The Dallas Journal, Volume 46, 2000 Page: 12
118 p. : ill. ; 28 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Autobiography of Charles V. Compton by Don Raney
happy.
The "Sing-Songs" suggested other social functions so it was arranged to have a simple party at the Compton's. From
our infancy, we were taught that dancing was sinful and none of us had ever attended a dance, so there was nothing of
that sort planned for our party. Our families and a few outsiders, who were familiar with songs and games, were there.
The night of the party came and so did many fine Texans, including of course the transplanted Kentuckians. Everyone
entered into the fun wholeheartedly. We were represented by dignified old bachelors, members of the school board, and
the organizer of our Sunday school. School girls and boys, everyone chimed in. Uncle Joe called out, "Get your
partners, for happy is the miller." All had a partner except the miller, then we marched in a circle, all singing:
Happy is the miller that lives by the mill,
He takes his toll with a free good will.
A hand on the hopper, the other on the sack,
The ladies go forward, the gents stay back.
In the shuffle, the miller gets a girl and the loser is then the miller, as he has no partner. Then comes the next verse:
One hand on the hopper, the other on the slab,
And every time the mill turns, grab, boys, grab.
Again the miller finds a partner and the looser takes his place. There are a dozen or more verses.
The atmosphere seemed clear. Someone said, "Get your partners for Wevildy Wheat." Two rows are formed, with boys
on one side facing their partners on the other side. Then the singing broke loose, hands clapped and all joined in.
Wevildy Wheat ain't fit to eat,
Neither is your barley.
It takes some flour a half an hour,
To make a cake for Charley.
Charley, he's a nice young man,
Charley , he's a dandy.
Every time he goes to town,
He brings his sweetheart candy.
While they sang, they swung, danced and promenaded.
When the storm subsided, Jip Shaw, who had just arrived from Fanbush, Kentucky, suggested Cridla Cranky. All joined
in singing:
Cridla Cranky is my song,
We sing and dance it all along.
From the top to the toe,
We wind up Cridla Cranky, O!
The girl chooses her favorite partner, who gently drops his hand over her right shoulder, and holding her left hand, they
dance around, each verse is another wind until everyone in the room stands with his arm resting on the shoulder of, and
holding the hand of the one who chose him.
Then came the top game "Skip to my Lou." Everyone chooses a partner, leaving one boy out, who gets into the middle
of the ring. When the singing starts, he steals a partner.
Get you a partner, Skip to my Lou,
Skip to my Lou, my darling.
I've got another partner, prettier'n you,
Skip to my Lou, my darling.Pretty as a redbird, prettier too,
The Dallas Journal
12
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Dallas Genealogical Society. The Dallas Journal, Volume 46, 2000, periodical, June 2000; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth186859/m1/18/: accessed May 5, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Dallas Genealogical Society.