[36] Gomme, loc. cit.: _Wallflowers_:-- Mister Moffit is a very good man, He came to the door with a hat in his hand, He pulled up his cloak and showed me the ring; To-morrow, to-morrow the wedding begins. First he bought a frying pan, then he bought the cradle, And then one day the baby was born. Rock, rock the cradle. (No. 32.) Judging from the game of _Sally Waters_ as played in Bucks, a "mother" actually presided at the game, who directed her daughters to sprinkle the pan, and their being included among those from whom a choice was made, depended on their successfully doing so. To the words of the game as played in Bucks, I have added in brackets an indication how the words were probably distributed:-- (Half chorus): Sally, Sally Walker, sprinkled in the pan. (Other half): What did she sprinkle for? (Answer): For a young man. (Mother): Sprinkle, sprinkle daughter, and you shall have a cow. (Daughter): I cannot sprinkle, mother, because I don't know how. (Mother): Sprinkle, daughter, sprinkle, and you shall have a man. (Daughter): I cannot sprinkle, mother, but I'll do the best I can. (Chorus): Pick and choose, but don't you pick me, Pick the fairest you can see. (Man): The fairest that I can see is.... Come to me! (1894, No. 23.) This is followed by the usual marriage formula. A similar dialogue is included amongst the Nursery Rhymes of Halliwell, in which the daughter is directed to whistle, a word which formerly conveyed the idea of uttering imprecations in a low voice, and which was condemned in a woman since it marked her out for a witch. The verse stands as follows:-- Whistle daughter, whistle, whistle for a cradle. I cannot whistle, mammy, 'deed I am not able. Whistle daughter, whistle, whistle for a cow, I cannot whistle, mammy, 'deed I know not how. Whistle, daughter, whistle, whistle for a man, I cannot whistle, mammy; whew! Yes, I believe I can. (1846, p. 219.)[37] [37] Cf. A whistling woman and a crowing hen Are neither fit for God or man. (1892, p. 506.) Also: Une femme qui siffle et une poule qui crie Porte malheur dans la maison.