POPULAR RHYMES, PROVERBS, SAYINGS, AND SIMILES. INTRODUCTION. THE popular rhymes, proverbs, similes, &c., of Lancashire are very numerous. Many of them date from prehistoric times, and have been handed down by tradition from generation to generation with little or no variation. Some of the more common of these have found restingplaces in the works of Tim Bobbin, Waugh, Brierley, Staton, Wilson, Martindale, and others, and have thus become a portion of our Lancashire literature; the rest are still current in the undisturbed nooks and corners of our county. It would require a volume to include all the folk-rhymes and wise-sayings of the peasantry of Lancashire; and hence a few only of the more curious or important are here included.", POPULAR LOVE-RHYME. THE following lines very forcibly express the condition of many a country milkmaid, when motherly influences, or other considerations, render her incapable of giving a final decision upon the claims of two rival suitors. The rhymes may be changed so as to suit other Christian names at pleasure : Heigh ho! my heart is low, My mind runs all on one ; WIGAN NURSERY SONG. LITTLE John Jiggy Jag, And went to Wigan to woo-00-00. With stockings of pearly blue-ue-ue, To keep out the cold weather; So Johnny, dear, how dost thou do-oo-oo? WINWICK CHURCH RHYME. THE church at little Winwick, And when a maid is married there, |