The Traditional Games of England, Scotland, and Ireland Volume Ii Part 81

II. Here is a poor widow who is left alone, And all her children married and gone; Come choose the east, come choose the west, Come choose the one you love the best.

Now since you've got married, I wish you joy, Every year a girl and boy; Love one another like sister and brother, I pray you couple come kiss together.

-Perth (Rev. W. Gregor).

III. One poor widow was left alone, Daughter, daughter, marry at home; Choose the worst, or choose the best, Choose the young gentleman you love best.

Now you are married, I wish you joy, Father and mother, you must obey, Love one another like sister and brother, And now, young couple, come kiss together.

-Bexley Heath (Miss Morris.)

IV. One poor widow is left all alone, all alone, all alone, Choose the worst, and choose the best, And choose the one that you like best.

Now she's married I wish her joy, Her father and mother she must obey, Love one another like sisters and brothers, And now it's time to go away.

-_Suffolk County Folk-lore_, p. 67.

V. One poor widow was left alone, She had but one daughter to marry alone; Come choose the worst, come choose the best, Come choose the young girl that you like best.

-Maxey, Northants (Rev. W. D. Sweeting).

VI. Here's a poor widow she's left alone, She has got nothing to marry upon; Come choose to the east, come choose to the west, Come choose the one that you love best.

Now they're married, we wish them joy, Every year a girl and a boy; Seven years old, seven years to come, Now kiss the couple, and that's well done.

-Auchterarder, N.B. (Miss E. S. Haldane).

(_b_) The children form a ring by joining hands. One player stands in the centre. The ring dance round singing the first verse; the widow then chooses one player from the ring, who goes into the centre with her, and the ring dances round singing the second part. The one first in the centre then joins the ring, and the second player becomes the widow and chooses in her turn.

This belongs to the marriage group of Kiss in the Ring games. Northall (_English Folk Rhymes_, p. 374), gives a version similar to the above.

See "Kiss in the Ring," "Poor Widow," "Sally Water," "Silly Young Man."

Wiggle-Waggle

The players sit round a table under the presidency of a "Buck." Each person has his fingers clenched, and the thumb extended. Buck from time to time calls out as suits his fancy: "Buck says, Thumbs up!" or, "Buck says, Thumbs down!" or, "Wiggle-waggle!" If he says "Thumbs up!" he places both hands on the table, with the thumbs sticking straight up. If "Thumbs down!" he rests his thumbs on the table with his hands up. If "Wiggle-waggle!" he places his hands as in "Thumbs up!" but wags his thumbs nimbly. Everybody at the table has to follow the word of command on the instant, and any who fail to do so are liable to a forfeit.-Evan's _Leicesters.h.i.+re Words_.

See "Horns."

Wild Boar

"Shoeing the Wild Boar," a game in which the player sits cross-legged on a beam or pole, each of the extremities of which is placed or swung in the eyes of a rope suspended from the back tree of an outhouse. The person uses a switch, as if in the act of whipping up a horse; when being thus unsteadily mounted, he is most apt to lose his balance. If he retains it, he is victor over those who fail.-Teviotdale (Jamieson).

Wild Birds

"All the Wild Birds in the Air," the name of a game in which one acts the dam of a number of birds, who gives distinct names of birds, such as are generally known to all that are engaged in the sport. The person who opposes tries to guess the name of each individual. When he errs he is subject to a stroke on the back. When he guesses right he carries away on his back that bird, which is subjected to a blow from each of the rest. When he has discovered and carried off the whole, he has gained the game.-Jamieson. Jamieson adds that this sport seems only to be retained in Abernethy, Perths.h.i.+re; and it is probable, from the antiquity of the place, that it is very ancient.

See "All the Birds in the Air," "Fool, Fool."

Willie, Willie Wastell

Willie, Willie Wastell, I am on your castle, A' the dogs in the toun Winna pu' Willie doun.

Like Willie, Willie Wastel, I am in my castel A' the dogs in the toun Dare not ding me doun.

-Jamieson.

A writer in the _Gentlemen's Magazine_ for 1822, Part I. p. 401, says that the old distich-

"w.i.l.l.y, w.i.l.l.y Waeshale!

Keep off my castle,"

used in the North in the game of limbo, contains the true etymon of the adjective "w.i.l.l.y."

The same game as "Tom Tiddler's Ground." It is played in the same way.

Jamieson says the second rhyme given shows that the rhyme was formerly repeated by the player holding the castle, and not, as now, by the opposing players.

See "King of the Castle," "Tom Tiddler's Ground."

Wind up the Bush f.a.ggot

[Music: _Andante_, with determined deliberation.

Repeat from beginning till all are wound up.]

[Music: _Allegro_, with unbounded vigour.

_Note._-(1) The simplicity of time and no _dotted_ notes, also _change_ of key for 2/4 music.

(2) The game unites common and triple time very successfully.

(3) Notwithstanding the injunction it is best _not_ to wind up too _tight_.]

-Ess.e.x (Miss Dendy).

In the Ess.e.x game all the players join hands and form a long line. They should stand in sizes, the tallest should be the first, and should stand quite still. All the rest walk round this tallest one, singing-

Wind up the bush f.a.ggot, and wind it up tight, Wind it all day and again at night,

to the first part of the tune given-that in three-eight time. This is to be repeated until all the players are wound round the centre or tallest player, in a tight coil. Then they all sing-

Stir up the dumplings, the pot boils over,