Played in ring form with one child in centre. All sink down on the ground when the above lines are sung, and the last to rise must tell the name of her sweetheart. Then the circle forms around her, and all sing—
—St. Andrews and Howth (Miss H. E. Harvey).
Miss Harvey writes: I believe “tanzy” is the name of a kind of dance.[Addendum]
—Perth (Rev. Dr. Gregor).
—Rosehearty (Rev. Dr. Gregor).
—Nairn (Rev. Dr. Gregor).
All join hands and form a ring. At the end of verses the girl named turns her back, and the game is resumed.—Fochabers (Rev. Dr. Gregor); Port William School, Wigtonshire.
In a version from Auchterarder, N. B., sent by Miss E. S. Haldane, the words are very similar to these. After all the children have turned their backs to the inside they have what is called the “pigs’ race,” which is running swiftly round in this position. See “Uncle John,” vol. ii. pp. 321-322.
[See “Auld Grannie.”]
—New Galloway (Rev. Dr. Gregor).
Boys and girls take hands and go round saying—
The last boy or girl to pop down has to tell who he (or she) is courting.—Kiltubbrid, Co. Leitrim (L. L. Duncan).
All the girls arrange themselves in a line, and one stands in front. The one in front sings—
The girl pointed to answers—
She now leaves the line and takes her stand beside the one that stands in front, and all begin to clap their hands and sing—
The two in front then begin to sing what the one first sang, and the same goes on till all are chosen.—Peterhead; St. Andrews (Mrs. Stewart, when a girl).
—Perth (Rev. Dr. Gregor).
Another version, very similar to that given in vol. i. pp. 161-162 from Congleton Workhouse School, and sent me by Mr. J. Lawson, Laurieston School, Kirkcudbrightshire, begins, “Will you take silver and gold?”
Another Scottish version of this game is given in Notes and Queries, 3rd ser., v. 393, as follows:—
[A game so called by Dr. Gregor, but apparently not belonging to the one usually known under that name.]
The girls stand in a line, and one stands in front. All sing—
The girl in front then chooses the girl named, and both girls join hands and wheel round, whilst all sing—
—Tyrie (Rev. Dr. Gregor).
Another version is—
[See “More Sacks to the Mill,” vol. i. p. 390.]
One boy is thrown flat on the ground, then another is thrown over him, and then another and another, and the bigger boys dash the smaller ones on those that are down, while all keep shouting—
—Keith (Rev. Dr. Gregor).
A ring is formed, one player in the centre. When the verses are sung the girl in the middle chooses another to take her place.—Fochabers (Rev. Dr. Gregor.)
[See “Auld Grannie,” p. 404.]
[See “Drop Handkerchief,” vol. i. pp. 109-112; “Black Doggie,” vol. ii. pp. 407-408.]
Boys hold hands and go round in ring form.
One player stands in the middle and strikes one of those in the ring with a bit of grass; both players then run out of the ring, and the boy who was in the midst must catch the other before he goes round three times. At the third time the boys all cry “High Windows,” raising their hands at the same time to let the two inside the circle.—Kiltubbrid, Co. Leitrim (L. L. Duncan).
A version of this game, in which a dell or goal is appointed. The players stand together, one player places his head between the knees of another, who bends down, and slaps him on the back, keeping time to the following rhyme, saying—
The kneeling boy shouts out the name of the dell, and the other players all rush off shouting out its name. The one who gets there first wins the game.—Meiklefolla, Aberdeenshire (Rev. Dr. Gregor).
[See “Lubin,” vol. i. pp. 352-361.]
One version of Lubin Loo, from Forfar, Linlithgow, and Argyllshire, is the same as those given in vol. i. A Nairnshire version is called “Hullabaloo-ballee.”
At “turn round about,” they reverse the direction, and dance round the other way, and so on.—Rev. Dr. Gregor; and Mrs Jamieson.
Another version is—
—Galloway (J. G. Carter).
Several versions of this game are given by Mr. E. W. B. Nicholson in his interesting little book “Goldspie,” pp. 176-184. He considers “Hilli-ballu,” “Hulla-baloo,” and similar words to be the original of the English forms “Here we dance Looby Loo,” or Lubin, and all of these to be derived from hunting cries, such as ha, là bas! loup! uttered by huntsmen to definite musical notes, possibly introduced into songs and afterwards adapted as lullabies because of their resemblance to the lulling-cries ba (= bye) and lulli.
Two or three versions which vary slightly in method of playing may be given. The first is played in the usual way until the last line is said, when the player turns her back to the circle facing outwards as in Wall-flowers.
—Perth (Rev. Dr. Gregor).
Another version is—
One player then leaves the ring singing—
The ring all sing—
“Over the mountains” (as above) six times, ending with—
The player who had previously left the ring returns singing, “I’m come back from the Indies,” &c.
A ring is formed, one player kneels in the centre, the players in the ring fix their eyes steadily on the kneeling girl all the time.—Fochabers, N.E. Scotland (Rev. Dr. Gregor).
In the next version the words of each verse are:—
—Laurieston School, Kircudbrightshire (J. Lawson).
The versions printed here vary, it will be seen, from those printed in vol. i., principally in the words used towards the end of the game, the earlier portions being very similar. The first one is an exceedingly interesting variant, the funeral details being fuller, and the idea of the spirit of the dead or Ghost surviving also.
The first lines of each verse are as follows:—
They then take up Jenny Jones, and carry her to a little distance off, lay her on the ground, and all stand round. One child stands over the grave, and while sprinkling Jenny with dust, says—
Then Jenny jumps up and runs after the other children, who try to escape. The one she catches is “Jenny” next time.—Barrington (Dr. A. C. Haddon).
In another version called “Georgina” one player selected to act as Georgina kneels down against a wall, and the others stand round to conceal her. Two go apart to act as callers, while another stands near the group as mother. The callers come forward and say—
They then retire, but return in a little while, and put the question as before. She is then “starching,” said as above; and next time she is “ironing,” the fourth time the mother’s answer is, “She fell downstairs and broke her arm, and you can’t see her to-day;” the fifth time, “Two doctors are at her;” the sixth, she is “worse;” and the seventh, she is “dead.” The two callers remain when this reply is given. At this point Georgina makes a noise by rapping two stones together. The two at once exclaim, “Oh! mother, mother, what’s that knocking?” and she answers, “The coach going by.” The knocking is repeated, and the question, and she says, “The wall falling down.” On the knocking being heard a third time, she tells them to “take a candle and look.” They pretend to do so, and “Georgina” starts up to chase them. They all run off shouting, “The Ghost.”—Strichen and Fochabers (Rev. Dr. Gregor).
Ending with a general stampede.
—Nairnshire (Mrs. Jamieson).
—Rosehearty (Rev. Dr. Gregor).
Played in usual way until the end. Janet is then carried off and laid down on the ground, but she starts up and chases them.
Many other versions have been sent me, but none with different features. The best is one from Mr. J. G. Carter, Dalry, Galloway, called “Jenny Jo,” but presenting no fresh details, and where white is used for the burial. Four children stand on one side with Jenny at their back, the other players on the opposite. She is buried with great mourning. In a version from Hemsby (Mrs. Haddon) the words are the same, except: “White is the colour for weddings,” and black is for funerals. Then Jenny is carried to the grave, the other children walking behind two by two; they kneel round Jenny, and have a good cry over her. Another version from Laurieston School (Mr. J. Lawson), called “Jerico,” very similar to above, gives two additional verses. The first lines are, “Carry a poor soldier to the grave,” and “Now the poor mother’s weeping at the grave.” In one version, after Jenny has been carried to her grave, the children stand round and sprinkle earth over her, and say, “Dust and dust, dust and dust,” and then pretend to strew flowers. This I got in London. Another version from North Scotland begins, “I come to see Geneva” continues in usual way until “she is lying” instead of “ill”; then “she’s dying,” followed by “she’s dead”; then the funeral. In another version Dr. Haddon sent me, the game is only a fragment. After “Jenny Jo’s dead and gone, all the day long,” they continue, “Pipes and tobacco for Jenny Jo” (repeat twice), “Pipes and tobacco for Jenny Jo, all the day long.”
[See “Stag,” vol. ii. pp. 212, 374.]
One is chosen to be Rover, and a place is marked off called “The Den,” from which he starts, and to which he and the others caught can run for protection. He has to clasp his hands and set off in pursuit of one of the players, whom he must crown without unclasping his hands. Before he leaves the den he calls out—
When he catches one he unclasps his hands, and makes for the den along with the one caught. The players close in upon them, and beat them with their caps. The two now join hands, and before leaving the den repeat the same words, and give chase to catch another. When another is caught, the three run to the den, followed by the others pelting them.
During the time they are running to catch another player, every attempt is made by the others to break the band by rushing on two outstretched arms, either from before or from behind. Every time one is taken or the band broken, all already taken rush to the den, beaten by those not taken.—Dyke (Rev. Dr. Gregor).
Then the ring dances round, singing—
—Auchterarder, N. B. (Miss E. S. Haldane).
A ring is formed by players joining hands. Two other players dance round the ring in opposite directions, singing the first four lines while the ring stands still. Then the ring dances round singing the rest of the lines. The two outside then each take a player from the ring and begin again.
The words of the dance game, “Here we go around,” vol. i. p. 205, are practically the same as the latter part of this, and suggests that this or a similar round is its original.
This is played with the usual double ring, boys on the outside, girls inside, one child in centre. At the last a rush is made to obtain a vacant place.
The girls being in the inside, turn and go the opposite way; and, while doing so, sing—
—Auchterarder, N. B. (Miss E. S. Haldane).
In this version the “grab” appears to be lost, and the “hunting” put in before the rush for the vacant place is made.
—Marylebone (A. B. Gomme).
Children form a ring by joining hands; they dance round. One stands in centre. She chooses another from the ring after singing the words, and the two dance round together.
This game is evidently but a fragment, the proper way of playing being forgotten. It would originally have been played in line form instead of a circle, and answers of “No” or “Yes,” or other verses implying negative and then affirmative, given by the chosen or selected girl. These lines, and those given post (p. 450), as “Paper of pins,” are interesting fragments probably of one and the same game.
[See vol. i. p. 401.]
A small circle is made, and the stone or block is put in it. A boy stands with his foot on the stone and his eyes shut until all the other players are hid. He then tries to find them, and keep his block in its place. If one should come out when he is away from his block it is kicked out, and all the boys that were found hide again.—Laurieston School, Kirkcudbrightshire (J. Lawson).
Another version of the same game, sent me by Mr. William P. Merrick, Shepperton, Middlesex, is called “Fly Whip.”
The same game as “Mount the Tin,” played somewhat differently.
A number of girls stand in a line. One of them represents the widow and the other the children. Another stands in front. All sing—