This game is played in groups of four, generally by girls. Two players face each other, clasping hands at full arm's length. The other two face each other in the same way, with their arms crossing those of the first couple at right angles. Bracing the feet, the couples sway backward and forward, singing the following rhyme:--
Draw a buck-et of wa-ter, For my la-dy's daugh-ter, One in a rush, Two in a rush, Please, lit-tle girl, bob un-der the bush. ]
Draw a bucket of water, For my lady's daughter. One in a rush, Two in a rush, Please little girl, bob under the bush.
As the last line is said, the players all raise their arms without unclasping the hands and place them around their companions, who stoop to step inside. They will then be standing in a circle with arms around each other's waists. The game finishes by dancing in this position around in a ring, repeating the verse once more.
The illustration shows in the left-hand group the pulling backward and forward; in the rear (center) group the lifting of hands and stooping under; and in the right-hand group the position for dancing around while repeating the verse.
1. I saw a ship a-sail-ing, A-sail-ing on the sea; And oh, it was la-den With pret-ty things for me.
2. There were com-fits in the cab-in, And ap-ples in the hold; The sails were made of silk, And the masts were made of gold.
3. Four and twen-ty sail-ors That sat up-on the decks Were four and twen-ty white mice With chains a-bout their necks.
4. The cap-tain was a duck With a pack-et on his back, And when the ship be-gan to move The cap-tain cried "Quack! quack!" ]
I saw a ship a-sailing, a-sailing on the sea; And oh, it was laden with pretty things for me. There were comfits in the cabin, and apples in the hold; The sails were made of silk, and the masts were made of gold.
Four and twenty sailors that sat upon the deck Were four and twenty white mice with chains about their necks. The captain was a duck with a packet on his back, And when the ship began to move the captain cried quack! quack!
The players hold hands and circle rapidly while singing. After the last verse one of the players breaks the circle and with his next neighbor raises his hand high to form an arch, calling "Bid, bid, bid!" which is the call for ducks. The player on the opposite side of the break in the circle proceeds to pass under this arch, the entire circle following, all holding hands and answering "Quack! quack! quack!"