-Symondsbury, Dorset (Folk-lore Journal, vii. 207).

II. Oh, this pretty little girl of mine, Brought me many a bottle of wine; A bottle of wine and a guinea, too, See what my little girl _can_ do.

Down on the carpet she shall kneel, As the gra.s.s grows in the field; Stand upright on your feet, And choose the one you love so sweet.

Now I'm married and wish you joy, First a girl and then a boy; Seven years after, seven years past, Kiss one another and go to your cla.s.s.

-Hampshire (Miss Mendham).

III. Here's a pretty little girl of mine, Who's brought her bottle and gla.s.s of wine; A gla.s.s of wine and a biscuit too, See what my pretty girl will do.

On the carpet she shall kneel, While the gra.s.s grows in the field; Stand upright upon your feet, Choose the one you love so sweet.

When you're married I wish you joy, First a girl and second a boy, Seven years after, son and daughter, Now, young couple, kiss together.

-Gambledown, Hants (Mrs. Pinsent).

IV. Oh! this pretty little girl of mine, Has cost me many a bottle of wine; A bottle of wine and a guinea or two, So see what my little girl can do.

Down on the carpet she shall kneel, While the gra.s.s grows on her field; Stand upright upon your feet, And choose the one you love so sweet.

Now you are married you must obey, Must be true in all you say; You must be kind and very good, And help your wife to chop the wood.

-Maxey (_Northants Notes and Queries_, i. 214).

V. Here's a pretty little girl of mine, She's cost me many a bottle of wine; A bottle of wine and a guinea too, See what my little girl can do.

Down on the carpet she must kneel, As the gra.s.s grows in the field; Stand upright upon her feet, And choose the one she loves so sweet.

Now you're married I wish you joy, Father and mother you must obey; Love one another like sister and brother, And pray, young couple, come kiss one another.

-Colchester (Miss G. M. Frances).

VI. Oh! this pretty little girl of mine, She bought me many a bottle of wine, A bottle of wine she gave me too, So see what my little girl could do.

Stand up, stand up upon your feet, And choose the one you love so sweet.

-Liphook, Hants (Miss Fowler).

VII. See what a pretty little girl have I, She brings me many a bottle of wi'; A bottle of wine and a biscuit too, See what a little girl can do.

On the carpet she shall kneel, As the gra.s.s grows in the fiel'; Stand upright upon your feet, And choose the one you love so sweet.

Now you're married we wish you joy, First a girl and then a boy, Seven years after, son and daughter, May you couple kiss together.

-South Devon (_Notes and Queries_, 8th series, i. 249; Miss R. H. Busk).

VIII. See what a pretty little girl I am, She gave me many a bottle of wine, Many a bottle of wine, and a biscuit too, See what a pretty little girl can do.

On the carpet you shall kneel, Stand up straight all in the field, Choose the one that you love best.

Now we are married and hope we enjoy, First a girl and then a boy, Seven years after and seven years to come, May young company kiss have done.

-Holywood, Co. Down (Miss C. M. Patterson).

IX. See what a pretty little girl I am!

Brought me many a bottle o' wine!

Bottle o' wine to make me shine!

See what a pretty little girl I am!

Upon the carpets we shall kneel, As the gra.s.s grows in yonder field; Stand up lightly on your feet, And choose the one you love so sweet.

Now these two are going to die, First a girl, and then a boy; Seven years at afterwards, seven years ago, And now they are parted with a kiss and a go.

-Monton, Lancashire (Miss Dendy).

X. See this pretty little maid of mine!

She's brought me many a bottle of wine; A bottle of wine, a good thing, too; See what this pretty maid can do!

Down on the carpet she must kneel, Till the gra.s.s grows on her feet; Stand up straight upon thy feet, Choose the very one that you love sweet.

Take her by her lily-white hand, Lean across the water; Give a kiss,-one, two, three,- To Mrs. --'s daughter.

-Suffolk (Mrs. Haddon).

XI. See what a pretty little girl I am!

They brought me many a bottle of wine- Bottle of wine to make me shine; See what a pretty little girl I am!

On the carpets we must kneel, As the gra.s.s grows in yonder field; Rise up lightly on your feet, And kiss the one you love so sweet.

My sister's going to get married, My sister's going to get married, My sister's going to get married, Ee! Ii! Oh!

Open your gates as wide as high, And let the pretty girls come by, And let the {jolly} matrons[2] by.

{bonny} One in a bush, Two in a bush, Ee! Ii! Oh!

-Colleyhurst, Manchester (Miss Dendy).

XII. On the carpet you shall kneel Where the gra.s.s grows fresh and {green; {clean; Stand up, stand up on your pretty feet, And show me the one you love so sweet.

Now Sally's got married, we wish her good joy, First a girl, and then a boy; Seven years arter, a son and darter, So, young couple, kiss together.

Or,

Seven years now, and seven to come, Take her and kiss her and send her off home.

-Eccleshall, Staffs. (Miss Burne).

XIII. On the carpet you shall kneel, As the gra.s.s grows on the field; Stand up straight upon your feet, And tell me the one you love so sweet.

-- is married with a good child, First with a girl and then with a boy; Seven years after son and daughter, Play with a couple and kiss together.

-Tean, North Staffs. (from a Monitor in the National School).