—Auchterarder, N. B. (Miss E. S. Haldane).
In this version the “grab” appears to be lost, and the “hunting” put in before the rush for the vacant place is made.
Keys of Heaven.
I will give you a golden ring,
And jewels to hang and birds to sing,
If you’ll be my true lover,
And true love of mine.
I will give you the keys of the chest,
And gold enough to dress you in church,
If you’ll be my true lover,
And true love of mine.
I will give you the keys of even [heaven],
And angels to wait upon you six and seven,
If you’ll be my true lover,
And true love of mine.
—Marylebone (A. B. Gomme).
Children form a ring by joining hands; they dance round. One stands in centre. She chooses another from the ring after singing the words, and the two dance round together.
This game is evidently but a fragment, the proper way of playing being forgotten. It would originally have been played in line form instead of a circle, and answers of “No” or “Yes,” or other verses implying negative and then affirmative, given by the chosen or selected girl. These lines, and those given post (p. 450), as “[Paper of pins],” are interesting fragments probably of one and the same game.