She neither is in, she neither is out, She's in the garret a-walking about. Down she comes as white as milk, A rose in her bosom, as soft as silk. She takes off her gloves, and shows me a ring; To-morrow, to-morrow, the wedding begins.[53] _Concord, Mass._ (_before 1800_). The version now played in New York streets is corrupt, but has a spirited melody: [Illustration] Wa-ter, wa-ter, wild-flowers, grow-ing up so high; We are all young la-dies, And we are sure to die, Ex-cept-ing Su-sie Al-len, She is the fin-est flow-er. Fie, fie, fie for shame; Turn about and tell your beau's name. The girl complying, the ballad proceeds-- [Illustration] Mr. _Nobody_ is a nice young man, He comes to the door with his hat in his hand. Down she comes, all dressed in silk, A rose in her bosom, as white as milk. She takes off her gloves, she shows me her ring, To-morrow, to-morrow, the wedding begins. The song before us furnishes a good example of the persistency of childish tradition. Not only is it still current in New England and the Middle States, with words closely corresponding to those given in our version of almost a century since, but these words are also nearly identical with the language of the round as we are told it is sung at the present day in Ireland. Of a type similar to the foregoing is an ancient and curious, but unpublished, nursery song,[54] the first lines of which, at least, will be familiar to some of our readers: Sing, sparrow, sing! What shall I sing? All the boys in our town have gone courting; All but little Charley, And he stays at home, And he says he'll have Mary, Or else he'll have none. Row, boat, row! Where shall I row? Up to little Mary's door. Out jumps little Charley in his boots and spurs, And goes to the door, and pulls at the string-- "Where's little Mary? Is she within?" "Miss Mary's up-stairs, a-making a cap." Then down comes Miss Mary, as white as the milk, All dressed in pink posies and sweet pretty silk, And goes to the cupboard, and takes up the can, And drinks to little Charley, a pretty little man. He takes her in his lap, and pares her nails,[55] And gives her a posy of peacock's tails, And rings and jewels fit for her hand, And tells little Mary he'll come again.