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| TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES: |
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VOL. I.
ACCROSHAY-NUTS IN MAY
Medium 8vo, xix.--424 pp. With numerous Diagrams and Illustrations.
Cloth uncut. 12s. 6d. nett.
Some Press Notices
_Notes and Queries._--"A work of supreme importance. . . a
scholarly, valuable, and delightful work."
_Spectator._--"Interesting and useful to the antiquarian, historian,
and philologist, as well as to the student of manners and customs."
_Saturday Review._--"Thorough and conscientious."
_Critic_ (New York).--"A mine of riches to the student of folk-lore,
anthropology, and comparative religion."
_Antiquary._--"The work of collection and comparison has been done
with obvious care, and at the same time with a con amore
enthusiasm."
_Zeitschrift für vergl. Literaturgeschichte._--"In jeder Beziehung
erschöpfend und mustergültig."
_Zeitschrift für Pädagogie._--"Von hoher wissenschaftlicher
Bedeutung."
[_All rights reserved_]
THE
TRADITIONAL GAMES
Of England, Scotland, and Ireland
WITH
TUNES, SINGING-RHYMES, AND METHODS OF PLAYING
ACCORDING TO THE VARIANTS EXTANT AND
RECORDED IN DIFFERENT PARTS
OF THE KINGDOM
COLLECTED AND ANNOTATED BY
ALICE BERTHA GOMME
VOL. II.
OATS AND BEANS-WOULD YOU KNOW
TOGETHER WITH A MEMOIR ON THE STUDY
OF CHILDREN'S GAMES
LONDON
DAVID NUTT, 270-71 STRAND
1898
Printed by BALLANTYNE, HANSON & CO.
At the Ballantyne Press
PREFACE
The completion of the second volume of my Dictionary has been delayed
from several unforeseen circumstances, the most important being the
death of my most kind and learned friend the Rev. Dr. Gregor. The loss
which folk-lore students as a body sustained by this lamented scholar's
death, was in my own case accentuated, not only by many years of kindly
communication, but by the very special help which he generously gave me
for this collection.
The second volume completes the collection of games on the lines already
laid down. It has taken much more space than I originally intended, and
I was compelled to add some important variants to the first volume, sent
to me during the compilation of the second. I have explained in the
memoir that the two volumes practically contain all that is to be
collected, all, that is to say, of real importance.
The memoir seeks to show what important evidence is to be derived from
separate study of the Traditional Games of England. That games of all
classes are shown to contain evidence of ancient custom and belief is
remarkable testimony to the anthropological methods of studying
folk-lore, which I have followed. The memoir fills a considerable space,
although it contains only the analytical portion of what was to have
been a comprehensive study of both the analytical and comparative sides
of the questions. Dr. Gregor had kindly promised to help me with the
study of foreign parallels to British Games, but before his death it
became apparent that this branch of the subject would almost need a
separate treatise, and his death decided me to leave it untouched. I do
not underrate its importance, but I am disposed to think that the survey
I have given of the British evidence will not be materially shaken by
the study of the comparative evidence, which will now be made the
easier.
I ought perhaps to add, that the "Memoir" at the end of this volume was
read as a paper at the evening meeting of the Folk Lore Society, on
March 16th, 1898.
I have again to thank my many kind correspondents for their help in
collecting the different versions of the games.
A. B. G.
24 DORSET SQUARE, N.W.
LIST OF AUTHORITIES
ADDENDUM TO VOL. I.
ENGLAND.
BEDFORDSHIRE--
Bedford Mrs. Haddon.
BERKSHIRE--
Welford Mrs. S. Batson.
BUCKINGHAMSHIRE--
Buckingham _Midland Garner._
CAMBRIDGESHIRE Halliwell's _Nursery Rhymes_.
Barrington, Girton Dr. A. C. Haddon.
Cambridge Mrs. Haddon.
CORNWALL Miss I. Barclay.
DERBYSHIRE Miss Youngman, _Long Ago_, vol. i.
DEVONSHIRE Miss Chase.
Chudleigh Knighton { Henderson's _Folk-lore of the Northern
{ Counties of England_.
DORSETSHIRE--
Broadwinsor _Folk-lore Journal_, vol. vii.
GLOUCESTERSHIRE Northall's _English Folk Rhymes_.
HAMPSHIRE--
Gambledown Mrs. Pinsent.
HERTFORDSHIRE--
Harpenden, Stevenage Mrs. Lloyd.
HUNTINGDONSHIRE--
St. Neots Miss Lumley.
KENT Miss L. Broadwood.
LANCASHIRE--
Manchester Miss Dendy.
Liverpool Mrs. Harley.
LEICESTERSHIRE _Leicestershire County Folk-lore._
LINCOLNSHIRE--
Brigg Miss J. Barker.
Spilsby Rev. R. Cracroft.
LONDON Dr. Haddon, A. Nutt, Mrs. Gomme.
Blackheath Mr. M. L. Rouse.
Hoxton Rev. S. D. Headlam.
Marylebone Mrs. Gomme.
MIDDLESEX Mrs. Pocklington-Coltman.
NORFOLK Mrs. Haddon.
Hemsby Mrs. Haddon.
NORTHUMBERLAND Hon. J. Abercromby.
OXFORDSHIRE Miss L. Broadwood.
STAFFORDSHIRE Halliwell's _Nursery Rhymes_.
Wolstanton Miss Bush.
SUFFOLK Mrs. Haddon.
Woolpit, near Haughley Mr. M. L. Rouse.
SURREY--
Ash Mrs. Gomme.
SUSSEX--
Lewes Miss Kimber.
WORCESTERSHIRE--
Upton on Severn Miss. L. Broadwood.
YORKSHIRE Miss E. Cadman.
SCOTLAND.
_Notes and Queries._ Pennant's _Voyage to the Hebrides_.
ABERDEENSHIRE--
Aberdeen Mr. M. L. Rouse.
Aberdeen Training College Rev. Dr. Gregor.
Corgarff, Fraserburgh, } Rev. Dr. Gregor.
Meiklefolla, Rosehearty, }
Tyrie
ARGYLLSHIRE--
Connell Ferry, near Oban Miss Harrison.
BANFFSHIRE--
Cullen, Macduff Rev. Dr. Gregor.
BERWICKSHIRE A. M. Bell (_Antiquary_, vol. xxx.).
ELGIN AND NAIRN--
Dyke } Rev. Dr. Gregor.
Strichen }
FORFARSHIRE--
Forfar Rev. Dr. Gregor.
KINCARDINESHIRE--
Banchory Rev. Dr. Gregor.
KIRCUDBRIGHTSHIRE--
Auchencairn { Miss M. Haddon.
{ Dr. A. C. Haddon.
Crossmichael Rev. Dr. Gregor.
Galloway } Mr. J. G. Carter.
Dalry }
Kirkcudbright }Mr. J. Lawson.
Laurieston }
New Galloway Rev. Dr. Gregor.
LINLITHGOWSHIRE--
Linlithgow Mrs. Jamieson.
PERTHSHIRE--
Auchterarder Miss E. S. Haldane.
Perth Rev. Dr. Gregor.
ROSS-SHIRE Rev. Dr. Gregor.
WIGTONSHIRE--
Port William School Rev. Dr. Gregor.
IRELAND.
Carleton's _Stories of Irish Peasantry_.
CORK--
Cork Mr. I. J. Dennachy.
DOWN--
St. Andrews Miss H. E. Harvey.
DUBLIN--
Dublin Mrs. Coffey.
Howth Miss H. E. Harvey.
KERRY--
Kerry I. J. Dennachy.
Waterville Mrs. B. B. Green.
LEITRIM--
Kiltubbrid Mr. L. L. Duncan.
WATERFORD--
Waterford Miss H. E. Harvey.
WALES.
Roberts' _Cambrian Popular Antiquities_.
LIST OF GAMES
OATS and Beans and Barley.
Obadiah.
Odd or Even.
Odd-man.
Old Dame.
Old Roger is Dead.
Old Soldier.
Oliver, Oliver, follow the King.
One Catch-all.
Oranges and Lemons.
'Otmillo.
Over Clover.
PADDY from Home.
Paip.
Pallall.
Pally Ully.
Pat-ball.
Pay-swad.
Pednameny.
Peesie Weet.
Peg and Stick.
Peg-fiched.
Peggy Nut.
Peg-in-the-Ring.
Peg-top.
Penny Cast.
Penny Hop.
Penny Prick.
Penny Stanes.
Ph[oe]be.
Pick and Hotch.
Pi-cow.
Pigeon Walk.
Pig-ring.
Pillie-Winkie.
Pinch.
Pinny Show.
Pins.
Pirley Pease-weep.
Pitch.
Pitch and Hustle.
Pitch and Toss.
Pit-counter.
Pits.
Pize Ball.
Plum Pudding.
Plum Pudding and Roast Beef.
Pointing out a Point.
Poncake.
Poor and Rich.
Poor Mary sits a-weeping.
Poor Widow.
Pop Goes the Weasel.
Pop-the-Bonnet.
Poppet-Show.
Port the Helm.
Pots, or Potts.
Pray, Pretty Miss.
Pretty Little Girl of Mine.
Pretty Miss Pink.
Prick at the Loop.
Prickey Sockey.
Prickie and Jockie.
Priest-Cat (1).
Priest-Cat (2).
Priest of the Parish.
Prisoner's Base.
Puff-the-Dart.
Pun o' mair Weight.
Punch Bowl.
Purposes.
Push in the Wash Tub.
Push Pin.
Push the Business On.
Puss in the Corner.
Pussy's Ground.
Pyramid.
QUAKER.
Quaker's Wedding.
Queen Anne.
Queen Mary.
Queen of Sheba.
RAGMAN.
Rag-stag.
Rakes and Roans.
Rakkeps.
Range the Bus.
Rax, or Raxie-boxie, King of Scotland.
Relievo.
Religious Church.
Rigs.
Ring.
Ring a Ring o' Roses.
Ring by Ring.
Ringie, Ringie, Red Belt.
Ring-me-rary.
Ring-taw.
Rin-im-o'er.
Robbing the Parson's Hen-Roost.
Rockety Row.
Roll up Tobacco.
Roly-poly.
Ronin the Bee.
Rosy Apple, Lemon and Pear.
Roundabout, or Cheshire Round.
Round and Round the Village.
Round and Round went the Gallant Ship.
Round Tag.
Rounders.
Rounds.
Row-chow-Tobacco.
Rowland-Ho.
Rumps.
Rusty.
SACKS.
Saddle the Nag.
Saggy.
Sailor Lad.
Sally go Round the Moon.
Sally Water.
Sally Sober.
Salmon Fishers.
Salt Eel.
Save All.
Say Girl.
Scat.
Scop-peril.
Scotch-hoppers.
Scots and English.
Scratch Cradle.
Scrush.
Scurran-Meggy.
See-Saw.
See-Sim.
Shame Reel, or Shamit Dance.
She Said, and She Said.
Shepherd and Sheep.
Shepherds.
Shinney, or Shinty, or Shinnops.
Ship.
Ship Sail.
Shiver the Goose.
Shoeing the Auld Mare.
Shue-Gled-Wylie.
Shuttlefeather.
Shuvvy-Hawle.
Silly Old Man.
Skin the Goatie.
Skipping.
Skyte the Bob.
Smuggle the Gig.
Snail Creep.
Snapping Tongs.
Snatch Apple.
Snatch Hood.
Soldier.
Solomon.
Sort'em-billyort'em.
Sow-in-the-Kirk.
Span Counter.
Spang and Purley.
Spangie.
Spannims.
Spawnie.
Spinny-Wye.
Splints.
Spurn point.
Spy-arm.
Stacks.
Stag.
Stagging.
Steal the Pigs.
Stealy Clothes.
Steik and Hide.
Sticky-stack.
Sticky Toffey.
Stiff Police.
Stik-n Snael.
Stocks.
Stones.
Stool-ball.
Strik a Licht.
Stroke.
Stroke Bias.
Sun and Moon.
Sunday Night.
Sun Shines.
Sweer Tree.
Swinging.
TAIT.
Teesty-Tosty.
Teter-cum-Tawter.
Tee-to-tum.
Thimble Ring.
Thing done.
Thread the Needle.
Three Days' Holidays.
Three Dukes.
Three Flowers.
Three Holes.
Three Jolly Welshmen.
Three Knights from Spain.
Three Little Ships.
Three Old Bachelors.
Three Sailors.
Through the Needle Eye, Boys.
Thun'er Spell.
Tick.
Tickle me Quickly.
Ticky Touchwood.
Tig.
Time.
Tip it.
Tip-Cat.
Tip-tap-toe.
Tiring Irons.
Tisty Tosty.
Titter-totter.
Tit-tat-toe.
Tods and Lambs.
Tom Tiddler's Ground.
Tops.
The Totum, or Tee-to-tum.
Touch.
Tower of London.
Town Lovers.
Trades.
Trap, Bat, and Ball.
Tray-trip.
Tres-acre.
Tribet.
Trippit and Coit.
Trip and Go.
Trip-trout.
Troap.
Troco, Trucks.
Troule-in-Madame.
Trounce-Hole.
Troy Town.
Truncher.
Trunket.
Truss.
Tuilyie-wap.
Turn, Cheeses, Turn.
Turn Spit Jack.
Turn the Ship.
Turn the Trencher, or, My Lady's Toilet.
Turvey.
Tutt-ball.
Twelve Days of Christmas.
Twelve Holes.
UNCLE John is Ill in Bed.
Up the Streets.
WADDS and the Wears (1).
Wadds and the Wears (2).
Waggles.
Wallflowers.
Warney.
Way-Zaltin.
We are the Rovers.
Weary.
Weave the Diaper.
Weigh the Butter.
When I was a Young Girl.
Whiddy.
Whigmeleerie.
Whip.
Whishin Dance.
Who goes round my Stone Wall.
Widow.
Wiggle-Waggle.
Wild Boar.
Wild Birds.
Willie, Willie Wastell.
Wind up the Bush Faggot.
Wind, The.
Wink-egg.
Witch, The.
Witte-Witte-Way.
Wolf.
Wolf and the Lamb.
Would you know how doth the Peasant.
ADDENDA
A' THE BIRDIES.
All the Boys.
American Post.
As I was Walking.
Auld Grannie.
BALL.
Bannockburn.
Black Doggie.
Bonnet Ridgie.
Button.
CANLIE.
Carry my Lady to London.
Cat and Dog Hole.
Catch the Salmond.
Chicken come Clock.
Chippings, or Cheapings.
Chucks.
Churning.
Codham, or Codhams.
Colley Ball.
DAN'L my Man.
Deil amo' the Dishes.
Dig for Silver.
Dillsee Dollsie Dee.
Doagan.
Down in Yonder Meadow.
Draw a Pail of Water.
Drop Handkerchief.
Dumb Crambo.
Dump.
EENDY, Beendy.
FARMER'S Den.
Fire on the Mountains.
Fool, Fool, come to School.
French Jackie.
GALLOPING, Galloping.
Gallant Ship.
Galley, Galley Ship.
Glasgow Ships.
Granny's Needle.
Green Gravel.
Green Grass.
Green Grass (2).
HEAP the Cairn.
Hear all!
Hen and Chickens.
High Windows.
Hot Cockles.
ISABELLA.
JENNY Jones.
Jockie Rover.
Jolly Lads.
Jolly Miller.
KEYS of Heaven.
Kick the Block.
LADY of the Land.
Leap-Frog.
London Bridge.
Lubin, Looby Loo.
MAGICIAN.
Mannie on the Pavement.
Merry-ma-Tanza.
Milking Pails.
My Delight's in Tansies.
NAMER and Guesser.
Needle Cases.
Nuts in May.
ODD Man.
Old Cranny Crow.
Old Johanny Hairy, Crap in!
PAPER of Pins.
Pickie.
Poor Widow.
QUEEN Anne.
RASHES.
SALLY Water.
Shuffle the Brogue.
Soldiers, Soldiers.
THREE Dukes.
Three Knights.
Tug of War.
WE are the Rovers.
When I was a Young Girl.
ANALYSIS OF "MEMOIR"
Children's games, a definite branch of folk-lore--Nature of material
for the study--Games fall into one of two sections--Classification
of the games--Under customs contained in them--Under implements of
play--Skill and chance games--Importance of classification--Early
custom contained in skill and chance games--In diagram games--Tabu
in game of "Touch"--Methods of playing the games--Characteristics of
line form--Of circle forms--Of individual form--Of the arch
forms--Of winding-up form--Contest games--War-cry used in contest
games--Early marriage customs in games of line form--Marriage by
capture--By purchase--Without love or courtship--Games formerly
played at weddings--Disguising the bride--Hiring servants
game--Marriage customs in circle games--Courtship precedes
marriage--Marriage connected with water custom--"Crying for a young
man" announcing a want--Marriage formula--Approval of friends
necessary--Housewifely duties mentioned--Eating of food by bride and
bridegroom necessary--Young man's necessity for a wife--Kiss in the
ring--Harvest customs in games--Occupations in games--Funeral
customs in games--Use of rushes in games--Sneezing action in
game--Connection of spirit of dead person with trees--Perambulation
of boundaries--Animals represented--Ballads sung to a
dance--Individual form games--Hearth worship--Objection to giving
light from a fire--Child-stealing by witch--Obstacles in path when
pursuing witch--Contest between animals--Ghosts in games--Arch form
of game--Contest between leaders of parties--Foundation sacrifice in
games--Encircling a church--Well worship in games--Tug-of-war
games--Alarm bell ringing--Passing under a yoke--Creeping through
holed stones in games--Under earth sods--Customs in "winding up"
games--Tree worship in games--Awaking the earth spirit--Serpentine
dances--Burial of maiden--Guessing, a primitive element in
games--Dramatic classification--Controlling force which has
preserved custom in games--Dramatic faculty in mankind--Child's
faculty for dramatic action--Observation of detail--Children's games
formerly an amusement of adults--Dramatic power in savages--Dramatic
dances among the savage and semi-civilised--Summary and conclusion.
CHILDREN'S GAMES
Oats and Beans and Barley
[Music]
--Madeley, Shropshire (Miss Burne).
[Music]
--_Northants Notes and Queries_, ii. 161 (R. S. Baker)
[Music]
--Sporle, Norfolk (Miss Matthews).
I. Oats and beans and barley grow!
Oats and beans and barley grow!
Do you or I or any one know
How oats and beans and barley grow?
First the farmer _sows_ his seed,
Then he _stands_ and takes his ease,
_Stamps_ his foot, and _claps_ his hands,
Then _turns round_ to view the land.
Waiting for a partner, waiting for a partner!
Open the ring and take one in!
Now you are married you must obey,
You must be true to all you say,
You must be kind, you must be good,
And help your wife to chop the wood!
--Much Wenlock (Burne's _Shropshire Folklore_, p. 508).
II. Oats and beans and barley grow!
Does you or I or any one know
Where oats and beans and barley grow?
So the farmer sows his seed;
So he stands and takes his ease;
Stamps his foot and claps his hands,
And turns him round to view the lands.
Waiting for a partner! waiting for a partner!
Now young couple you must obey,
You must be true in all you say,
You must be wise and very good,
And help your wife to chop the wood.
--Monton, Lancashire (Miss Dendy).
III. Does you or I, or anie one knowe
Where oates and beanes and barlie growe?
Where oates and beanes and barlie growe?
The farmer comes and sowes ye seede,
Then he standes and takes hys ease,
Stamps hys foote, and slappes hys hand,
And turnes hym rounde to viewe ye land.
Waiting for a partner,
Waiting for a partner,
Open the ringe and take mee in,
Make haste and choose youre partner.
Now you're married you must obey,
Must bee true to alle you saye,
Must bee kinde and verie goode,
And helpe your wyfe to choppe ye woode.
--Raunds (_Northants Notes and Queries_, i. 163).
IV. Oats and beans and barley grows,
You or I or any one knows,
You or I or any one knows,
Where oats and beans and barley grows.
Thus the farmer sows his seed,
Stamps his feet and claps his hands,
And turns around to view the land.
Waiting for a partner,
Waiting for a partner,
Now you are married, &c.
[same as Much Wenlock.]
--East Kirkby, Lincolnshire (Miss K. Maughan).
V. Oats, beans, and barley grows,
You or I or any one knows.
Thus the farmer sows his seed,
Thus he stands and takes his ease,
Stamps his feet and folds his hands,
And turns him round to view the lands.
Oh! waitin' for a partner,
Waitin' for a partner.
Now you're married, &c.
[same as Much Wenlock.]
--Winterton (Miss Fowler).
VI. Oats and wheat and barley grows,
You and I and every one knows
Where oats and wheat and barley grows.
As the farmer sows his seed,
Folds his arms and takes his ease,
Stamps his feet and claps his hands,
And turns him round to view the land.
Waiting for a partner,
Waiting for a partner,
Waiting for a partner,
To open the ring
And take one in.
Now you're married, &c.
[same as Much Wenlock.]
--Tean, North Staffs. (Miss Keary).
VII. Oats and beans and barley grow,
You and I and every one know;
You and I and every one know
That oats and beans and barley grow.
Thus the farmer sows his seed,
Thus he stands and takes his ease,
Stamps his foot and claps his hands,
And turns him round to view the land.
Waiting for a partner,
Waiting for a partner.
Now you're married you must obey, &c.
[same as Much Wenlock.]
--Brigg, Lincolnshire (Miss Barker).
VIII. Oats and beans and barley-corns, you or I or any one else,
You or I or any one else, oats or beans or barley-corns;
Thus the farmer sows his seed,
Thus he stands and takes his ease,
Stamps his foot, and claps his hands,
And turns him round to view the land.
Waiting for a partner, waiting for a partner;
Open the ring and take one in,
Waiting for a partner.
Now you're married, &c.
[same as Much Wenlock.]
--Nottingham (Miss E. A. Winfield).
IX. Oats and beans, barley and groats,
Oats and beans, barley and groats;
You, nor I, nor anybody knows
How oats and beans and barley grows.
Thus the farmer sows his seed,
Thus he stands and takes his feed,
Stamps his foot and claps his hand,
And turns around to view the land.
Waiting for a partner, waiting for a partner.
Slip the ring, and take one in,
And kiss her when you get her in;
Now that you're married you must agree,
You must be kind to all you see;
You must be kind, you must be good,
And help your man [wife] to chop the wood.
--Isle of Man (A. W. Moore).
X. Wuts and beäns and barley graws,
As you and I and every one knaws.
. . . . .
Waätin' for a pardner.
Fust the farmer saws his seäds,
Then he stands and taäke his eäse,
Stomps his feät and clops his hands,
And turns him round to view his lands.
Waätin' for a pardner.
Now you're married you must obaäy;
Must be trewe to all you saäy;
Must be kind and must be good,
And help your wife to chop the wood.
Waätin' for a pardner.
--Spilsby, N. Lincs. (Rev. R. Cracroft).
XI. Oats and beans and barley corn,
Oats and beans and barley corn;
You and I and nobody else,
But oats and beans and barley corn.
As the farmer sows his seed,
As he stands to take us in,
Stamps his feet and claps his hands,
Turns around to field and lands.
Waiting for a partner,
Waiting for a partner,
Open the gate and let her come out,
And see the one you love the best.
Now we're merry and wish you joy,
First the girl, and then the boy,
Seven years after, seven years past,
Kiss one another and go to your class.
--Hampshire (Miss Mendham).
XII. Where the wheat and barley grows,
You and I and nobody knows,
Where the wheat and barley grows,
You and I and nobody knows.
As the farmer sows his seed,
As he stands and takes his ease,
Stamps his foot and claps his hand,
Turns around to view the land.
Waiting for a partner,
Waiting for a partner.
Open the ring, take her in,
Kiss her when you get her in.
Now you're married you must be good,
To make your husband chop the wood.
--Cowes, Isle of Wight (Miss E. Smith).
XIII. Oats and beans and barley corns,
You nor I nor any one knows;
You nor I nor any one knows
How oats and beans and barley grows.
As the sower sows his seed,
As he stands he takes his ease,
Stamps his foot and claps his hands,
And turns him round to view the land.
Waiting for a partner,
Open the ring and take one in.
Now you're married, &c.
[same as Much Wenlock.]
--Long Eaton, Nottinghamshire (Miss Youngman).
XIV. Hop or beans or barley corn,
You or I or any one all:
First the farmer sows his seed,
Then he stands and takes his ease;
He stamped his foot and he clapped his hand,
And turned around the bugle land,
Waiting for a partner, a partner, a partner,
He opened the ring and called one in,
And now he's got a partner.
Now you're married we wish you good joy,
First the girl and then the boy;
Love one another like sister and brother,
And pray each couple to kiss together.
--Sporle, Norfolk (Miss Matthews).
XV. See the farmer sow his seed,
See he stands and takes them in,
Stamps his foot and claps his hand,
And turns him round to view the land.
O! waiting for a partner,
O! waiting for a partner,
Open the ring and take one in.
Now you're married, &c.
[same as Much Wenlock.]
--Earls Heaton, Yorks. (H. Hardy).
XVI. A waitin' fur a pardner,
A waitin' fur a pardner,
You an' I an' ev'ry one knows
How whoats an' beans an' barley grows.
Fost tha farmer saws 'is seeds,
Then he stans' an' teks 'is ease,
Stamps 'is feet an' claps 'is 'ands,
And turns him round to view tha lands.
A waitin' fur a pardner,
A waitin' fur a pardner,
You an' I an' iv'ry one knows
How whoats an' beans an' barley grows.
Now you're married, &c.
[same as Much Wenlock.]
--Boston, Lincs. (_Notes and Queries_, 7th series, xii. 493).
XVII. Oats and beans and barley grows
Not so fine as the farmer sows,
You nor I nor nobody knows
Oats and beans and barley grows.
This is the way the farmer sows,
The farmer sows, the farmer sows,
This is the way the farmer sows.
Here he stands and takes his ease,
Stamps his foot and claps his hands,
And turns around to view the land,
Waiting for a partner, waiting for a partner,
Open the ring and take one in,
And kiss him (or her) as he (or she) enters.
--Aberdeen Training College (Rev. W. Gregor).
XVIII. Waitin' for a partner,
Waitin' for a partner,
Open the ring and take one in,
And now you've got your partner.
Now you're married, &c.
[same as Much Wenlock.]
--Wakefield, Yorks. (Miss Fowler).
(_c_) The players form a ring by joining hands, with one child, usually
a boy, standing in the centre. The ring walks round, singing the first
four lines. At the fifth line the ring stands still, and each child
suits her actions to the words sung. At "the farmer sows his seed," each
player pretends to scatter seed, then they all fold their arms and
"stand at ease," "stamp their feet," and "clap their hands" together in
order, and finally each child turns herself round. Then they again clasp
hands and move round the centre child, who at the words "open the ring
and take one in" chooses and takes into the ring with him one player
from it. These two stand together while the ring sings the marriage
formula. At the end the child first in the centre joins the ring; the
second child remaining in the centre, and in her turn choosing another
from the ring.
This is the (Much Wenlock) way of playing. Among the variants there are
some slight differences. In the Wakefield version (Miss Fowler), a
little boy is placed in the centre of the ring first, he chooses a girl
out of the ring at the singing of the third line and kisses her. They
stand hand in hand while the others sing the next verse. In the Tean
version (Miss Keary), the children turn round with their backs to the
one in the centre, and stand still when singing "Waiting for a
partner." In the Hampshire (Miss Mendham), Brigg (Miss Barker), and
Winterton (Miss Peacock) versions, the children dance round instead of
walking. The Rev. Mr. Roberts, in a version from Kirkby-on-the-Bain
(N.W. Lincolnshire), says: "There is no proper commencement of this
song. The children begin with 'A waitin' fur a pardner,' or 'Oats and
beans,' just as the spirit moves them, but I think 'A waitin'' is the
usual beginning here." In a Sheffield version sent by Mr. S. O. Addy,
four young men stand in the middle of the ring with their hands joined.
These four dance round singing the first lines. After "views his lands"
these four choose sweethearts, or partners, from the ring. The eight
join hands and sing the remaining four lines. The four young men then
join the larger ring, and the four girls remain in the centre and choose
partners next time. The words of this version are almost identical with
those of Shropshire. In the Isle of Man version (A. W. Moore), when the
kiss is given all the children forming the ring clap their hands. There
is no kissing in the Shropshire and many other versions of this game,
and the centre child does not in all cases sing the words.
(_d_) Other versions have been sent from Winterton, Leadenham, and
Lincoln, by Miss Peacock, and from Brigg, while the _Northamptonshire
Notes and Queries_, ii. 161, gives another by Mr. R. S. Baker. The words
are practically the same as the versions printed above from Lincolnshire
and Northants. The words of the Madeley version are the same as the Much
Wenlock (No. 1). The Nottingham tune (Miss Youngman), and three others
sent with the words, are the same as the Madeley tune printed above.
(_e_) This interesting game is essentially of rural origin, and probably
it is for this reason that Mr. Newell did not obtain any version from
England for his _Games and Songs of American Children_, but his note
that it "seems, strangely enough, to be unknown in Great Britain" (p.
80), is effectually disproved by the examples I have collected. There is
no need in this case for an analysis of the rhymes. The variants fall
into three categories: (1) the questioning form of the words, (2) the
affirming form, and (3) the indiscriminate form, as in Nos. xvi. to
xviii., and of these I am disposed to consider the first to represent
the earliest idea of the game.
If the crops mentioned in the verses be considered, it will be found
that the following table represents the different localities:--
+------+-----------------------------------------------------------+
| |Northants. |
| | |Lancashire. |
| | | |Lincolnshire. |
| | | | |Shropshire. |
| | | | | |Staffordshire. |
| | | | | | |Nottingham. |
| | | | | | | |Isle of Man. |
| | | | | | | | |Hants. |
| | | | | | | | | |Isle of |
| | | | | | | | | |Wight. |
| | | | | | | | | | |Nor- |
| | | | | | | | | | |folk.|
+------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+
|Oats | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | ... | ... |
|Beans | + | + | + | + | ... | + | + | + | ... | + |
|Barley| + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + |
|Wheat | ... | ... | ... | ... | + | ... | ... | ... | + | ... |
|Groats| ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... |
|Hop | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | ... | + | ... | ... | + |
+------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+
The first three are the more constant words, but it is curious that
Norfolk, not a hop county, should have adopted that grain into the game.
Hops are grown there on rare occasions, and it is probable that the game
may have been introduced from a hop county.
In _Northants Notes and Queries_, i. 163-164, Mr. R. S. Baker gives a
most interesting account of the game (No. iii.) as follows:--"Having
been recently invited to join the Annual Christmas Entertainment of the
Raunds Church Choir, I noticed that a very favourite pastime of the
evening was one which I shall call 'Choosing Partners.' The game is
played thus: The young men and maidens join hands indiscriminately, and
form a ring; within the ring stand a lad and a lass; then they all step
round the way the sun goes, to a plain tune. During the singing of the
two last lines [of the first part] they all disjoin hands, stop and
stamp their feet and clap their hands and turn right round . . . then
join hands [while singing the second verse]. The two in the middle at
['Open the ring'] choose each of them a partner of the opposite sex,
which they do by pointing to the one chosen; then they continue round,
to the words [sang in next verse], the two pairs of partners crossing
hands, first right and then left, and revolving opposite ways
alternately. The march round is temporarily suspended for choosing
partners. The partners salute [at 'Now you're married'], or, rather,
each lad kisses his chosen lass; the first two partners go out, the game
continues as before, and every one in the ring has chosen and been
chosen, and every lad has saluted every lass. The antiquity of the
pastime is evidenced by its not mentioning wheat; wheat was in remote
times an exceptional crop--the village people lived on oatmeal and
barley bread. It also points, possibly, to a period when most of the
land lay in grass. Portions of the open fields were cultivated, and
after a few years of merciless cropping were laid down again to
recuperate. 'Helping to chop the wood' recalls the time when coal was
not known as fuel. I am indebted for the correct words of the above to a
Raunds maiden, Miss B. Finding, a native of the village, who kindly
wrote them down for me." Mr. Baker does not say how Miss Finding got the
peculiar spelling of this version. It would be interesting to know
whether this form of spelling was used as indicative of the
pronunciation of the children, or of the supposed antiquity of the game.
The Rev. W. D. Sweeting, also writes at the same reference, "The same
game is played at the school feast at Maxey; but the words, as I have
taken them down, vary from those given above. We have no mention of any
crop except barley, which is largely grown in the district; and the
refrain, repeated after the second and sixth lines, is 'waiting for the
harvest.' A lady suggested to me that the two first lines of the
conclusion are addressed to the bride of the game, and the two last,
which in our version run, 'You must be kind and very good,' apply to the
happy swain."
This interesting note not only suggests, as Mr. Baker and Mr. Sweeting
say, the antiquity of the game and its connection with harvest at a time
when the farms were all laid in open fields, but it points further to
the custom of courtship and marriage being the outcome of village
festivals and dances held after spring sowing and harvest gatherings. It
seems in Northamptonshire not to have quite reached the stage of the
pure children's game before it was taken note of by Mr. Baker, and this
is an important illustration of the descent of children's games from
customs. As soon as it has become a child's game, however, the process
of decadence sets in. Thus, besides verbal alterations, the lines
relating to farming have dropped out of the Wakefield version. It is
abundantly clear from the more perfect game-rhymes that the waiting for
a partner is an episode in the harvest customs, as if, when the outdoor
business of the season was finished, the domestic element becomes the
next important transaction in the year's proceedings. The curious
four-lined formula applicable to the duties of married life may indeed
be a relic of those rhythmical formulæ which are found throughout all
early legal ceremonies. A reference to Mr. Ralston's section on marriage
songs, in his _Songs of the Russian People_, makes it clear that
marriages in Russia were contracted at the gatherings called Besyedas
(p. 264), which were social gatherings held during October after the
completion of the harvest; and the practice is, of course, not confined
to Russia.
It is also probable that this game may have preserved the tradition of a
formula sung at the sowing of grain, in order to propitiate the earth
goddess to promote and quicken the growth of the crops. Turning around
or bowing to fields and lands and pantomimic actions in imitation of
those actually required, are very general in the history of sympathetic
magic among primitive peoples, as reference to Mr. Frazer's _Golden
Bough_ will prove; and taking the rhyming formula together with the
imitative action, I am inclined to believe that in this game we may have
the last relics of a very ancient agricultural rite.
Obadiah
The players stand in a row. The child at the head of the row says, "My
son Obadiah is going to be married, twiddle your thumbs," suiting the
action to the word by clasping the fingers of both hands together, and
rapidly "twiddling" the thumbs. The next child repeats both words and
actions, and so on all along the row, all the players continuing the
"twiddling." The top child repeats the words, adding (very gravely),
"Fall on one knee," the whole row follows suit as before (still
twiddling their thumbs). The top child repeats from the beginning,
adding, "Do as you see me," and the rest of the children follow suit, as
before. Just as the last child repeats the words, the top child falls on
the child next to her, and all go down like a row of ninepins. The whole
is said in a sing-song way. This game was, so far as I can ascertain,
truly East Anglian. I have never been able to hear of it in other parts
of England or Wales.--Bexley Heath (Miss Morris). Also played in London.
See "Solomon."
Odd or Even
A boys' game, played with buttons, marbles, and halfpence. Peacock's
_Manley and Corringham Glossary_; also mentioned in Brogden's
_Provincial Words (Lincolnshire)_. Mr. Patterson says (_Antrim and Down
Glossary_)--A boy shuts up a few small objects, such as marbles, in one
hand, and asks his opponent to guess if the number is odd or even. He
then either pays or receives one, according as the guess is right or
wrong. Strutt describes this game in the same way, and says it was
played in ancient Greece and Rome. Newell (_Games_, p. 147) also
mentions it.
See "Prickie and Jockie."
Odd-man
A game played with coins. Brogden's _Provincial Words, Lincolnshire_.
Old Dame
I. I'll away to t'beck to wash my neck,
When I get there, I'll ask t'ould dame what o'clock it is?
It's one, and you'll be hanged at two.
I'll away to t'beck to wash my neck,
When I get there, I'll ask t'ould dame what o'clock it is?
It's two, and you'll be hanged at three.
[This is repeated until the old woman says, "It's eleven, and you'll be
hanged at twelve."]
--Yorkshire (Miss E. Cadman).
II. To Beccles, to Beccles,
To buy a bunch of nettles,
Pray, old dame, what's o'clock?
One, going for two.
To Beccles, to Beccles,
To buy a bunch of nettles,
Pray, old dame, what's o'clock?
Two, going for three, &c.
[And so on until "eleven going for twelve" is said, then the
following:--]
Where have you been?
To the wood.
What for?
To pick up sticks.
What for?
To light my fire.
What for?
To boil my kettle.
What for?
To cook some of your chickens.
--Halliwell, _Nursery Rhymes_, p. 229.
(_b_) One child sits upon a little stool. The others march round her in
single file, taking hold of each other's frocks. They say in a sing-song
manner the first two lines, and the old woman answers by telling
them the hour. The questions and answers are repeated until the old
woman says, "It's eleven, and you'll be hanged at twelve." Then the
children all run off in different directions and the old woman runs
after them. Whoever she catches becomes old woman, and the game is
continued.--Yorkshire (Miss E. Cadman). In the version given from
Halliwell there is a further dialogue, it will be seen, before the old
woman chases.
(_c_) The use of the Yorkshire word "beck" ("stream") in the first
variant suggests that this may be the original version from which the
"Beccles" version has been adapted, a particular place being substituted
for the general. The game somewhat resembles "Fox and Goose."
Old Roger is Dead
[Music]
--Earls Heaton (H. Hardy).
[Music]
--Sporle, Norfolk (Miss Matthews).
[Music]
--Bath (A. B. Gomme).
I. Old Rogers is dead and is laid in his grave,
Laid in his grave,
Laid in his grave;
Old Rogers is dead and is laid in his grave,
He, hi! laid in his grave.
There grew an old apple tree over his head,
Over his head,
Over his head;
There grew an old apple tree over his head,
He, hi! over his head.
The apples grew ripe, and they all fell off,
They all fell off,
They all fell off;
The apples grew ripe, and they all fell off,
He, hi! they all fell off.
There came an old woman a-picking them up,
Picking them up,
Picking them up;
There came an old woman a-picking them up,
He, hi! picking them up.
Old Rogers jumps up and he gives her a knock,
Gives her a knock,
Gives her a knock;
Old Rogers jumps up and he gives her a knock,
He, hi! gives her a knock.
He makes the old woman go hipperty hop,
Hipperty hop,
Hipperty hop;
He makes the old woman go hipperty hop,
He, hi! hipperty hop.
--Earls Heaton, Yorks. (Herbert Hardy).
II. Old Roger is dead, and lies in his grave, um, ah! lies in
his grave;
There grew an old apple tree over his head, um, ah! over his
head.
The apples are ripe and ready to drop, um, ah! ready to
drop;
There came an old woman, picking them up.
--Hanbury, Staffs. (Miss Edith Hollis).
III. Sir Roger is dead and is low in his grave,
Is low in his grave, is low in his grave;
Sir Roger is dead and is low in his grave,
Hey hie! is low in his grave.
They planted an apple tree over his head,
Over his head, over his head;
They planted an apple tree over his head,
Hey hie! over his head.
When they grew ripe they all fell off,
All fell off, all fell off;
When they grew ripe they all fell off,
Hey hie! all fell off.
There came an old woman and gathered them up,
Gathered them up, gathered them up;
There came an old woman and gathered them up,
Hey hie! gathered them up.
Sir Roger got up and gave her a nudge,
Gave her a nudge, gave her a nudge;
Sir Roger got up and gave her a nudge,
Hey hie! gave her a nudge.
Which made her go off with a skip and a hop,
With a skip and a hop, with a skip and a hop;
Which made her go off with a skip and a hop,
Hey hie! with a skip and a hop.
--Ordsall, Nottinghamshire (Miss Matthews).
IV. Sir Roger is dead and he's laid in his grave,
Laid in his grave, laid in his grave;
Sir Roger is dead and he's laid in his grave,
Heigh-ho! laid in his grave.
There grew a fine apple tree over his head,
Over his head, over his head;
There grew a fine apple tree over his head,
Heigh-ho! over his head.
The apples were ripe and they all fell off,
All fell off, all fell off;
The apples were ripe and they all fell off,
Heigh-ho! all fell off.
There came an old woman and picked them all up,
Picked them all up, picked them all up;
There came an old woman and picked them all up,
Heigh-ho! picked them all up.
Sir Roger jumped up and he gave her a push,
Gave her a push, gave her a push;
Sir Roger jumped up and he gave her a push,
Heigh-ho! gave her a push.
Which made the old woman go hickety-hock,
Hickety-hock, hickety-hock;
Which made the old woman go hickety-hock,
Heigh-ho! hickety-hock.
--Brigg, Lincolnshire (Miss J. Barker).
V. Sir Roger is dead and laid in his grave,
Hee, haw! laid in his grave.
They planted an apple tree over his head,
Hee, haw! over his head.
The apples are ripe and ready to fall,
Hee, haw! ready to fall.
There came a high wind and blew them all off,
Hee, haw! blew them all off.
There came an old woman to pick them all up,
Hee, haw! pick them all up.
There came a little bird and gave her a tap,
Hee, haw! gave her a tap.
Which made the old woman go hipperty hop,
Hee, haw! hipperty hop.
--Tong, Shropshire (Miss Burne).
VI. Poor Johnnie is dead and he lies in his grave,
Lies in his grave, lies in his grave;
Poor Johnnie is dead and he lies in his grave,
He-ho! lies in his grave.
They planted an apple tree over his head,
Over his head, over his head;
They planted an apple tree over his head,
He-ho! over his head.
The apples got ripe and they all fell off,
All fell off, all fell off;
The apples got ripe and they all fell off,
He-ho! all fell off.
Here comes an old woman a-picking them up,
A-picking them up, a-picking them up;
Here comes an old woman a-picking them up,
He-ho! a-picking them up.
Poor Johnnie got up and gave her a thump,
And gave her a thump, and gave her a thump;
Poor Johnnie got up and gave her a thump,
He-ho! gave her a thump.
He made the old woman go hippity-hop,
Hippity-hop, hippity-hop!
He made the old woman go hippity-hop,
He-ho! hippity-hop!
--Sporle, Norfolk (Miss Matthews).
VII. Cock Robin is dead and has gone to his grave;
There grew on old apple tree over his head;
The apples were ripe and ready to drop,
O my, flippity flop!
There came an old woman to pick them all up,
Cock Robin rose up and gave her a knock,
And made the old woman go flippity flop!
O my, flippity flop!
--Deptford, Kent (Miss Chase).
VIII. Old Roger is dead and gone to his grave,
H'm ha! gone to his grave.
They planted an apple tree over his head,
H'm ha! over his head.
The apples were ripe and ready to fall,
H'm ha! ready to fall.
There came an old woman and picked them all up,
H'm ha! picked them all up.
Old Roger jumped up and gave her a knock,
H'm ha! gave her a knock.
Which made the old woman go hippity hop,
H'm ha! hippity hop!
--Bath, from a Nursemaid (A. B. Gomme).
IX. Cock Robin is dead and lies in his grave,
Hum-ha! lies in his grave.
Place an old apple tree over his head,
Hum-ha! over his head.
When they were ripe and ready to fall,
Hum-ha! ready to fall.
There comes an old woman a-picking them up,
Hum-ha! a-picking them up.
Cock Robin jumps up and gives her a good knock,
Hum-ha! gives her a good knock.
--Derbyshire (_Folk-lore Journal_, i. 385).
X. Poor Roger is dead and lies low in his grave,
Low in his grave, low in his grave,
E. I. low in his grave.
There grew an old apple tree over his head,
Over his head, over his head,
E. I. over his head.
When the apples were ripe they all fell off,
All fell off, all fell off,
E. I. all fell off.
There was an old woman came picking them up,
Picking them up, picking them up,
E. I. picking them up.
Poor Roger jumped up and gave her a nudge,
Gave her a nudge, gave her a nudge,
E. I. gave her a nudge.
Which made the old woman go lippety lop,
Lippety lop, lippety lop,
E. I. lippety lop.
--Newark, Nottinghamshire (S. O. Addy).
XI. Poor Toby is dead and he lies in his grave,
He lies in his grave, he lies in his grave;
They planted an apple tree over his head,
Over his head, over his head.
The apples grew ripe and beginning to fall,
Beginning to fall, beginning to fall;
The apples grew ripe and beginning to fall,
Beginning to fall, beginning to fall.
There came an old woman picking them up,
Picking them up, picking them up;
Poor Toby rose up and he gave her a kick,
Gave her a kick, gave her a kick.
And the poor old woman went hipperty hop,
Hipperty hop, hipperty hop;
And the poor old woman went hipperty hop,
Hipperty hop along.
--Belfast (W. H. Patterson).
XII. There was an old woman we buried her here,
Buried her here, buried her here;
There was an old woman we buried her here,
He--ho! buried her here.
--Sporle, Norfolk (Miss Matthews).
(_b_) A ring is formed by children joining hands; one child, who
represents Sir Roger, lays down on the ground in the centre of the ring
with his head covered with a handkerchief. The ring stands still and
sings the verses. When the second verse is begun, a child from the ring
goes into the centre and stands by Sir Roger, to represent the apple
tree. At the fourth verse another child goes into the ring, and pretends
to pick up the fallen apples. Then the child personating Sir Roger jumps
up and knocks the child personating the old woman, beating her out of
the ring. She goes off hobbling on one foot, and pretending to be hurt.
In the Ordsall game the children dance round when singing the verses
instead of standing still, the action of the game being the same. In the
Tong version, the action seems to be done by the ring. Miss Burne says
the children go through various movements, finally all limping round.
The Newark (Notts), and Bath versions are played as first described,
Poor Roger being covered with a cloak, or an apron, and laying down in
the middle of the ring. A Southampton version has additional
features--the ring of children keep their arms crossed, and lay their
hands on their chests, bending their heads and bodies backwards and
forwards, in a mourning attitude, while they sing; in addition to which,
in the Bath version, the child who personates the apple tree during the
singing of the third verse raises her arms above her head, and then lets
them drop to her sides to show the falling apples.
(_c_) Various as the game-rhymes are in word detail, they are
practically the same in incident. One remarkable feature stands out
particularly, namely, the planting a tree over the head of the dead, and
the spirit-connection which this tree has with the dead. The robbery of
the fruit brings back the dead Sir Roger to protect it, and this must be
his ghost or spirit. In popular superstition this incident is not
uncommon. Thus Aubrey in his _Remains of Gentilisme_, notes that "in the
parish of Ockley some graves have rose trees planted at the head and
feet," and then proceeds to say, "They planted a tree or a flower on the
grave of their friend, and they thought the soule of the party deceased
went into the tree or plant" (p. 155). In Scotland a branch falling from
an oak, the Edgewell tree, standing near Dalhousie Castle, portended
mortality to the family (Dalyell, _Darker Superstitions_, p. 504).
Compare with this a similar superstition noted in Carew's _History of
Cornwall_, p. 325, and Mr. Keary's treatment of this cult in his
_Outlines of Primitive Belief_, pp. 66-67. In folk-tales this incident
also appears; the spirit of the dead enters the tree and resents robbery
of its fruit, possession of which gives power over the soul or spirit of
the dead.
The game is, therefore, not merely the acting of a funeral, but more
particularly shows the belief that a dead person is cognisant of actions
done by the living, and capable of resenting personal wrongs and
desecration of the grave. It shows clearly the sacredness of the grave;
but what, perhaps to us, is the most interesting feature, is the way in
which the game is played. This clearly shows a survival of the method of
portraying old plays. The ring of children act the part of "chorus," and
relate the incidents of the play. The three actors say nothing, only act
their several parts in dumb show. The raising and lowering of the arms
on the part of the child who plays "apple tree," the quiet of "Old
Roger" until he has to jump up, certainly show the early method of
actors when details were presented by action instead of words. Children
see no absurdity in being a "tree," or a "wall," "apple," or animal.
They simply _are_ these things if the game demands it, and they think
nothing of incongruities.
I do not, of course, suggest that children have preserved in this game
an old play, but I consider that in this and similar games they have
preserved methods of acting and detail (now styled traditional), as
given in an early or childish period of the drama, as for example in the
mumming plays. Traditional methods of acting are discussed by Mr.
Ordish, _Folk-lore_, ii. 334.
Old Soldier
One player personates an old soldier, and begs of all the other players
in turn for left-off garments, or anything else he chooses. The formula
still used at Barnes by children is, "Here comes an old soldier from the
wars [or from town], pray what can you give him?" Another version is--
Here comes an old soldier from Botany Bay,
Have you got anything to give him to-day.
--Liverpool (C. C. Bell).