Children's Singing Games. 103 



grasping- hands. When all ai-e in they jump up and down and 

 sing : — 



A bunch o' rags, 



A bunch o' rags, 



A bunch o' rags. 

 A rather familiar singing game, usually known as " We are 

 three brethren come from Spain," appears in Kirkbean as " Here 

 are two Jews just come from Spain." The version varies greatly 

 in other respects from that given in " Popular Rhymes in Scot- 

 land." The suitors are sometimes one, sometimes two or three, 

 and these advance towards the other party, which is supposed tu 

 consist of a mother and her daughters. It opens thus :— 



We are two Jews just come from Spain 

 To call upon your daughter Jane. 



The other party reply : — 



My daughter Jane, she's far too young', 

 I cannot bear your flattering tongue. 



The suitors retire, but the others, apparently relenting, sing : — 



Come back, come back, your choice is free. 

 And choose the fairest one you see. 



The lovers return, saying' : — 



The fairest one that I can see 



Is bonnie wee (Jenny), will ye come tae me ? 



Jenny refuses in a very curt fashion by saying " No," and the 

 suitors join hands and dance round singing, in a very uncompli- 

 mentary way : — 



She's a dirty wee slap, she wadna come in, 



She wadna come in, she wadna come in ; 



She's a dirty wee slap, she wadna come in 



To help us wi' the dancin'. 



The maiden named, though proof against flattery, cannot resist 

 the disparaging references to herself, and joins the party of 

 suitors, who, with this addition, dance in a circle, singing : 



Now we've got a beautiful maid, 



A beautiful maid, a beautiful maid ; 



Now we've got a beautiful maid 



To help us wi' the dancin'. 



