Come Lasses and Lads

Come, lasses and lads, and leave the grown-ups behind for a merry holiday beneath the May-pole. With a fiddler striking up lively tunes, Willy finds Jill, Johnny finds Jone, and the village children and young people join in jigs, curtsies, skips, and spirited rounds across the grass.

The celebration unfolds in a cheerful whirl of music and playful conversation, as dancers choose their favorite tunes and tease one another when a step goes awry. Afterward, everyone gathers in a bower for ale, cakes, songs, and a little flirtation, before the girls jokingly demand their kisses back. From morning until night, the fiddler keeps playing, the dancers keep singing, and the holiday ends with farewells, tired feet, and promises to meet again at the next celebration. With its rhythmic verses and lively scenes, this charming picture book invites listeners into a warm, old-fashioned day of community, courtship, and carefree fun.