Diddie, Dumps & Tot - or, Plantation child-life by Louise Clarke Pyrnelle
page 94 of 165 (56%)
page 94 of 165 (56%)
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"Bow yer heads, an' bow 'em low;"
then, joining hands again, they would dance around, singing, "All jine han's, an' hyear we go." And now the dancers would drop hands once more, and go to patting, while one of the men would step out with a branch of honeysuckle or yellow jessamine, or something twined to form a wreath, or a paper cap would answer, or even one of the boys' hats--anything that would serve for a crown; then he would sing, "Lipto, lipto--fi-yi-yi; Lipto, lipto, hyear am I, Er holdin' uv dis goldin' crown, An' I choose my gal fur ter dance me down." Then he must place the crown on the head of any girl he chooses, and she must step out and dance with him, or, as they expressed it, "set to him" (while all the rest patted), until one or the other "broke down," when the man stepped back in the ring, leaving the girl in the middle, when they all joined hands, and began the game over again, going through with the wheeling around and clapping of hands and the bowing of heads just as before; after which the girl would choose her partner for a "set to," the song being the same that was sung by the man, with the exception of the last line, which was changed to "An' I choose my man fur ter dance me down." "Lipto" was followed by "De One I Like de Bes'," which was a kissing |
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