—Nairn (Rev. W. Gregor).
(b) One child is chosen to act the part of the widow. The players join hands and form a circle. The widow takes her stand in the centre of the circle in a posture indicating sorrow. The girls in the circle trip round and round, and sing the first five lines. The widow then chooses one of the ring. The ring then sings the marriage formula, the two kiss each other, and the game is continued, the one chosen to be the mate of the first widow becoming the widow in turn (Nairn).
(c) This game is probably the same as “Silly Old Man.” Two separate versions may have arisen by girls playing by themselves without boys.[Addendum]
[1] Sometimes “pray,” but “pree” seems to be the Scotch for taste:—“pree her moo” = taste her mouth = to kiss.
Pop Goes the Weasel
Half a pound of tup’ny rice,
Half a pound of treacle;
Mix it up and make it nice,
Pop goes the weasel.
—Earls Heaton (Herbert Hardy).
(b) Children stand in two rows facing each other, they sing while moving backwards and forwards. At the close one from each side selects a partner, and then, all having partners, they whirl round and round.