XIII. Wall-flowers, wall-flowers, growing up so high!
We are all pretty maidens, we all have to die!
Except --, she"s the youngest girl, Ah! for shame, ah! for shame, Turn your back to us again.
I"ll wash you in milk, I"ll dress you in silk, I"ll write down your name, With a gold pen and ink.
-Earls Heaton (Herbert Hardy).
XIV. Oh flower, oh flower, growing up so high!
We are all children, we have all to die!
Except --, she the youngest gay, Oh! for shame, fie, for shame, Turn your back against the wall.
-Beddgelert (Mrs. Williams).
XV. Wall-flowers, wall-flowers, growing up so high!
We are all little, and we"ve got to die!
Excepting --, and she"s the only one, Oh! for shame, fie, for shame, Turn your back to the wall again.
-Cowes, Isle of Wight (Miss E. Smith).
XVI. Little Molly white-flower, we are all maidens, And we shall all die, except Polly Pegg, She"s the best of all, She can hop, and she can skip, and she can turn the candlestick!
Oh! fie, for shame, Turn your back to the wall.
-Hanbury, Staffordshire (Miss Edith Hollis).
XVII. Wall-flowers, wall-flowers, growing up so high!
We are all playmates, we shall all die!
Excepting --, for she"s the youngest flower, Cry shame, cry shame, And turn your face to the wall again.
-Sheffield (S. O. Addy).
XVIII. Wall-flower, wall-flower, growing up so high!
All the pretty maidens shall not die!
Excepting --, she is the youngest child, Oh! for shame, fie, for shame!
Turn your back to the wall again.
-Dean, near Salisbury (Mrs. C. Brough).
XIX. Water, water wall-flower, growing up so high, We are all maidens, we must all die, Except --, the youngest of us all.
She can laugh, and she can dance, and she can play at ball; Fie! fie! fie for shame! turn your face to the wall again.
-Connell Ferry, near Oban (Miss Harrison).
XX. Water, water wall-flower, growing up so high, We are all maidens, we must all die.
Except --, she"s the youngest of them all; She can dance, she can sing, And she can dance the wedding ring (or "Hieland fling") Fie! fie! fie for shame!
Turn your back to the wall again.
-Galloway (J. G. Carter).
XXI. Wall-flowers, wall-flowers, Growing up so high; All ye young maidens Are all fit to die.
Excepting --, and she"s the worst of all, She can hop, and she can skip, And she can turn the candlestick.
Fye! fie! for shame, Turn your face to the wall again.
-(_Suffolk County Folk-lore_, p. 67.)
XXII. Wall-flowers, wall-flowers, growing up so high, All you young ladies will soon have to die; Excepting --, and she"s the best of all.
She can dance, she can skip, she can turn the mangle quick; Hi, ho! fie for shame! turn your back to the wall again.
-Cambridge (Mrs. Haddon).
XXIII. Wally, wally wall-flower, growing up so high, We are all maidens, and we shall die; All except the youngest one, and that is [child"s name].
Choose for the best, choose for the worst, Choose the one that you love best.
Now you"re married, I wish you joy, First a girl and then a boy, Seven years after son and daughter, Now, young couple, kiss together.
-Hersham, Surrey (_Folk-lore Record_, v. 84).
XXIV. Wally, wally wall-flowers, Growing up so high; We"re all ladies, We shall all die.
Excepting little --, She"s the only one; She can hop, she can skip, She can play the herald, Fie! fie! fie for shame!
Turn your back to the wall again.
-Deptford, Kent (Miss Chase).
XXV. Water, water wall-flower, Growing up so high; We are all maidens, And we must all die.
-- is the youngest, She must kick, And she must fling, And she must turn the sofa; Fie! fie! fie, for shame!
Turn your back to the wall again.
XXVI. Except --, and she"s the youngest one, She can hop, and she can skip, She can turn the sofa; Oh fie! fie! fie, for shame!
Turn your back to the wall again.
-Cullen and Nairn (Rev. W. Gregor).
XXVII. She can skip, she can dance, She can ding us all o"er.
-Aberdeen (Rev. W. Gregor).
XXVIII. Green, green grovers, growing up so high, We are all maidens, And we must all die; Except --, the youngest of us all, She can dance, and she can sing, She can dance the Hieland fling; Fie! fie! fie, for shame!
Turn your back to us again.
-Nairn (Rev. W. Gregor).
XXIX. Water, water, well stones, Growing up so high, We are all maidens, And we must all die.
Except --, She"s the youngest of us all, She can dance, she can sing, She can dance the "Hielan" Fling,"[14]
Oh fie, fie, for shame, Turn your back to us again.
-d.y.k.e (Rev. W. Gregor).
x.x.x. Here"s a pot of wall-flowers, Growing up so high; We"re all maidens, and we shall die.
Excepting [girl"s name], She can hop, and she can skip, And she can play the organ.
Turn your back, you saucy Jack, You tore your mother"s gown.