If the answer were "No!" spoken with averted liead over the left shoulder, the rhyme ran—
"Then you are a naughty Miss!
Then you are a naughty Miss!
Then you are a naughty Miss!
Won't help me in my dancing."
Occasionally three or four in turn refused. When the request was granted the words were changed to—
"Now you are a good Miss!
Now you are a good Miss!
Now you are a good Miss,
To help me in my dancing."
The handkerchief was then carefully spread on the floor; the couple knelt on it and kissed: the child formerly in the middle joined the ring, and the other took his place, or if he preferred it remained in the centre; in that case the children clasped hands and sang together—
"Pray, pretty Miss (or Sir)," &c.
The last to enter the ring had always the privilege of selecting the next partner.
In all these childish games, to prevent disputes, and decide who shall be middleman, hide first, &c., one or other of the following formula is always recited by the eldest of the party, who as he repeats the words points with liis forefinger at each player in succession until he comes to the end of the rhyme. The person then indicated goes out:—
"Vizzery, vazzery, vozery-vem,
Tizzery, tazzery, tozery-tem,
Hiram, jiram, cockrem, spirem,
Poplar, rollin, gem."
"There stands a pretty maid in a black cap.
If you want a pretty maid in a black cap,
Please to take 'she.'"—(East Cornwall.)
"Ene, mene, mona, mi,
Pasca, lara, bona (or bora), bi,
Elke, belke, boh!"
