If one acted the lady by a mincing walk, the next one must devise
some other manner of portraying her, such as sewing, or playing on an
imaginary piano, or giving orders to servants, or any thing that his
fancy would suggest.
The middle man or woman was always selected for his or her skill in
taking off the different characters; and when they were clever at it,
the game was very amusing to a spectator.
After one or two games of "Monkey Moshuns," some one proposed they
should play "Lipto," which was readily acceded to.
All joined hands, and formed a ring around one in the middle, as
before, and danced around, singing,
"Lipto, lipto, jine de ring;
Lipto, lipto, dance an' sing;
Dance an' sing, an' laugh an' play,
Fur dis is now er halerday."
Then, letting loose hands, they would all wheel around three times,
singing,
"Turn erroun' an' roun' an' roun';"
then they would clap their hands, singing,
"Clap yer han's, an' make' em soun';"
then they would bow their heads, singing,
"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.
Pages:
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104