Honestly, this story was scary to me, I can’t imagine young children playing it then and not having nightmares everyday for the rest of their lives. It’s a love story where the young girl dies from blight and/or cruel parents. Do we still have blight?
Miss Jennia Jones
The story of this is originally a love story. The young lady dies from a blighted affection and the prohibition of cruel parents.
A mother, seated, Miss Jones stands behind her chair, or reclines on her lap as if lying sick. A dancer advances from the ring.
I've come to see Miss Jennia Jones,
Miss Jennia Jones, Miss Jennia Jones -
I've come to see Miss Jennia Jones,
And how is she to-day?
She's up stairs washing,
Washing, washing -
She's up stairs washing,
You cannot see her to-day.
The questions are repeated to the same air for every day of the week and Miss Jones is backing, ironing, or scrubbing. She is then sick or worse and finally is dead.
What shall we dress her in,
Dress her in, dress her in;
What shall we dress her in -
Shall it be blue?
Blue is for sailors,
So that will never do.
What shall we dress her in,
Shall it be red?
Red is for firemen
So that will never do.
Pink is for babies
So that will never do
Green is forsaken
So that will never do
Black is for mourners
So that will never do
White is for dead people
So that will just do.
What shall we bury her?
Under the apple tree.
Miss Jennie Jones is “laid out” upon the floor and something white thrown over her.
After the burial is completed the children for a ring and sing:
I dreamed I saw a ghost last night,
Ghost last night, ghost last night -
I dreamed I saw a ghost last night,
Under the apple tree!
The ghost suddenly arises. The ring breaks up, the children fly with shrieks, and the one caught by the ghost is to take the part of Miss Jennia Jones in the next game.
Games for All Occasions by Mary E. Blain
Image © brooklyn @ Flickr, ShareAlike