The Traditional Games of England, Scotland, and Ireland Volume Ii Part 30

-Maxey, Northants; and Suffolk (Rev. W. D. Sweeting).

X. Sally, Sally Water, sprinkle in the pan; Rise, Sally, rise, Sally, for a young man.

Pick and choose, but choose not me, Choose the fairest you can see.

Now Sally is married, we wish her much joy, First a girl and then a boy; Seven years after a son and a daughter, Please to come and kiss together.

-Summertown, Oxford (A. H. Franklin in _Midland Garner_, N. S. ii. 32).

XI. Sally, Sally Waters, sprinkle in the pan; Rise, Sally, rise, Sally, for a young man.

Choose for the worst, choose for the best,[7]

Choose for the prettiest that you loves best.

Now you are married, &c.

-Longcot, Berks.h.i.+re, (Miss J. Barclay).

XII. Sally, Sally Waters, Sprinkle in a pan; Cry, Sally, cry, Sally, For a young man.

Rise up, Sally, Dry your tears; Choose the one you love the best, Sally, my dear.

-Earls Heaton, Yorks. (Herbert Hardy).

XIII. Sally, Sally Water, sprinkle in the pan, Is not -- a nice young man? and Is not (girl's name) as good as he?

They shall be married if they can agree.

I went to her house and I dropped a pin, I asked if Mrs. -- was in.

She is not within, she is not without, She is up in the garret walking about.

Down she comes as white as milk, With a rose in her bosom as soft as silk.

She off with her glove and showed me her ring, To-morrow, to-morrow the wedding begins.

-Surrey (_Folk-lore Record_, v. 88).

XIV. Sally, Sally Walker, come sprinkle your pan, For down in the meadows there's a nice young man; Rise up, Sally, don't look sad, For you shall have a husband, good or bad.

On the carpet you shall kneel Till the gra.s.s grows round your feet; Stand up straightly on your feet, And choose the one you love so sweet.

Now Sally's married, we wish her joy, First a girl, then a boy; If it's a boy, we'll buy him a cap, If it's a girl, we will buy her a hat.

If one won't do, will buy you two, If two won't do, will buy you three, If three won't do, will get you four, If four won't do, will get no more, So kiss and shake hands, and come out.

-Tong, Shrops.h.i.+re (Miss C. F. Keary).

XV. Sally, Sally Water, come sprinkle your pan (_or_ plants), For down in the meadows there lies a young man.

Rise, Sally, rise, and don't you look sad, For you shall have a husband, good or bad.

Choose you one, choose you two, Choose the fairest you can see!

The fairest one as I can see, Is _Jenny Wood_, pray come to me!

Now you are married, I wish you good joy, First a girl and then a boy; Seven years now, and seven to come, Take her and kiss her, and send her off home.

-_Shrops.h.i.+re Folk-lore_, p. 509.

XVI. Sally, Sally Water (or Slauter), Come sprinkle in your can, Why do you get married To a foolish young man?

Pick the worst, and pick the best, And pick the one that you love best.

To a nice young man

So kiss and say good-bye.

[My informant forgets the rest.]

-Nottinghams.h.i.+re (Miss M. Peac.o.c.k).

XVII. Sally Water, Sally Water, Come sprinkle your can, Why don't you rise, Sally, And choose a young man?

Come choose of the wisest, Come choose of the best, Come choose of the young man That lies in your breast.

-Gloucesters.h.i.+re and Warwicks.h.i.+re (Northall, 378).

XVIII. Sally Water, Sally Water, Come, sprinkle your can; Who do you lie mourning, All for a young man?

Come, choose of the wisest, Come, choose of the best, Come, choose of the young men The one you love best.

-Addy's _Sheffield Glossary_.

XIX. Sally, Sally Salter, Sprinkle in some water; Knock it in a mortar, And send it in a silver saucer To -- -- door.

-Stixwould, Lincolns.h.i.+re, seventy years ago (Miss M. Peac.o.c.k).

XX. Sally Water, Sally Water, Springin' in a pan; Cry, Sally, cry, Sally, For a young man; Choose for the worst 'un, Choose for the best 'un, Choose the little gell 'at you love the best.

Now you're married I wish you joy; First a girl, and then a boy; Seven years after Son and daughter.

Pray, young couple, come kiss together.

-Wakefield, Yorks.h.i.+re (Miss Fowler).

XXI. Sally, Sally Water, Come, water your can, Such a young lady before a young man; Rise, Sally Water, Don't look so sad, For you shall have a husband, good or bad.

Now you're married we wish you joy; Father and mother, you need not cry; Kiss and kiss each other again; Now we're happy, let's part again.

-Long Itchington, Warwicks.h.i.+re (_Northamptons.h.i.+re Notes and Queries_, ii. 105).

XXII. Sally, Sally Slarter, Sitting by the water, Crying out and weeping For a young man.

Rise, Sally, rise, Dry up your eyes; Turn to the east, Turn to the west, Turn to the young man That you love the best.

So now you've got married I hope you'll enjoy Your sons and your daughters, So kiss and good-bye.

-Addy's _Sheffield Glossary_.

XXIII. Sally, Sally Walker, sprinkled in a pan; What did she sprinkle for? for a young man; Sprinkle, sprinkle, daughter, and you shall have a cow; I cannot sprinkle, mother, because I don't know how.