One girl dances forward from a line of children singing the words. Another from a line opposite responds, and they dance together. They look first to the east and then to the west by turning their heads in those directions alternately.
Farmer’s Den, The.
All players but one form a ring, this one stands in the centre. The ring dances round singing the words—
The farmer in his den, the farmer in his den,
For it’s oh, my dearie, the farmer’s in his den.
For the farmer takes a wife,
For the farmer takes a wife;
For it’s oh, my dearie, the farmer takes a wife.
The child in centre then chooses one from the circle, who goes in the middle, and the ring dances round again singing—
For the wife takes a child, &c. (as above).
And choosing another child from the ring, then—
For the child takes a nurse, &c. (as above).
For the nurse takes a dog, &c. (as above).
Then all the players join in singing—