without boys.
[1] Sometimes "pray," but "pree" seems to be the Scotch for taste:--"pree her moo" = taste her mouth = to kiss.
Half a pound of tup'ny rice, Half a pound of treacle; Mix it up and make it nice, Pop goes the weasel.
(_b_) Children stand in two rows facing each other, they sing while moving backwards and forwards. At the close one from each side selects a partner, and then, all having partners, they whirl round and round.
(_c_) An additional verse is sometimes sung with or in place of the above in London.
Up and down the City Road; In and out the Eagle; That's the way the money goes, Pop goes the weasel.
Mr. Nutt writes: "The Eagle was (and may be still) a well-known tavern and dancing saloon."
A game in which two, each putting down a pin on the crown of a hat or bonnet, alternately pop on the bonnet till one of the pins crosses the other; then he at whose pop or tap this takes place, lifts the stakes.--Teviotdale (Jamieson). The same game is now played by boys with steel pens or nibs.
This is a boys' game. Any number may join in it. The players join hands and stand in line. The leader, generally a bigger boy, begins to bend round, at first slowly, then with more speed, drawing the whole line after him. The circular motion is communicated to the whole line, and, unless the boys at the end farthest from the leader run very quickly, the momentum throws them off their feet with a dash if they do not drop their hold.--Keith, Nairn (Rev. W. Gregor).