(c) This game appears to represent a village (by the players standing still in circle form), and from the dialogue the children not only represent the village, but sheep or chickens belonging to it. The other two players are—one a watchman or shepherd, and the other a wolf, fox, or other depredatory animal. The sheep may possibly be supposed to be in the pound or fold; the thief comes over the boundaries from a neighbouring village or forest to steal the sheep at night; the watchman or shepherd, although at first apparently deceived by the wolf, discovers the loss, and a fight ensues, in which the thief gets the worse, and some of the animals, if not all, are supposed to be recovered. The names used in the game,—pen pound, pinfold, fold, stone wall, sunny wall, sandy path, gravel path, sheep fold, garden, house, are all indications that a village and its surroundings is intended to be represented, and this game differs in that respect from the ordinary [Fox and Geese] and [Hen and Chickens] games, in which no mention is made of these.
Halliwell records two versions (Nursery Rhymes, pp. 61, 68). The words and method of playing are the same as some of those recorded above. There is also a version in Suffolk County Folk-lore, pp. 65, 66, which beginning with “Who’s going round my little stony wall?” after the sheep are all stolen, continues with a dialogue, which forms a part of the game of “Witch.” The Rev. W. S. Sykes sends one from Settle, Yorkshire, the words of which are the same as No. XIV., except that the last line has “just one” instead of “buy one.” Mr. Newell gives a version played by American children.
Widow
I.
One poor widder all left alone,
Only one daughter to marry at home,
Chews [choose] for the worst, and chews for the best,
And chews the one that yew [you] love best.
Now you’re married, I wish ye good joy,
Ivery year a gal or a boy!
If one ’out dew, ye must hev tew,
So pray, young couple, kiss te’gither.
—Swaffham, Norfolk (Miss Matthews).
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.