The player who is standing alone in front of the other players chooses one from the line. The two then join right and left hands and wheel round in front, all singing—
The mother shakes hands with the one chosen.
—Fraserburgh (Rev. Dr. Gregor).
Another version—
The widow then says—
The one in front picks out one and places her at her back, and she lays hold of her dress, then all sing—
The widow shakes hands with the girl. This is repeated till all are taken out and the widow is left by herself. She cries, and tries to take back her daughters. All run off.
—Cullen (Rev. Dr. Gregor).
Another Isle of Man version varies slightly, beginning, “We’re three young mothers from Babylon,” and continuing in a similar way to the one in vol. i. p. 315—
The queen then says—
The girls are thus gradually chosen.
—Isle of Man (A. W. Moore).
—Galloway, N. B. (J. G. Carter).
The chief rules of this game, obtaining in N.E. Scotland in Dr. Gregor’s boyhood, were:—The boy that stooped his back was called “the bull,” pronounced “bill.” The bull was not to “horn,” i.e., throw up his back when the player placed his hands on it to leap over, or to bend his back down, and that the player was to lay his hands on the bull’s back quite flat, and not to “knockle,” i.e., drive the knuckles into it. The best way to play was:—A line was drawn beside the bull, over which the heel of the player must not pass. All the players, the one after the other in succession, leaped over the bull. The one last over called out, “Fit it,” i.e., foot it, which meant that the bull had to measure from the line a breadth and a length of his foot. This done he stooped, and all the players went over as before, and another breadth and length of foot were added. This went on as long as the players thought they were able to leap over the bull. When they thought they could not do so, the last player called out, “Hip it,” i.e., take a hop. This done, the bull put himself into position, and each player now took a hop from the line to the bull, and then went over him. Here the same process of footing was gone through as before, as long as the players were able to go clear over the bull. Then came a step with as much footing as was considered safe, and then came a jump with so much footing. It was now with the players “hip, step, an’ jump,” and over the bull. Then more “fitin’,” and perhaps another “hip,” and so on—two hips, two steps, two jumps, and a flying leap over the bull. It was not often the game reached this point. Some one of the players had failed to pass right over the bull and caused him to fall, or had overstepped the line. When any player did either the one or the other, he had to become bull.—Keith (Rev. Dr. Gregor).
This is a fuller and more complete description than that of “Foot and Over” (vol. i. p. 133).
Another mode of playing leap-frog is: the players stand with their backs to the leapers, and only bend the head and the leaper’s hands are placed between the shoulders. Instead of running a few yards in front, each player advances only a few feet, leaving just as much room as to allow the player scope to fall and spring again. This mode requires considerable agility and practice. The higher the leap, so much the greater the fun.—Keith (Rev. Dr. Gregor.)
In the following versions of the game only the first lines of each verse are given, as said by each side. Descriptions of method of playing were not in all cases sent me. They are probably the same as those given under this game in vol. i., which is for two players to form an arch by holding up their joined hands, and the other players running under it.
—Perth (Rev. Dr. Gregor).
—Tyrie (Rev. Dr. Gregor).
Those running under the arch say—
The two players say no.
—Fochabers, N.E. Scotland (Rev. Dr. Gregor).
—Nairnshire (Rev. Dr. Gregor).
—Isle of Man (A. W. Moore).
Versions of this game from Scotland have been sent me, which show great similarity to those previously printed, but the game is more or less in a state of decadence. The best version is that from Perth. One from St. Andrews, Peterhead, though only consisting of the first verse, has preserved the refrains, “Dance o’er the Lady Lee” and “With a gay lady” of Halliwell’s version. The others commence “broken bridges.” The Isle of Man version is still more incomplete. A version sent me by Dr. Haddon from Barrington is similar to the one given, vol. i. p. 338-9, from Enborne School, and is not therefore printed here.
A mirror is covered with a cover, and a girl or boy is taken into the room. She or he is then asked what animal or thing they would like to see. As soon as the wish is stated, the cover is raised, and the child sees his or herself.—London (A. B. Gomme).
One player has charge of the pavement. It is his duty to keep the others off. The others try how often they can touch the wall, and when the “mannie” catches one, that one becomes “mannie.”—Aberdeen (Rev. Dr. Gregor).
[Vol. i. pp. 369-376; ii. 422-424.]
All bend down. The one who rises up last goes into the centre of the circle, and those in the circle sing—
The one in the centre chooses two from the ring, and retires with them a short distance away, when the name of a boy is selected as the lover. During the time the three are standing apart, those in the ring let go each other’s hands, and take hold of the sides of their dresses, and make as if they were sweeping a house, singing the while—
When the three come back, the one that was in the centre takes up the same position, and the two she picked out join those in the circle. Then all wheel round and sing—
The answer is—
Then comes the lover’s name—
The answer is—
The one in the middle is then blindfolded, and all wheel round and sing—
The blindfolded tries to catch one in the ring. The ring should not break, but it is often broken by the one that is on the eve of being caught. The one caught takes her stand in the centre, and the game begins anew from that point.—Dyke (Rev. Dr. Gregor).
This is a most interesting variant of this game—blindfolding the bridegroom in order that he must first catch his bride, and her attempts to elude his caresses, are significant of early custom.
A ring with one child in centre, who chooses one from the circle, at the end of third verse, after whispering the bride’s name together outside the circle, they are admitted at “high gates,” when all the girls hold up their hands in arches as they dance round. All players in the ring are then blindfolded, and have to catch the child in the centre.—Nairnshire (Rev. Dr. Gregor).
Another version is—
—Fochabers (Rev. Dr. Gregor).
In another version from St. Andrews and Peterhead, with same words, the players all flop down, then rise again and dance round.
Another form of words is—
—Nairn (Rev. Dr. Gregor).
Another similar version from N. Scotland, locality not known.
—London (A. B. Gomme), from Scotch source.
A version sent me by Mr. M. L. Rouse, Blackheath, is similar to those previously printed, varying only at the end. After the “wash in the river,” and “the stream will carry the clothes away,” the children say, “Men, you may run after them.” Hereupon they all run off, but the mother does not chase them. They return, and a dialogue ensues similar to a part of “Mother, may I go out to play,” follows between the mother and children:—
“Where have you been all day?”
“Working for Jack, or aunt.”
“What did he give you?”
“A piece of plum-pudding as big as a flea, or a piece of bread as big as a house, and a piece of cheese as big as a mouse.”
The children then run off again, come quickly back with the news that they had seen a large bull in the meadow.
“Where’s the butcher?”
“Behind the stable door cracking nuts, and you may have the shells.” The mother then chases the children, beating all she can catch.
[See “Sunday Night,” vol. ii. p. 221.]
All the girls stand in a line except one who stands in front of the others. This one walks or dances backwards and forwards. All sing the words—
the name of one in the line chosen by the one in front is said. The two in front join right and left hands, and all sing—
—Fraserburgh (Rev. Dr. Gregor).
Another version of this game. It is begun in the same way. As each player gets his name, he or she turns their back to the namer. When all are named, and are standing with their backs to the namer, the namer calls out, “Baker, baker, your bread is burnin’,” or “Bakerie, bakerie, your bread is burnin’.” The guesser answers, “Will you give a corner of it to me?” or “Give me a corner of it,” and takes a stand beside the namer. The namer then says—
The guesser points to one of the players. If the guess is right, the player goes to the guesser’s side; if wrong, to the namer’s side, when all the players except one are chosen. This one gets two names, say “Needles” and “Preens.” The namer then says to the guesser, “Needles” or “Preens”? A guess is made. This is done three times, and each time the names are changed. If the last guess is made correctly, then the player goes to the guesser, if not, to the namer. Sometimes it is decided by “the best o’ three.” Then comes the “tug of war.” The gaining side calls out “Rotten eggs, rotten eggs!”—Fraserburgh (Rev. Dr. Gregor).
All the players but one stand in a circle—this one goes round with a handkerchief, singing the first lines. When the girl’s name is mentioned she tells her sweetheart’s name to the girl with the handkerchief, sits down in the centre, and covers her face with her hands. The one with the handkerchief goes round again, asking, “What will you give?” and the ring answers. Her name is then given, and the girl with the handkerchief again asks, “What will you give to tell his name?” The ring answers again, and the sweetheart’s name is then given. The girl with the handkerchief goes round again and sings the last lines, the ring singing with her. Then the one in the centre joins the ring, and the game begins again.—Aberdeen (Rev. Dr. Gregor).
Many versions of this have been sent me, but none differ materially from those printed previously.
A game played by two or three hundred persons who form a circle; every one places his stick in the ground before him, by way of barrier. A person called the odd man stands in the middle and delivers his bonnet to any one in the ring. This is nimbly handed round, and the owner is to recover it; and on succeeding, takes the place of the person whom he took it from, and that person takes the middle place.—Pennant’s “Voyage to the Hebrides,” p. 231.
[Vol. i. p. 201; ii. pp. 404-405.]
This game resembles “Hen and Chickens,” but though of that class of game it is not, it will be seen, the usual form of “Hen and Chickens” at its conclusion. The earlier part of the game and dialogue, if any, may, however, have been similar. Mr. Rouse says: “I cannot recollect more of Old Cranny Crow than that she entices children one by one out for a walk, and steals them from their supposed mother. The mother is then invited to dine by Old Cranny Crow, and has a pie (one of her children) set before her, with pepper and salt, which she pretends to eat, and when doing so discovers it to be just like her Tommy (or other child’s name). Then Cranny Crow puts another pie before her; this she discovers to be just like her Katy. She finds out all her children one by one, and they come to life again and run home.”—M. L. Rouse, Blackheath. [See “Mother, mother, pot boils over,” “Witch.”]
All players sit round the fire and put out their right feet. The Master of the game repeats—
Each word is repeated to a man; and when the leader comes to “Crap in,” the man specified draws in his foot. When all have drawn in their feet but one, this one must then kneel down, and his eyes being blindfolded, the master of the game puts his elbow on his back and strikes him with his elbow or fist, saying—
At the same time holding up several fingers. The man kneeling down has to guess the number. If he guesses correctly, the master of the game takes his place. If he fails to guess he is kept down, and another man goes and strikes his back, and so on.—Kiltubbrid, Co. Leitrim (L. L. Duncan.)
A version of “Hot Cockles,” with interesting variations.
Mr. Duncan, when sending me the games he collected, said—“It is very possible that the people may have brought some of the games from England when returning from harvesting. This, however, does not apply to ‘Old Johanny Hairy, crap in,’ as it is now called in English. Crap isteach is the Irish for ‘draw in,’ as in Mr. O’Faharty’s ‘Sports of the Winter’ there is a Gaelic version. This, I should imagine, makes it certain that, although well known elsewhere, the game also obtained in the West of Ireland.”
[17] Crap—draw.
or,
A ring is formed, and one player walks round outside saying the first four lines, stopping at any child she chooses who answers “Yes” or “No.” If “Yes,” the two go into the ring and kiss.—Marylebone, London (A. B. Gomme).
This is interesting, as a possible fragment of the old Keys of Canterbury [Halliwell’s “Nursery Rhymes,” No. cccclxvi.] and of the Paper of Pins, described so fully by Mr. Newell in “Games and Songs of American Children,” pp. 51-55.
See “Keys of Heaven,” ante, p. 437.
A form of Hopscotch. [See “Hopscotch,” vol. i. pp. 223-227.]
One player commences first by winning the toss. The pick (a small flat stone) is pitched into No. 1 bed. It is then moved out of this first place, backward across the front line, and not otherwise by touching or forcing it with one foot, the other foot being kept up; that is, the player must hop and use the foot on the ground to strike “pick.” No line must be touched. If this happens, or if the pick, when being driven towards the pitching line, gets away otherwise than across the front line, the player is “out,” and the next boy goes in. All the beds are done likewise, and all must be then done in a reverse way, beginning with No. 10. The first player who completes the game wins.—Waterville, Co. Kerry (Mrs. B. B. Green).
—Laurieston School, Kircudbrightshire (J. Lawson).
A circle is formed, two children in the centre, one of whom kneels, the other walks round singing—
The mother then joins the circle, and the daughter becomes poor widow. On the mention of the nightcap a white handkerchief is spread over the head, the circle walking around slowly, and chanting the words slowly and dismally.
—Penzance (Miss Courtney).
See “Widow,” ante, p. 381.
A game played by children with rushes in Derbyshire, which is a relic of the old custom of rush-bearing. In the warm days of May and June the village children proceed in parties to the sedges and banks of dyke and brook, there to gather the finest and best rushes. These are brought with childish ceremony to some favourite spot, and then woven into various articles, such as baskets, parasols, and umbrellas. Small arbours are made of green bushes and strewn with rushes, inside which the children sit and sing and play at “keeping house” with much lordly ceremony. At these times they play at a game which consists in joining hands in a circle, and going round a heap of rushes singing or saying—