Classic Poem

But the games engaged in exclusively by the “wee folks” are the really delightsome ones. Such is “T HE Widow OF B ABYLON ,” the ritual of which, less elaborate, resembles that of “Merry-Ma-Tanzie,” though the rhymes are different. Girls only play here. One is chosen for the centre. The others, with hands joined, form a ring about her, and move round briskly, singing:—
Here's a poor widow from Babylon,
With six poor children all alone;
One can bake, and one can brew,
One can shape, and one can sew.
One can sit at the fire and spin,
One can bake a cake for the king;
Come choose you east, come choose you west,
Come choose the one that you love best.
The girl in the middle chooses one from the ring, naming her, and sings:—

I choose the fairest that I do see,
[Jeanie Anderson] come to me. The girl chosen enters the ring, communicating the name of her sweetheart, when those in the ring resume their lightsome motion, and sing:—

Now they are married, I wish them joy,
Every year a girl or boy;
Loving each other like sister or brother,
I pray this couple may kiss together. The girls within the ring kiss. The one who first occupied the circle then joins the ring, while the last to come in enacts the part of mistress; and so on the game goes until all have had their turn.
“L ONDON B RIDGE ” is a well-known and widely played game, though here and there with slightly differing rhymes. Two children—the tallest and strongest, as a rule—standing face to face, hold up their hands, making the form of an arch. The others form a long line by holding on to each other's dresses, and run under. Those running sing the first verse, while the ones forming the arch sing the second, and alternate verses, of the following rhyme:—

London bridge is fallen down,
 Fallen down, fallen down;
London bridge is fallen down,
 My fair lady.

Question. —What will it take to build it up?
(With repeats.)
Answer. —Needles and preens will build it up.
Question. —Needles and preens will rust and bend.
Answer. —Silver and gold will build it up.
Question. —Silver and gold will be stolen away.
Answer. —Build it up with penny loaves.
Question. —Penny loaves will tumble down.
Answer. —Bricks and mortar will build it up.
Question. —Bricks and mortar will wash away.
Answer. —We will set a dog to bark.
Question. —Here's a prisoner we have got. At the words “a prisoner,” the two forming the arch apprehend the passing one in the line, and, holding her fast, the dialogue resumes:—

Answer. —Here's a prisoner we have got.
Question. —What's the prisoner done to you?
Answer. —Stole my watch and broke my chain.
Question. —What will you take to set him free?
Answer. —A hundred pounds will set him free.
Question. —A hundred pounds I have not got.
Answer. —Then off to prison you must go. Following this declaration, the prisoner is led a distance away from the rest by her jailers, where the questions are put to her, whether she will choose “a gold watch,” or “a diamond necklace.” As she decides she goes to the one side or the other. When, in like manner, all in the line have chosen, a tug-of-war ensues, and the game is ended.