Another Isle of Man version varies slightly, beginning, “We’re three young mothers from Babylon,” and continuing in a similar way to the one in [vol. i. p. 315]—
One can wash, and one can sew,
Another can sit by the fire and spin,
The other can make a fine bed for the king,
Please, ma’am, to take one in.
The queen then says—
Come, my dearest . . . and give me your hand,
And you shall have the nicest things in all this pleasant land.
The girls are thus gradually chosen.
—Isle of Man (A. W. Moore).
Here’s a poor widow from Babylon,
Six poor children left alone,
One can bake, and one can brew,
And one can shape, and one can sew.
One can sit by the fire and spin,
And one can make a bed for a king;
Come Tuesday east, come Tuesday west,
Come choose the one that you love best.
—Galloway, N. B. (J. G. Carter).