Games and songs of American children

by Unknown

A company of little girls sit in a row. A little girl from the middle of the room goes dancing up to the first one in the row, singing,

"Here comes a duke a-roving,
Roving, roving,
Here comes a duke a-roving,
With the ransy, tansy, tea!
With the ransy, tansy, tario!
With the ransy, tansy, tea!
Pretty fair maid, will you come out,
Will you come out, will you come out,
To join us in our dancing?"

Little girl answers,

"No."

Suitor steps backward, singing,

"Naughty girl,[39] she won't come out,
She won't come out, she won't come out,
To join us in our dancing."

Suitor advances as before. The answer now is,

"Yes."

These two now retire, singing together,