Children's songs -- United States; Games with music
_First voice._-- "Soldier, soldier, will you marry me,
With a knapsack, fife, and drum?"
"Oh no, my pretty maiden, I cannot marry you,
For I have no coat to put on."
[Illustration]
_Second voice._-- Then away she ran to the tailor's shop,
As fast as legs could run;
And bought him one of the very best,
And the soldier put it on.
The question is then repeated, the soldier pleading his want of shoes
gloves, etc., which the confiding fair procures, until at last--
"Soldier, soldier, will you marry me,
With your knapsack, fife, and drum?"
"Oh no, my pretty maiden, I cannot marry you,
For I have--a good wife--at home!"
This piece and the following are more or less familiar as children's
songs through the United States. Our version was sung by children of
from five to eight years of age, and made a favorite amusement at the
afternoon gatherings. When one couple had finished, another pair would
begin, and so on for hours at a time. The object was to provide for the
soldier the most varied wardrobe possible; while the maiden put the
question with spirit, laying her hand on her heart, respecting which
the prevailing opinion was that it was under the left arm.
No. 31.
_Quaker Courtship._
In this piece, two children (in costume or otherwise) impersonate a
Quaker paying his addresses to a young lady of the world.
[Illustration]
"Madam, I am come a-courting--
_Hum, hum, heigho hum!_
'Tis for pleasure, not for sporting--
_Hum, hum, heigho hum!_"
"Sir, it suits me to retire,
_Teedle link tum, teedle tum a tee_;
You may sit and court the fire,
_Teedle link tum, teedle tum a tee_."
"Madam, here's a ring worth forty shilling,
Thou may'st have it if thou art willing."
"What care I for rings or money?
I'll have a man who will call me honey."
"Madam, thou art tall and slender;
Madam, I know thy heart is tender."
"Sir, I see you are a flatterer,
And I never loved a Quaker."
"Must I give up my religion?
Must I be a Presbyterian?"
"Cheer up, cheer up, loving brother,
If you can't catch one fish, catch another."
_Hartford, Conn._
No. 32.
_Lazy Mary._
A mother and daughter in the centre of a ring, the daughter kneeling
with closed eyes. Mother advances--
[Illustration]
"Lazy Mary, will you get up,
Will you get up, will you get up,
Will you get up to-day?"
"What will you give me for my breakfast,
If I get up, if I get up,
If I get up to-day?"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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