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].”