-Beddgelert (Mrs. Williams).

[Music]

-Ogbourne, Wilts. (H. S. May).

[Music]

-Longcot choir girls, Berks. (Miss I. Barclay).

I. Wallflowers, wallflowers, growing up so high, All of you young ladies are sure to die.

Excepting --, she's the best of all.

She can hop, and she can skip, And she can turn a candlestick.

Oh my, fie for shame, turn your face to the wall again.

-Fernham and Longcot (Miss I. Barclay).

II. Wallflowers, wallflowers, Growing up so high, All you young ladies Are meant to die.

Excepting little --, She is the best of all.

She can skip, and she can dance, She can turn the candlestick.

O my, fie for shame, Turn your back to the wall again.

-From London maidservant (Miss E. Chase).

[Ill.u.s.tration]

III. w.i.l.l.y, w.i.l.l.y wallflower, Growin' up so high, We are all maidens, We shall all die.

Excepting --, She's the youngest daughter, She can hop, She can skip, She can turn the candlestick.

Fee, fie, shame, shame, Turn your backs together again:-, --, your sweetheart is dead, He's sent you a letter to turn back your head.

-Wakefield, Yorks (Miss Fowler).

IV. Wallflowers, wallflowers, Growing up so high, We young ladies, we shall die.

Except 'tis --, She's the youngest daughter.

She can hop, and she can skip, She can play the wire, Oh for shame, fie for shame, Turn your back and have a game.

-Hampshire (Miss E. Mendham).

V. Wally, wally wallflower, Growing up so high- All ye young ladies You must all die.

Excepting --, She's the best of all- She can hop, and she can skip, She can turn the mangle, Oh my, fie for shame, Turn your back to the wall again.

-Barnes, Surrey (A. B. Gomme).

VI. Wall flowers, wall flowers, growing up so high, We are all children, and we shall all die.

Excepting --, she's the youngest child, She can hop, she can skip, She can turn the wedding ring, Fie, fie, fie for shame, Turn your face to the wall again.

-Nottingham (Miss Youngman).

VII. Wally, wally wall-flower, A-growen up so high, All we children be sure to die.

Excepting [naming the youngest]

'Cause she's the youngest, Oh! fie! for shame! fie! for shame!

Turn your back to the wall again.

-Symondsbury, Dorset (_Folk-lore Journal_, vii. 215).

VIII. Wall-flowers, wall-flowers, growing up so high, We are all living, and we shall all die.

Except the youngest here [naming her].

Turn your back to overshed. (?)

(This last line is repeated three times.)

-Symondsbury, Dorset (_Folk-lore Journal_, vii. 215).

IX. Wall-flowers, wall-flowers, growing up so high!

We shall all be maidens, [and so] we shall all die![13]

Excepting _Alice Gittins_, she is the youngest flower, She can hop, and she can skip, and she can play the hour!

Three and four, and four and five, Turn your back to the wall-side!

_Or_,

She can dance and she can sing, She can play on the tambourine!

Fie, fie! fie, for shame!

Turn your back upon the game!

-Ellesmere, Berrington, Wenlock (_Shropshire Folk-lore_, p. 513).

X. Willie, willie wall-flowers, growing up so high!

We are all fair maids, we shall all die!

Excepting little --, and she's the youngest here, Turn your head towards the south, and she's the one to bear, The willie, willie wallflowers.

_Or_,

Oh! for shame, fie, for shame, turn yourself to the wall again-

-Sporle, Norfolk (Miss Matthews).

XI. Wall-flowers, wall-flowers, growing up so high!

We are all ladies, we must all die!

Excepting --, who is the prettiest child.

Fie, for shame, fie, for shame, turn your back to the wall again.

-Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire (Miss Winfield)

XII. Wall-flowers, wall-flowers, growing up so high!

We're all ladies, and we shall all die!

Excepting [naming smallest child in ring], She can hop, and she can skip, and she can play the organ!

Oh! for shame, fie, for shame, Turn your back upon our game.

-Enbourne School, Berks. (Miss M. Kimber).