The Poor Woman Of Babylon

: NURSERY GAMES
: Popular Rhymes And Nursery Tales

One child stands in the middle of a ring formed by the other children

joining hands round her. They sing--



Here comes a poor woman from Babylon,

With three small children all alone:

One can brew, and one can bake,

The other can make a pretty round cake.



One can sit in the arbour and spin,

Another can make a fine bed for the king.

Choose the one and leave the rest,

And take the one you love the best.



The child in the middle having chosen one in the ring of the opposite

sex, the rest say,--



Now you're married, we wish you joy;

Father and mother you must obey:

Love one another like sister and brother,

And now, good people, kiss each other!



They then kiss, and the process is repeated till all the children are in

the ring. Another game, played in the same way, begins with this verse:



Sally, Sally Waters, why are you so sad?

You shall have a husband either good or bad:

Then rise, Sally Waters, and sprinkle your pan,

For you're just the young woman to get a nice man.



The partner being chosen, the two kneel down, and the rest sing,--



Now you're married we wish you joy,

Father and mother and little boy!

Love one another like sister and brother,

And now, good people, kiss each other.