Lancashire Legends, Traditions, Pageants, Sports, &c./Part 5/Wigan Nursery Song
POPULAR LOVE-RHYME.
The following lines very forcibly express the condition of many a country milkmaid, when motherly influences, or other considerations, render her incapable of giving a final decision upon the claims of two rival suitors. The rhymes may be changed so as to suit other Christian names at pleasure:—
Heigh ho! my heart is low,
My mind runs all on one;
W stands for William true,
But J for my love John.
WIGAN NURSERY SONG.
Little John Jiggy Jag,
He rode a penny nag,
And went to Wigan to woo-oo-oo.
When he came to a beck [brook],
He fell and broke his neck;
Johnny, now how dost thou do-oo-oo?
I made him a hat
Out of my coat-lap,
With stockings of pearly blue-ue-ue,
A hat and a feather,
To keep out the cold weather;
So Johnny, dear, how dost thou do-oo-oo?
WINWICK CHURCH RHYME.
The church at little Winwick,
It stands upon a sod;
And when a maid is married there,
The steeple gives a nod.
Alas! how many ages
Their rapid flight have flown,
Since on that high and lofty spire
There's moved a single stone!
PRESCOT, HUYTON, AND CHILDWALL.
Prescot, Huyton, and merry Childow,
Three parish churches all in a row:
Prescot for mugs; Huyton for ploydes;
Childow for ringing and singing besides.
[Ploydes—ploys—merry meetings; although some think "ploughs" are meant.]