Notes and Queries, First Series, IX, 320; taken down by
S.P.Q. from the recitation of a nurse-maid in Shropshire
about 1810. Salopian Shreds and Patches, July 21, 1875,
in Miss Burne's Shropshire Folk-Lore, p. 539.
| 1 |
It hails, it rains, in Merry-Cock land,
It hails, it rains, both great and small,
And all the little children in Merry-Cock land
They have need to play at ball. |
| 2 |
They tossd the ball so high,
They tossd the ball so low,
Amongst all the Jews' cattle,
And amongst the Jews below. |
| 3 |
Out came one of the Jew's daughters,
Dressed all in green;
'Come, my sweet Saluter,
And fetch the ball again.' |
| 4 |
'I durst not come, I must not come,
Unless all my little playfellows come along;
For if my mother sees me at the gate,
She'll cause my blood to fall. |
| 5 |
'She showd me an apple as green as grass,
She showd me a gay gold ring;
She showd me a cherry as red as blood,
And so she entic'd me in |
| 6 |
'She took me in the parlor,
She took me in the kitchen,
And there I saw my own dear nurse,
A picking of a chicken. |
| 7 |
'She laid me down to sleep,
With a Bible at my head and a Testament at my feet;
And if my playfellows come to quere for me,
Tell them I am asleep.' |
