Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 7 1889.djvu/269

Rh Neither am I aware that it was used at any particular time, though no doubt this kind of game-rhyme or forfeits would prevail more largely at Christmas time than at any other. At the last reference I stated that I had had the music or score of the refrain or burden of the song or low chant (as it almost sounded on the piano) given me in MS. together with two versions of the libretto, which varied in detail from those given by Mr. Boase and Miss Busk. These latter I now reproduce, adding in brackets the words where one version differs from the other.

First voice :

Second voice :

First voice :

Second voice :

First voice :

These lines are repeated at the commencement of every verse, with the alteration of “one-o” into “two-o,” &c., &c., and as each succeeding verse is reached, the preceding ones are gone through again until the twelfth and last is arrived at. Then the whole song or carol becomes complete as follows: