Your father and mother you must obey;
Love another like sister and brother,
And now young couple, pray kiss together.
--Dublin (Mrs. Lincoln).
(_c_) The children form a ring, joining hands. A child, usually a boy,
stands in the middle. The ring dances round and sings the verses. The
boy in the centre chooses a girl when bidden by the ring. These two then
stand in the centre and kiss each other at the command. The boy then
takes a place in the ring, and the girl remains in the centre and
chooses a boy in her turn. In the Dublin and Isle of Man versions a girl
is first in the centre; in the Manx version (A. W. Moore) the two
children hold hands when in the centre.
(_d_) In the _Traits and Stories of the Irish Peasantry_, Mr. Carleton
gives this game as one of those played by young people of both sexes at
funeral wakes. It is played in the same way as the game now is; boys and
girls stand alternately in a ring holding hands, choosing each other in
turn, and kissing. The other versions do not differ materially from each
other, except that the Lancashire version described by Miss Dendy has
evidently been corrupted quite lately, because a purer form is quoted
from the same county in _Notes and Queries_. The game seems to be one of
the group of marriage games arising from the fact that at any gathering
of people for the purpose of a ceremonial, whether a funeral or a
festival, it was the custom to form matrimonial alliances. The words are
used for kiss-in-the-ring games, and also in some marriage games when
the last player is left without a partner.
Skin the Goatie
One boy takes his stand in an upright position at a wall. Another boy
stoops with his head in the breast of the one standing upright. A third
boy jumps stride-leg on his back, and tries to "crown," _i.e._, put his
hand on the head of the boy at the wall. The boy on whose back he is
tries every means by shifting from side to side, and by throwing up his
back, to prevent him from doing so, and to cast him off. If he succeeds
in doing so, he takes his stand behind the stooping boy in the same
position. Another boy then tries to do the same thing over the two
stooping boys. If he succeeds in crowning the standing boy, he takes his
station at the wall. If not, he takes his stand behind the two stooping
boys. The game goes on till a boy "crowns" the one standing at the
wall.--Banchory (Rev. W. Gregor).
See "Saddle the Nag."
Skipping
Strutt says (_Sports_, p. 383), "This amusement is probably very
ancient. Boys often contend for superiority of skill in this game, and
he who passes the rope about most times without interruption is the
conqueror. In the hop season a hop-stem, stripped of its leaves, is used
instead of a rope, and, in my opinion, it is preferable." On Good Friday
on Brighton beach the fisher folk used to play at skipping, six to ten
grown-up people skipping at one rope.
Apart from the ordinary, and probably later way of playing, by one child
holding a rope in both hands, turning it over the head, and either
stepping over it while running, or standing still and jumping until the
feet catch the rope and a trip is made, skipping appears to be performed
in two ways, jumping or stepping across with (1) more or less
complicated movements of the rope and feet, and (2) the ordinary jumping
over a turned rope while chanting rhymes, for the purpose of deciding
whether the players are to be married or single, occupation of future
husband, &c.
Of the first class of game there are the following variants:--
"Pepper, salt, mustard, cider, vinegar."--Two girls turn the rope slowly
at first, repeating the above words, then they turn it as quickly as
possible until the skipper is tired out, or trips.
"Rock the Cradle."--In this the holders of the rope do not throw it
completely over, but swing it from side to side with an even motion like
the swinging of the pendulum of a clock.
"Chase the Fox."--One girl is chosen as a leader, or fox. The first runs
through the rope, as it is turned towards her, without skipping; the
others all follow her; then she runs through from the other side as the
rope is turned from her, and the others follow. Then she runs in and
jumps or skips once, and the others follow suit; then she skips twice
and runs out, then three times, the others all following in turn until
one trips or fails. The first one to do this takes the place of one of
the turners, the turner taking her place as one of the skippers.
"Visiting."--One girl turns the rope over herself, and another jumps in
and faces her, while skipping in time with the girl she visits. She then
runs out again without stopping the rope, and another girl runs in.
"Begging."--Two girls turn, and two others run and skip together side by
side. While still skipping they change places; one says, as she passes,
"Give me some bread and butter;" the other answering, "Try my next door
neighbour." This is continued until one trips.
"Winding the Clock."--Two turn the rope, and the skipper counts one,
two, three, up to twelve, turning round each time she jumps or skips.
"Baking Bread."--Two girls turn, and another runs in with a stone in her
hand, which she puts down on the ground, and picks up again while
skipping.
"The Ladder."--The girls run in to skip, first on one foot and then the
other, with a stepping motion.
Two other games are as follows:--(1.) Two ropes are used, and a girl
holds either end in each hand, turning them alternately; the skipper has
to jump or skip over each in turn. When the rope is turned inwards, it
is called "double dutch," when turned outwards, "French dutch." (2.) The
skipper has a short rope which she turns over herself, while two other
girls turn a longer rope over her head.
The second class of games consists of those cases where the skipping is
accompanied by rhymes, and is used for the purpose of foretelling the
future destiny of the skipper. These rhymes are as follows (all
collected by Miss Chase):--
Ipsey, Pipsey, tell me true
Who shall I be married to?
A, B, C, &c.
Letters--initial of one to whom you'll be married.--Hurstmonceux,
Sussex.
Half pound tuppeny rice,
Half a pound of treacle,
Penny 'orth of spice
To make it nice,
Pop goes the weazle.
--Crockham Hill, Kent.
When I was young and able,
I sat upon the table;
The table broke,
And gave me a poke,
When I was young and able.
[The children now add that when singing
Pass the baker,[8]
Cook the tater,
is the full couplet.]--Deptford.
Every morning at eight o'clock,
You all may hear the postman's knock.
1, 2, 3, 4. There goes "Polly."
Girl named running out, and another girl running in
directly.--Marylebone.
Up and down the ladder wall,
Ha'penny loaf to feed us all;
A bit for you, and a bit for me,
And a bit for Punch and Judy.
--Paddington Green.
As they run thus, each calls in turn, "Red, yellow, blue, white." Where
you are tripped, the colour stopped on marks that of your wedding
gown.--Deptford.
Each of the two girls turning the rope takes a colour, and as the line
of children run through, they guess by shouting, "Red?" "Green?" When
wrong nothing happens; they take the place of turner, however, if they
hit upon her colour. Another way is to call it "Sweet stuff shop," or
"green grocers," and guess various candies and fruits until they choose
right.--Deptford.
When several girls start running in to skip, they say,
"All in, a bottle of gin,"
and as they leave at a dash, they cry--
"All out, a bottle of stout."
While "in" jumping, the turners time the skippers' movements by a sing
song.
Up and down the city wall,
Ha'penny loaf to feed us all;
I buy milk, you buy flour,
You shall have _pepper_ in half an hour.
--Deptford.
At pepper turn swiftly.
Up and down the ladder wall,
Penny loaf to feed us all;
A bit for you, and a bit for me,
And a bit for all the familee.
--Marylebone.
Up and down the city wall,
In and out "The Eagle,"
That's the way the money goes,
Pop goes the weazel.
--From "A London Maid."
Dancing Dolly had no sense,
For to fiddle for eighteenpence;
All the tunes that she could play,
Were "Sally get out of the donkey's way."
--Deptford.
My mother said
That the rope must go
Over my head.
--Deptford.
Andy Pandy,
Sugardy candy,
French almond
Rock.
--Deptford.
B-L-E-S-S-I-N-G.
Roses red, roses white,
Roses in my garden;
I would not part
With my sweetheart
For tuppence hapenny farthing.
A, B, C, &c., to X, Y, Z.--Deptford.
Knife and fork,
Lay the cloth,[9]
Don't forget the salt,
Mustard, vinegar,
Pepper!
--Deptford.
They sometimes make a girl skip back and forth the long way of the rope,
using this dialogue--
Girl skipping.--"Father, give me the key."
Father.--"Go to your mother."
Girl jumping in opposite direction.--"Mother, give me the key."
Mother.--"Go to your father."
Lady, lady, drop your handkerchief,
Lady, lady, pick it up.
Suiting action to the words, still skipping.
Rhyme to time the jumps--
Cups and saucers,
Plates and dishes,
My old man wears
Calico breeches.
[8] To change from left to right side, crossing a second skipper, is
called "Pass the Baker."
[9] In Marylebone add here, "Bring me up a leg of pork."
Skyte the Bob
This game might be played by two, three, or more. A small stone of a
squarish form, called the "bob," was placed on a level piece of ground.
On this stone each player placed an old button, for buttons were the
stakes. A point was fixed several yards from the stone, and a line was
drawn. Along this line, "the stance," the players took their stand, each
holding in his hand a small flat stone named "the pitcher." This stone
was thrown so as to strike "the bob" and make the buttons fall on "the
pitcher," or nearer it than "the bob." The button or buttons that lay
nearer "the pitcher" than "the bob" fell to the lot of the player. The
second player did the same, but he had to guard against driving any of
the buttons nearer the first player's stone. If a button was nearer his
stone than "the bob," or the first player's stone, he claimed it. The
third player followed the same course if all the buttons had not been
won by the two players. If the buttons were not all won at the first
throw, the first player had a second chance, and so on till all the
buttons were won. If two played, if each won a button, they alternately
began, but if one gained the two buttons, the other began. When three
played, if one had two for his share he played last in the following
game, and the one that had nothing played first. If the players, when
three played, were experts, the one whose lot it was to play second, who
was called the "poust," lost heavily, and to be "pousted" was always
looked upon as a misfortune, for the reason that the first player often
by the first throw gained the whole stake, and then in the following
game the last player became the first, and the gainer in the foregoing
game became the last. If this player carried off the whole stake, he in
the next game took the last place, and the last took the first, and so
between the two good players the "poust" had no chance.--Aberdeenshire
(Rev. W. Gregor).--See "Buttons."
Smuggle the Gig
Mr. Ballantyne describes the game as played in his young days at Biggar
as follows:--Two boys would each select his own side. "First pick" was
decided by lot. A third boy took two straws, one shorter than the other,
and held them between his finger and thumb in such a way that only
equal lengths were visible. Each leader drew a straw. The one who drew
the longest had "first pick" of all the intended players, the other
leader had the next; alternate choice was then made by them until both
sides were complete, and were ranged by their leaders. Then lots were
again drawn as to which side should go out first. The side going out had
to show the Gig; anything easily carried in the hand sufficed. The
"outs" went out from the den twenty or thirty yards, sometimes round the
end of a house, to "smuggle the Gig"--that is, to give one of their
number the Gig to carry, care being taken that the "ins" did not know
who had it. During this time the leader of the ins called "out" in a
loud voice--
Zimerie, twaerie, hickeri seeven,
Aucherie, daucherie, ten and eleven;
Twall ran musha dan
Tweedledum, twadledum, twenty-one. Time's up!
Outs had all to appear by "Ready" when the chase began. Boundary limits
were fixed, beyond which outs could not run and ins could not stand,
within a fixed distance of the den. This den was a place marked by a
mark or rut in the ground, about four feet by six feet. The outs
endeavoured (particularly the one carrying the Gig) to get into the den
before any one could catch and "crown" him. The pursued, when caught,
was held by the pursuer, his cap taken off, and the palm of the hand was
placed on the crown of his head. As he did so the pursuer would say,
"Deliver up the Gig." If he had it not, the pursuer went off after
another player. If he had the Gig, and succeeded in getting into the den
without being "crowned," outs won the game; but if the Gig was caught
and "crowned," ins won.
At Fraserburgh the players are divided equally. A spot is marked off,
called the Nestie. Any small object known to all is chosen as the Gig.
One half of the players receive the Gig and retire, so as not to be seen
distinctly by the other half that remains in and near the Nestie. The
Gig is concealed on the person of one of the players that retire. When
everything is ready those having the Gig move towards the Nestie, and
those in the Nestie come to meet them. The aim is to catch the player
who has the Gig before reaching the Nestie. If this is done the same
players again hide the Gig, but if the Gig is discovered, the players
discovering it now hide it.
At Old Aberdeen sides are chosen, then a small article (such as a knife)
is made the _gig_. Then one side, determined by a toss, goes out and
smuggles the gig and cries out, "Smuggle the gig." Then the other side
rushes in and tries to catch the one that has the "gig." If the one that
has the gig is free, the same side goes out again.--Rev. W. Gregor.
See "Gegg."
Snail Creep
In Mid-Cornwall, in the second week of June, at St. Roche, and in one or
two adjacent parishes, a curious dance is performed at their annual
"feasts." It enjoys the rather undignified name of "Snail Creep," but
would be more properly called the "Serpent's Coil." The following is
scarcely a perfect description of it:--"The young people being all
assembled in a large meadow, the village band strikes up a simple but
lively air and marches forward, followed by the whole assemblage,
leading hand-in-hand (or more closely linked in case of engaged
couples), the whole keeping time to the tune with a lively step. The
band, or head of the serpent, keeps marching in an ever-narrowing
circle, whilst its train of dancing followers becomes coiled around it
in circle after circle. It is now that the most interesting part of the
dance commences, for the band, taking a sharp turn about, begins to
retrace the circle, still followed as before, and a number of young men,
with long leafy branches in their hands as standards, direct this
counter movement with almost military precision."--W. C. Wade (_Western
Antiquary_, April 1881).
A game similar to the above dance is often played by Sunday school
children in West Cornwall, at their out-of-door summer treats, called by
them "Roll tobacco." They join hands in one long line, the taller
children at their head. The first child stands still, whilst the others
in ever-narrowing circles dance around singing until they are coiled
into a tight mass. The outer coil then wheels sharply in a contrary
direction, followed by the remainder, retracing their steps.--Courtney's
_Cornish Feasts and Folk-lore_, p. 39. A Scottish game, "Row Chow
Tobacco," described by Jamieson, is played in the same way, the boy at
the extremity being called the "Pin." A clamorous noise succeeds
the "winding up," the players crying out "Row Chow Tobacco" while
giving and receiving the fraternal hug. The words are pronounced
Rowity-chowity-bacco. The naming of this game in connection with tobacco
is curious. It is undoubtedly the same as "Snail Creep." I am inclined
to think that all these games are connected with an ancient form of
Tree-worship, and that the analogy of tobacco-rolling is quite modern.
See "Bulliheisle," "Eller Tree," "Tuilyie-waps," "Wind up the Bush
Faggot."
Snapping Tongs
See "Musical Chairs."
Snatch Apple
A game similar to "Bob Cherry," but played with an apple.--Halliwell's
_Dictionary_.
Snatch Hood
An undescribed boy's game mentioned in a statute of Edward III.'s
time.--Halliwell's _Dictionary_.
Soldier
I am an old soldier, I come from the war,
Come from the war;
I am an old soldier, I come from the war,
And my age it is sixty-and-three.
I have but one son and he lies alone, lies alone,
I have but one son and he lies alone;
And he's still making moan for lying alone.
Son, go choose a wife of your own,
Choose a good one or else choose none,
Or bring none home to me.
Now they're got married, they're bound to obey,
Bound to obey in every degree;
And as you go round kiss all but me.
--Belfast, Ireland (W. H. Patterson).
The players form a ring and sing the first three verses. Then one of the
players chooses a girl from the ring. The first three verses are again
sung until the whole ring is arranged in couples; then the first couple
kneels in the middle, and the rest dance round them singing the marriage
formula; then the second couple, and so on, each couple kissing.
Solomon
The players knelt in a line; the one at the head, in a very solemn tone,
chaunted, "Solomon had a great dog;" the others answered in the same
way, "Just so" (this was always the refrain). Then the first speaker
made two or three more ridiculous speeches, ending with, "And at last
this great dog died, and fell down," giving at the same time a violent
lurch against his next neighbour, who, not expecting it, fell against
his, and so on, to the end of the line.--Cornwall (_Folk-lore Journal_,
v. 50).
See "Obadiah," "Quaker's Wedding."
Sort'em-billyort'em
A Lancashire game, very similar to "Hot Peas and Bacon."--Halliwell's
_Dictionary_.
Sow-in-the-Kirk
A large hole is made in the ground, surrounded by smaller ones,
according to the number of the players, every one of whom has a shintie,
or hooked stick. The middle hole is called the kirk. He who takes the
lead in the game is called the sow-driver. His object is to drive a
small piece of wood or bone, called the sow, into the large hole or
kirk; while that of his opponents, every one of whom keeps his shintie
in one of the smaller holes, is to frustrate his exertions by driving
back the sow. If he succeeds, either in knocking it into one of the
small holes, while one of his antagonists is in the act of striking it
back, he is released from the drudgery of being driver. In the latter
case, the person whose vacancy he has occupied takes the servile station
which he formerly held.--Lothian (Jamieson). This is said to be the same
game with "Church and Mice" in Fife. Jamieson's description is not very
lucid. It appears that each player must hold his shintie with its end in
his hole, and it is only when he takes it out to prevent the sow-driver
getting his sow into or towards the kirk, that the sow-driver has the
chance of putting the sow into the player's hole, and so causing that
player to take the place of sow-driver.
See "Kirk the Gussie."
Span Counter
A common game among boys. "You shall finde me playing at Span
Counter."--Dekker's _Northward Hoe_. Toone, _Etymological Dictionary_,
mentions this as a juvenile game played with counters.
Boys shall not play
At span counter or blow pipe.
--Donne (_Satire_ iv.).
Dr. Grosart, in noting this passage, says, "I rather think the game is
still played by boys when they directly, or by rebound, endeavour to
play their button or marble into a hole." Strutt briefly notes the game
as being similar to "Boss Out."--_Sports_, p. 384. Halliwell
(_Dictionary_) simply gives the quotation from Donne's Poems, p. 131,
mentioning the game.
See "Boss Out."
Spang and Purley
A mode resorted to by boys of measuring distances, particularly at the
game of marbles. It means a space and something more.--Brockett's _North
Country Words_.
Spangie
A game played by boys with marbles or halfpence. A marble or halfpenny
is struck against the wall. If the second player can bring his so near
that of his antagonist as to include both within a _span_, he claims
both as his.--Jamieson.
This is the same game as "Banger," "Boss Out." Probably the Old English
game of "Span Counter," or "Span Farthing," was originally the
same.--See Johnson's _Dictionary_.
Spannims
A game at marbles played in the eastern parts of England.--Halliwell's
_Dictionary_.
Spawnie
The same game as "Spangie."--Keith (Rev. W. Gregor).
Spinny-Wye
The name of a game among children at Newcastle-upon-Tyne. I suspect this
is nearly the same with "Hide and Seek." "I spye" is the usual
exclamation at a childish game called "Hie, spy, hie."--Brand, ii. 442.
Splints
A game at marbles, in which they are dropped from the hand in
heaps.--Easther's _Almondbury Glossary_.
Spurn point
An old game (undescribed) mentioned in the play _Apollo Shroving_,
London, 1627, p. 49.
Spy-arm
A game of Hide-and-Seek, with this difference, that when those are found
who are hid the finder cries Spy-arm; and if the one discovered can
catch the discoverer, he has a ride upon his back to the
dools.--Mactaggart's _Gallovidian Encyclopædia_.
See "Hide and Seek" (1).
Stacks
A stack in the centre of the stackyard was selected, and round a part of
one side a rut was marked in the earth usually by the toe-bit of the
ploughman's boot. This enclosure, not over four feet wide at the
broadest part, was called the den. One of the players, selected to be
the catcher, stood within this den, and when all the players were ready
turned his face to the stack, and counted out loud the numerals from one
to twenty, the last with a great shout. During the count the players ran
round the stacks out of sight, but no hiding nor leaving the stackyard,
this was "not fair." When twenty was heard one would shout back "Ready!"
Then out came the catcher. He was not permitted to stand in or near the
den, but went out among the stacks and caught as many players as he
could before they reached the den. The great aim of those "out" was to
get into the den unseen and untouched. If all the players got in, then
the catcher had to try again; but when all were caught (which was seldom
or never), the last one caught was catcher for the next game. When one
player was touched by the catcher he or she had to remain in the den
till the rest were all in.--Biggar (Wm. Ballantyne).
Mr. Ballantyne says, "This game usually ended in a promiscuous
'catching' and 'touching' game, each lad trying to catch the lass he
liked best, and some lads, for the fun of the thing, would try and get a
particular girl first, her wishes and will not being considered in the
matter; and it seemed to be an unwritten law among them for the lass to
'gang wi' the lad that catched her first,' yet I have known lassies take
this opportunity to favour the lad they preferred. It was the correct
thing for the people to visit each other's farms in rotation to play
'the stacks.'" This game was played when all the crops of grain were in
the stackyard under thack and rape (?nape). Then it was customary for
the servant lads and lasses of neighbours' "ferm toons" to gather
together and play at this game. Mr. Ballantyne considers it was the
third of three festivals formerly held at the ingathering of the crops.
See "Barley Break."
Stag
A boys' game. One boy issues forth and tries to "tig" another,
previously saying this nominy, or the first two lines--
Stag, stag arony,
Ma' dog's bony,
Them 'at Aw catch
'Ill ha' to go wi' me.
When one boy is tigged (or "tug") the two issue forth hand in hand, and
when more, all hand in hand. The other players have the privilege of
breaking the chain, and if they succeed the parties forming it are
liable to be ridden back to the den. At Lepton, where the game was
publicly played, the boundaries were "Billy tour end, Penny Haas end,
and I' Horsin step." So played in 1810, and is still.--Easther's
_Almondbury Glossary_.