T’ brahd ’at darn’t her skets pull up, High doon a derry O, Maist leykly is a mucky slut, High doon a derry O. Yan best can tell a lass’s waays Byv what sha wears, ’an what sha saays; A ribbon gi’en o’ wedding days Screens mucky undarned stockings O.
Maay ivvery bonny blushing brahd, High doon a derry O, ‘Ev nowther muck ner hoals ti hide, High doon a derry O, An’ maay sha on her brahdal daay Pull up her skets, an’ smiling saay, ‘Mah garter’s thahn, tak it, Ah praay, An’ gi’e ’t ti thi true lovey O.’
Afoor wa pairt fill up each glass, High doon a derry O, Let each yan drink tiv his awn lass, High doon a derry O, Ti Bessy, Sally, Sue, an’ Peg, Ti Martha, Mary, Maud, an’ Meg; An’ here’s ti ivvery shap’ly leg Roond which a brahdal band diz go.
Originally the ceremony of removing the bridal garter was, as has been said, carried out in a perfectly decorous manner; in time, however, it degenerated into actually stealing the garter by force. This unseemly proceeding possibly arose from the strong opposition and resentment which was felt, and for long demonstrated, whenever the ribbon supplanted the garter.
Why, as recently as 1820, Lady —— [18], a great stickler after old customs, on stepping from her bridal coach, inquired who had won the race. ‘Ah did, my lady,’ answered one of the stable lads. Ascending the steps, her ladyship stepped half over the threshold, calling out to the lad, ‘Come, Tom, and claim your prize,’ adding, as she raised her silken gown, ‘I intend to be properly married and have the luck I am entitled to.’ Then turning to the young fellow, smiling, she added, ‘Take it off, Tom, and give it to your sweetheart, and may it bring luck to both of you.’
In Great Ayton the ribbon seems to have supplanted the garter in the early part of this century. In fact it is only the old folks who remember, and can tell you anything concerning the gay and festive doings of those days. But the older custom held its own for long afterwards, and that, too, within a very few miles. But intercommunication between villages has never been a strong feature. Even to-day there is a species of rivalry existing between Stokesley and Great Ayton people, but this is common to all adjacent villages.