Soul, Wilt thou toss again? 1
By just such a hazard
Hundreds have lost indeed－
But tens have won an all－
Angel's breathless ballot 5
Lingers to record thee－
Imps in eager Caucus
Raffle for my Soul!
By just such a hazard
Hundreds have lost indeed－
But tens have won an all－
Angel's breathless ballot 5
Lingers to record thee－
Imps in eager Caucus
Raffle for my Soul!
(F.89/J.139)
[1] Soul:: soul-cake, a specially prepared cake or bun distributed in various northern or north-midland counties on All Souls' Day, especially to parties of children who go souling; (OED 26). toss:: to stir, agitate, the children and priests.
[2] hazard:: a chance to win their favor on her cakes.
[3] Hundreds, lost:: given away many soul-cakes.
[4] tens, won:: some of the cakes won their favor.
[5] Angels, ballot:: priests who voted for the best cake.
[7] Imps:: mischievous children.
[8] Raffle, my Soul:: to draw lots for her soul-cakes.
Souling. – On the 2nd of November, All Souls' Day, it is in Shropshire the custom for the village children to go round to all their neighbours souling, as they call it, collecting small contributions, and singing the following verses, which I took down from two of the children themselves: –
Soul! soul! for a soul-cake;
Pray, good mistress, for a soul-cake.
The soul-cake referred to in the verses is a sort of bun, which until lately it was an almost general custom for persons to make, and to give to one another on the 2nd of November. Perhaps some of your readers can state whether this custom prevails in other countries in England. It seems to be a remnant of the practice of collecting alms, to be applied to the benefit of the souls of the departed, for which especial masses and services were formerly sung on All Souls' Day.——Notes and Queries (1852)