The versions printed here vary, it will be seen, from those printed in [vol. i.], principally in the words used towards the end of the game, the earlier portions being very similar. The first one is an exceedingly interesting variant, the funeral details being fuller, and the idea of the spirit of the dead or Ghost surviving also.
The first lines of each verse are as follows:—
I’ve come to see Jenny Jones,
How does she do?
She is washing, &c., you can’t see her now.
I’ve come to see Jenny Jones, &c.
She is scrubbing, &c., you can’t see her now.
I’ve come to see, &c.
She is ill, &c.
I’ve come to see, &c.
She’s very ill, &c.
I’ve come to see, &c.
She’s dying, &c.
I’ve come to see.
She’s dead.
We’ll come in blue, blue, blue. Will that suit?
Blue is for sailors, &c. That won’t suit.
We’ll come in red, &c.
Red is for soldiers, &c.
We’ll come in white, &c.
White is for weddings, &c.
We’ll come in black, &c.
Black is for mourning, &c. That will suit.
They then take up Jenny Jones, and carry her to a little distance off, lay her on the ground, and all stand round. One child stands over the grave, and while sprinkling Jenny with dust, says—
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.
If God won’t have you, the devil must.
Then Jenny jumps up and runs after the other children, who try to escape. The one she catches is “Jenny” next time.—Barrington (Dr. A. C. Haddon).
In another version called “Georgina” one player selected to act as Georgina kneels down against a wall, and the others stand round to conceal her. Two go apart to act as callers, while another stands near the group as mother. The callers come forward and say—
We came to see Georgina, &c.
And how is she to-day?
She’s upstairs washing, &c.,
And you can’t see her to-day.
Farewell, ladies.