the girl's feet, on which both
immediately kneel. A kiss ensues, even though it should be obtained
after a struggle; then the boy marches away round and round followed by
the girl, while all again sing the song. By the time the last verse is
again reached, the girl in turn has selected the next boy, but does not
kneel down before him. She simply throws the handkerchief in his lap,
and immediately joins her own partner by taking his arm. If, however,
she can be overtaken before she joins her partner, a penalty kiss may be
enforced. Second boy selects second girl as the first did the first
girl, and pair after pair is formed in the same fashion until all are up
and marching arm-in-arm round the room, or square, when the game is
finished. At adult assemblies, I should state, even as the company
paired in this dance, they departed for home.

* * * * *

"~The Wadds~" is another game in which grown folks no less than children
may engage, and which, like "Bab at the Bowster," is essentially a house
game. Its mode is for the players to be seated round the hearth, the
lasses on one side and the lads on the other. One of the lads first
chants:--

O, it's hame, and its hame, it's hame, hame, hame,
I think this nicht I maun gang hame.

To which one of the opposite party responds:--

Ye had better licht, and bide a' nicht,
And I'll choose ye a partner bonnie and bricht.

The first speaker again says:--

Then wha wad ye choose an' I wad bide?

Answer:--

The fairest and best in a' the countryside.

At the same time presenting a female and mentioning her name. If the
choice is satisfactory, the male player will say:--

I'll set her up on the bonnie pear tree,
It's straucht and tall and sae is she;
I wad wauk a' nicht her love to be.

If, however, the choice is not satisfactory, he may reply:--

I'll set her up on the auld fael dyke,
Where she may rot ere I be ripe;
The corbies her auld banes wadna pyke.

Or (if the maiden be of surly temper):--

I'll set her up on the high crab-tree,
It's sour and dour, and sae is she;
She may gang to the mools unkissed for me.

But he may decline civilly, by saying:--

She's for another, she's no for me,
I thank ye for your courtesie.

A similar ritual is gone through with respect to one of the gentler sex,
where such rhymes as the following are used. In the case of acceptance
the lady will say:--

I'll se