[1] Boston.
[2] See Nos. 40 and 58.
[3] See No. 21.
[4] See No. 2.
[5] See No. 1.
[6] More than three fourths of all children's games in the German
collections are paralleled (it may be in widely varying forms) in the
present volume. Allowing for the incompleteness of collections, the
resemblance of French games is probably nearly as close. The case is
not very different in Italy and Sweden, so far at least as concerns
games of any dramatic interest. Not till we come to Russia, do we find
anything like an independent usage. Taken altogether, our American
games are as ancient and characteristic as any, and throw much light on
the European system of childish tradition.
[7] See Nos. 150-153.
[8] Barley-break. See No. 101.
[9] No. 90.
[10] It must be remembered that in mediæval Europe, and in England till
the end of the seventeenth century, a kiss was the usual salutation of
a lady to a gentleman whom she wished to honor. The Portuguese ladies
who came to England with the Infanta in 1662 were not used to the
custom; but, as Pepys says, in ten days they had "learnt to kiss and
look freely up and down." Kissing in games was, therefore, a matter of
course, in all ranks.
[11] Mme. Élisabeth-Félicie Bayle-Mouillard, who wrote under this
pseudonym, had in her day a great reputation as a writer on etiquette.
Her "Manuel Complet de la Bonne Compagnie" reached six editions in the
course of a few years, and was published in America in two different
translations--at Boston in 1833, and Philadelphia in 1841.
[12] See Nos. 10 and 36.
[13] See No. 154, and note.
[14] _Ballad_, _ballet_, _ball_, from _ballare_, to dance.
[15] See Nos. 12-17.
[16] Yet there is no modern English treatise on the history of the
ballad possessing critical pretensions. It is to the unselfish labors
of an American--Professor Francis J. Child, of Harvard University--that
we are soon to owe a complete and comparative edition of English
ballads.
[17] In the country, in Massachusetts, _Thanksgiving_ evening was the
particular occasion for these games.
[18] The feast of _Flora_, says Pliny, in order that everything should
_flower_.
[19] So in Southern France--
"Catherine, ma mie--reveille-toi, s'il vous plaît;
Regarde à ta fenêtre le mai et le bouquet."
[20] "On May-day eve, young men and women still continue to play each
other tricks by placing branches of trees, shrubs, or flowers under
each other's windows, or before their doors."--Harland, "Lancashire
Folk-lore."
[21] The "Shepheards Calender" recites how, in the month of May,
Youngthes folke now flocken in every where,
To gather _May-buskets_ and smelling brere;
And home they hasten the postes to dight,
And all the kirk-pillours eare day-light,
With hawthorn buds, and sweete eglantine,
And girlonds of roses, and soppes in wine.
"Sops in wine" are said to be pinks.
[22] See Nos. 23, 26, and 160.
[23] "In summer season howe doe the moste part of our yong men
and maydes in earely rising and getting themselves into the
fieldes at dauncing! What foolishe toyes shall not a man see among
them!"--"Northbrooke's Treatise," 1577.
[24]
As I have seen the lady of the May
Set in an arbour (on a holy-day)
Built by the May-pole.
--Wm. Browne.
[25] In Cincinnati.
[26] The same Greek word, _kora_, signifies _maiden_ and _doll_.
[27] _Crepundia_; literally, _rattles_.
[28] See Nos. 105 and 108.
[29] See Nos. 91, 92, and 93.
[30] "The _pot-game_--the one in the middle sits, and is called a
_pot_; the rest tweak him, or pinch him, or slap him while running
round; and whoever is caught by him while so turning takes his place."
We might suppose the disconnected verse of the "tortoise-game" to be
imitated, perhaps in jest, from the high-sounding phrases of the drama.
[31] "Cheli-chelone," _torti-tortoise_.
[32] "Phitta Meliades."
[33] Froissart's account of the school he attended reminds us of the
American _district school_, and his narration has the same character of
charming simplicity as his allusion to playing _with the boys of our
street_.
[34] For the games here mentioned, compare note in Appendix.