while old and young joined in the singing as each lad stepped gallantly to the side of the girl of his choice and went through the steps of the Virginia Reel.
Though all knew every step and danced with grace and ease, they perhaps did not know that the dance was that of Sir Roger de Coverley; that it was one of a large number of English country dances, so called, not because they were danced in the country, but because their English ancestors corrupted the French word contredanse, which had to do with the position the dancers assume. Of one thing they could be sure, however, they owed it to their elders that this charming dance had survived.[A]
With what charming ease even old Aunt Binie with an aged neighbor went through the lovely figures of the Virginia Reel, harking back to the days of powdered wigs, buckled shoes, satin breeches and puffed skirts, as the head lady and foot gentleman skipped forward to meet each other in the center of the set. How gracefully she bowed to him and he to her with hand upon his chest, as they returned to their places!
Then the head lady and foot gentleman skipped forward, made one revolution, holding right hands.
With dignity and charm they went through the entire dance while those on the side lines continued to sing with the fiddle:
| A penny for a spool of thread, A penny for a needle. That’s the way the money goes. Pop! goes the weasel. |
Each time on the word “Pop!” the fiddler briskly plucked a string.
There was an interlude of fiddle music without words, then followed another verse while the dancers stepped the tune:
| All around the American flag, All around the eagle, The monkey kissed the parson’s wife, Pop! goes the weasel. |