other players join hands and form a circle round the lamb. The wolf
tries to break through the circle, and carry off the lamb. Those in the
circle do all they can to prevent the wolf from entering within the
circle. If he manages to enter the circle and seize the lamb, then other
two are chosen, and the same process is gone through till all have got a
chance of being the lamb and wolf. This game evidently represents a lamb
enclosed in a fold, and the attempts of a wolf to break through and
carry it off.
--Fraserburgh, Aberdeen, _April 14, 1892_ (Rev. W. Gregor).
Would you know how doth the Peasant
[Music]
--Monton, Lancashire (Miss Dendy).
I. Would you know how doth the peasant?
Would you know how doth the peasant?
Would you know how doth the peasant
Sow his barley and wheat!
And it's so, so, doth the peasant,
And it's so, so, doth the peasant,
And it's so, so, doth the peasant
Sow his barley and wheat!
Would you know how doth the peasant, &c.,
Reap his barley and wheat?
It is so, so, doth the peasant, &c.,
Reap his barley and wheat!
Would you know how doth the peasant, &c.,
Thresh his barley and wheat?
It is so, so, doth the peasant, &c.,
Thresh his barley and wheat!
Would you know how doth the peasant, &c.,
When the seed time is o'er?
It is so, so, doth the peasant, &c.,
When the seed time is o'er!
Would you know how doth the peasant, &c.,
When his labour is done?
It is so, so, doth the peasant, &c.,
When his labour is done!
And it's so, so, doth the peasant,
And it's so, so, doth the peasant,
And it's so, so, doth the peasant,
When his labour is o'er.
--Monton, Lancashire (Miss Dendy).
II. It is so, so, does the peasant [or, farmer],
It is so, so, does the peasant,
It is so, so, does the peasant,
When sowing times come.
It is so, so, does the peasant, &c.,
When reaping time comes.
It is so, so does the peasant, &c.,
When his threshing times comes.
It is so, so, does the peasant, &c.,
When the hunting's begun.
It is so, so does the peasant, &c.,
When the day's work is done.
--Frodingham, Lincoln and Notts (Miss M. Peacock).
(_c_) The leader of this game stands in the middle, the players stand in
a ring round him; when there are a sufficient number of players, several
rings are formed one within the other, the smallest children in the
inner ring. The different rings move in alternate directions when
dancing round. All the children sing the words of each verse and dance
round. They unclasp hands at the end of each alternate verse, and suit
their actions to the words sung. At the end of the first verse they
stand still, crook their arms as if holding a basket, and imitate action
of sowing while they sing the second verse; they then all dance round
while they sing the third, then stand still again and imitate reaping
while they sing the fourth time. Then again dance and sing, stand still
and imitate "thrashing" of barley and wheat; after "seed time is o'er,"
they drop on one knee and lift one hand as if in prayer, again dancing
round and singing. Then they kneel on one knee, put their hands
together, lay their left cheek on them, and close their eyes as if
asleep; while singing, "when his labour is o'er," at the last verse,
they all march round, clapping hands in time.
This is the Monton game. The Frodingham game is played in the same way,
except that the children walk round in a circle, one behind another,
when they sing and imitate the actions they mention. "When the hunting's
begun" they all run about as if on horseback; "when the day's work is
done," they all kneel on one knee and rest their heads on their hands.
This game is evidently a survival of the custom of dancing, and of
imitating the actions necessary for the sowing and reaping of grain
which were customary at one time. Miss Dendy says--"It is an undoubtedly
old Lancashire game. It is sometimes played by as many as a hundred
players, and is then very pretty. The method of playing varies slightly,
but it is generally as described above." The fact that this game was
played by such a large number of young people together, points
conclusively to a time when it was a customary thing for all the people
in one village to play this game as a kind of religious observance, to
bring a blessing on the work of the season, believing that by doing so,
they caused the crops to grow better and produce grain in abundance.
See "Oats and Beans and Barley."
ADDENDA
A' the Birdies. [See "All the Birds," vol. i. p. 2; "Oranges and
Lemons," vol. ii. pp. 25-35.]
A' the birdies i' the air
Tick tae to my tail.
A contest game of the oranges and lemons class. Two players, who hold
hands and form the arch, call out the formula, and the other players,
who are running about indifferently, go one by one to them and decide,
when asked, which side they will favour, and stand behind one or the
other.
After the tug the side which has lost is called "Rotten eggs, rotten
eggs."--Aberdeen (Rev. Dr. Gregor).
All the Boys. [Vol. i. pp. 2-6.]
Two versions of this game, one from Howth and another from St. Andrews,
sent me by Miss H. E. Harvey, do not differ sufficiently from the
versions i. and ii. printed as above to be given here in full.
The St. Andrews game, after the line,
"I love you, and you love me"
(as printed in vol. i. version ii.), continues--
When we get married, I hope you will agree,
I'll buy the chest of drawers, you'll buy the cradle.
Rock, rock, bubbly-jock,
Send her upstairs, lay her in her bed,
Send for the doctor before she is dead.
In comes the doctor and out goes the clerk,
In comes the mannie with the sugarally hat.
Oh, says the doctor, what's the matter here?
Oh, says Johnny, I'm like to lose my dear.
Oh, says the doctor, nae fear o' that.
American Post.
One player of a party acts as post and leaves the room. When he is
outside he knocks at the door. Another player, who is the doorkeeper
(inside), calls out, "Who's there?" The reply is, "American post." "What
with?" "A letter." "For whom?" The name of one of the players in the
room is given by the post. The one named then must go outside, and kiss
the post, and in turn becomes post.--Fraserburgh (Rev. Dr. Gregor).
This, sometimes called "Postman," is now more generally played as a
penalty when forfeits are being performed. The player whose penalty it
is, is the first one to be "post." Postage is demanded, the amount being
paid by kisses.
As I was Walking.
The players, usually girls, stand in line up to a wall. One in front
sings, going backwards and forwards.
As I was walking down a hill, down a hill, down a hill,
As I was walking down a hill,
Upon a frosty morning.
Who do you think I met coming down, coming down, &c.,
Who do you think I met, &c.
She then chooses one from the line and both sing:--
I met my true love coming down, &c.
He gave me kisses, one, two, three (clap hands),
Upon a frosty morning.--Cullen (Rev. Dr. Gregor).
Auld Grannie. [A version of "Hen and Chickens," vol. i. pp. 201, 202.]
Here a variation of dialogue occurs. The game is played as previous Hen
and Chicken games. The Hen says--
What are ye scrapin' for?
Auld grannie says--
A darning needle?
What are ye going to do with the darning needle?
Mak a poke.
What to do with the poke?
To gang to the peat moss to get some peats.
What for?
To make a fire, to make some tea, to pour over your wee chickens.
Auld grannie rushes at them, and pretends to throw the water over them.
When she has caught some players, and the sides are about equal in
strength, the game ends in a tug of war.--Dalry, Galloway (J. G.
Carter.)
Another, called "Grannie's Needle," has a slightly different parley.
What are you looking for, granny?
My granny's needle.
What are you going to do with the needle, granny?
To make a bag.
And what are you going to do with the bag, granny?
To gather sand.
What are you going to do with the sand, granny?
To sharpen knives.
And what are you going to do with the knives, granny?
To cut off your chickens' heads.
--Belfast (W. H. Patterson).
Ball. [Pots, vol. ii. p. 64.]
1. Throw the ball up against a wall three times and catch it.
2. Throw it up and clap hands three times before catching it.
3. Throw it up and put your hands round in a circle.
4. Throw it up and clap your hands before and behind.
5. Throw it up and clap and touch your shoulder.
6. Throw it up and clap and touch your other shoulder.
7. Throw it up three times with your right hand and catch it with your
right.
8. Throw it up with your left and catch it with your left.
9. Throw it up with your right and catch it with your right, dog snack
fashion (_i.e._ as a dog snacks, knuckles up).
10. Throw it up with your left and catch it with your left (dog snack).
11. Throw it up and clap and touch your knee.
12. Throw it up and clap and touch your other knee.
13. Throw it up and turn round.
These actions should each be performed three times.--Laurieston School,
Kircudbrightshire (J. Lawson).
This is a more complete version of "Pots."
Another game is--
One girl takes a ball, strikes it on the ground, and keeps pushing it
down with her hand. While she is doing this, the other players stand
beside her, and keeping unison with the ball, repeat--
Game, game, ba' ba',
Twenty lasses in a raw,
Nae a lad amon them a'
Bits game, game, ba', ba'.
If the girl keeps the ball dancing up and down--"stottin'" during the
time the words are being repeated, it counts one game gained. She goes
on "stottin'" the ball, and the others go on repeating the words till
she allows the ball to escape from her control.--Fraserburgh (Rev. Dr.
Gregor); Dalry, Galloway (J. G. Carter).
Another rhyme for a ball game is--
Little wee laddie, foo's yer daidie?
New come oot o' a basket shadie.
A basket shadie's ower full,
New come oot o' a roarin' bull.
A roarin bull's ower fat,
New come oot o' a gentleman's hat.
A gentleman's hat's ower fine,
New come oot o' a bottle o' wine.
A bottle o' wine is ower reid,
New come oot o' a crust o' breid.
A crust o' breid is ower broon,
New come oot o' a half-a-croon.
A half-a-croon is ower little,
New come oot o' a weaver's shuttle.
A weaver's shuttle's ower holey,
New come oot o' a paint pottie,
Game, game, game, game, game!
--Rev. Dr. Gregor.
Bannockburn. [See Fool, Fool, come to school, vol. i. p. 132.]
Played as "Fool" with these differences. The namer cries to the fool in
the same formula as the Sussex version (vol. i. p. 133). The fool,
called here "Bannockburn," says, "Are ye it?" to each player pointing to
them in turn. When she points at the correct one that player runs off.
Bannockburn runs after and tries to catch her. If the first runner can
get back into the row untouched she gets renamed, if caught she has to
take Bannockburn's place.
During the naming, Bannockburn tries to overhear the names given. But
when noticed coming near, those being named, cry "Bannockburn away dune
the sea."--Dalry, Galloway (J. G. Carter).
Black Doggie.
[see Drop Handkerchief, vol. i. 109-112.]
A form of Drop Handkerchief differing from those versions previously
given.
The players join hands, form a circle and stretch out as far as each
one's arms will allow. One player is outside the ring. When she sees
they can stretch no further she cries out "Break," when they all loose
hands and stand as far apart as possible. The player outside then goes
round the ring singing, "I have a black doggie, but it winna' bite you,
nor you, nor you," until she comes to one whom she chooses; she then
throws the handkerchief down on the ground behind this one quietly. If
this player does not notice the handkerchief, not one in the circle must
tell her, or they are "out." The player who dropped the handkerchief
walks round until she comes again to the one behind whom she dropped it.
She picks it up and tells her she is "burnt." Then this player has to
stoop down on her knees and is out of the game. Should the selected
player notice the handkerchief, she picks it up and pursues the other
round and through the ring, following wherever the first one leads until
she catches her; they then change places; should she not follow the
exact way the first player went, she too is out and must go down on her
knees.--Rosehearty (Rev. Dr. Gregor).
Another version from Fraserburgh says that the players may either join
hands in a ring or sit upon the ground on their knees. The outside
player goes round the circle three times, first saying "Black Doggie
winna tack you, nor you." Then she goes round again and drops the
handkerchief behind any one she pleases. She then runs and is pursued
until caught, the other child following Black Doggie in and out wherever
she goes.
Bonnet Ridgie.
["Scots and English," vol. ii. pp. 183-184.]
Players are chosen alternately by two chiefs. The line is drawn between
the two sides, and the caps of each side are placed on the ground at
each of the ends. When the two sides are ranged, the players try to
catch and pull each other across the line. If one is pulled across he is
called a "slink," and must stand till he is set at liberty by one of his
own side crossing the line and touching him. If this one manages to
touch him before he is crowned, _i.e._, has the crown of his head
touched by one of his opponents, and if he is able to regain his own
side before the same operation takes place, both are free. Each player
watches an opportunity to gather up the caps of the opposing side. If
one is clever and swift enough to reach the caps and gather them all
before he is crowned, his side wins.--Dyke School (Rev. Dr. Gregor.)
Button, The.
["Diamond Ring," vol. i. p. 96; "Forfeits," p. 137; "Wads and the
Wears," vol. ii. pp. 327-8.]
Played as "Diamond Ring," except that all sit round the fire, one man
takes a button, puts it between his two hands, and goes round to each of
the other players, who have their two hands held out, palms together,
saying, "Don't tell what you got," and quietly dropping the button into
one player's hands. He then asks the first man, saying, "Who has the
button?" One player is named. The master of the game says then "What
forfeit will you give me that he has it?" The player gives a forfeit. So
on all round, every one guessing and giving a forfeit (including he who
holds the button, who, of course, keeps his secret). When all the
forfeits are in the master says, "Button, button, show, and let all
fools know;" then those who have guessed right receive back their
forfeits. The holder of the button then kneels down to deliver sentences
on the others. The master takes a forfeit and holds it over the
kneeler's head, saying, "Fine, fine, superfine, what's the owner of this
fine thing of [gentleman's or lady's] wear to do?" The man kneeling
gives a sentence, such as--to take the broom, ride it three times round
the room, and each time kiss the crook hanging in the chimney--and so
on.
If a man refuses to perform his sentence he is made to kneel down, and
everything that can be got hold of is piled on his back.--Kiltubbrid,
Co. Leitrim (L. L. Duncan).
Canlie.
[See "Tom Tiddler's Ground," vol. ii. p. 298.]
Name for "Friar's Ground," in Co. Cork. "Canlie" is the Friar. The game
is played as at Chirbury.--Co. Cork (Mrs. B. B. Greene).
Carry my Lady to London.
[Vol. i. p. 59.]
Carry a lady to London town,
London town, London town;
London town's a bonny place,
It's a' covered o'er in gold and lace.
Or--
Carry a lady to London town,
London town, London town;
Carry a lady to London town
Upon a summer's day.
Another rhyme for "Carry my Lady to London," and played in the same
way.--Galloway, N. B. (J. G. Carter).
Cat and Dog Hole.
[Vol. i. p. 63; "Tip-cat," vol. ii. p. 294.]
Two versions of this, differing somewhat from those given previously.
(1.) Played by two players. A hole is dug in the ground, and one player
with a "catch-brod" stands in a stooping attitude in front of it, about
a foot and a-half away, placing one end of the "catch-brod" on the
ground. The other player goes to a distance of some yards, to a fixed
point called "the stance." From here he throws a ball, intending to
land it in the hole. The other player's object is to prevent this by
hitting it away with his "catch-brod." If the bowler succeeds they
change places.
(2.) This also is played by two players, and in the same way, except
that a stone is substituted for the hole, and the bowler's object is to
strike the stone with the ball. Sometimes it is played with three
players, then running is allowed. When the ball is hit the batter tries
to run to the "stance" and back, the bowler or the third player then
tries to hit the "stance" with the ball while the batter is away making
the run. If the third player can catch the ball before it touches the
ground he tries to hit the stone with it, thus sending the batter
out.--Keith (Rev. Dr. Gregor).
Catch the Salmond.
Two boys take each the end of a piece of rope, and give chase to a third
till they contrive to get the rope round him. They then pull him hither
and thither in all directions.
--Banchory (Rev. Dr. Gregor).
Evidently an imitation of net-fishing.
Chicken come Clock. [See "Fox and Goose," "Hen and Chicken," vol. i. pp.
139-141, 201; vol. ii. p. 404.]
The children, boys and girls, squat down and take hold of hands, going
round, and saying--
Chicken come clock around the rock,
Looram, lorram, lumber lock.
Five mile and one o'clock,
Now the thief is coming.
In comes Tod with his long rod,
And vanishes all from victim vad.
It is, it was, it must be done,
Tiddlum, toddlum, twenty-one.
Johnny, my dear, will you give me the loan of your spear,
Till I fight for one of those Kildares,
With a hickety, pickety pie.
At these words one lad, who has been hiding behind a tree, runs in to
catch one of the chickens. As the rhyme is finished, they all run, and
the fox tries to catch one, another player, the old hen, trying to stop
him, the chickens all taking hold of her by the tail.
The fox has to keep on his hands and feet, and the old hen has to keep
"clocking" on her "hunkers."
Some of the children substitute these words for the latter part of the
above:--
The crow's awake, the kite's asleep,
It's time for my poor chickens
To get a bit of something to eat--
What time is it, old granny?
--Kiltubbrid, Co. Leitrim (L. L. Duncan).
Mr. Duncan says this game has almost died out, and the people were
rather hazy about the words they used to say.
Chippings, or Cheapings.
[See "Tops," vol. ii. pp. 299-303.]
A game with peg tops played by two or more boys. A large button, from
which the shank has been removed, or a round piece of lead about the
size of a penny, is placed on the ground between two agreed goals. The
players divide into sides, each side tries to send the button to
different goals, the tops are spun in the usual way, and then taken up
on the hand while spinning, and allowed to revolve once round the palm
of the hand, and then thrown on the ground on the button in such a way
that the button is projected some distance along the ground. Then a boy
on the opposite side spins his top and tries to hit the button in the
opposite direction. This is continued alternately until one or other
side succeeds in getting the button to the goal.--London Streets (A. B.
Gomme).
Chucks.
[Vol. i. p. 69; also "Five-stones," pp. 122-129, "Huckle-bones," pp.
239-240.]
A rhyme repeated while playing at "Chucks" with five small stones,
lifting one each time.
Sweep the floor, lift a chair,
Sweep below it, and lay it down.
Cream the milk, cream the milk,
Quick, quick, quick,
Spread a piece and butter on it thick, thick, thick.
--Perth (Rev. Dr. Gregor).
Churning.
Churn the butter-milk, quick, quick, quick,
I owe my mother a pint of milk.
This game used to be played on the shore, just as the tide went out,
when the feet sank easily into the sand. The children turned half-way
round as they repeated the words.--Isle of Man (A. W. Moore).
Codham, or Cobhams.
["Tip it," vol. ii. p. 292.]
A game resembling "Tip it," and a better form of the game. The parties
are decided by a toss up. The object is passed from hand to hand under
the table, until the leader of the opposite side calls out "up" or
"rise." When all the closed hands are on the table, the leader orders
any hands off which he thinks do not contain the object. If the last
hand left on the table contains the object the sides change places, if
not the same sides repeat, twelve successful guesses making "game," each
failure counting one to the opposite side. The game is called "Up
Jenkins" in the North of Scotland. The words have to be called out when
the hands are called to show. Another name is "Cudlums;" this word was
called out when the leader pointed to the hand which he believed held
the object.--Bedford (Mrs. A. C. Haddon).
Colley Ball.
["Monday," vol. i. p. 389.]
The same game as "Monday," with this difference. The player who first
throws the ball against the wall calls out the name of the child he
wishes to catch it, saying "A---- B----, no rakes, no better ball." If
the ball goes on the ground the one called has to snatch the ball up and
throw it at one of the retreating children.--Hemsby, Norfolk (Mrs. A. C.
Haddon).
Also sent me from Isle of Man (A. W. Moore), where it is called
"Hommer-the-let."
Dan'l my Man.
["Jack's Alive," vol. i. p. 257.]
A little slip of wood or straw is lit and blown out, and while it is red
it is passed round from one to another, each man repeating as fast as he
can--
Dan'l, my man,
If ye die in my han',
The straddle and mat is sure to go on.
The man in whose hand the spark dies has to go down on his knees. A
chair, or some other article, is held over him, and he has to guess what
it is, the others crying out--
Trum,[15] trum, what's over your head?
If he is wrong it is left on him and another article brought, and so
on.--Kiltubbrid, Co. Leitrim (L. L. Duncan).
[15] "Trum" is for the Irish "trom," = heavy.
Deil amo' the Dishes, The.
["Ghost at the Well," vol. i. p. 149.]
One player acts as mother, and sends off one of the other players (her
daughters) to take a message. She comes back, pretends to be frightened,
and says she can't go, as there's something "chap, chap, chappin'." The
mother sends another daughter with her this time, telling them "It's
only your father's breeks, drap, drap, drappin'." These two return in
the same way, saying again "There's something chap, chap, chappin'."
Another daughter is now sent with the other two, the mother saying "Its
only the ducks, quack, quack, quackin'." They all come back again more
frightened saying the same thing. Then the mother and all the others go
together to see what the matter is. They come upon another player who
has been sitting apart making a noise with a stone. They all cry out
"The deil's amo' the dishes," and there is a great chase.--Aberdeen
(Rev. Dr. Gregor).
Dig for Silver.
Dig for silver, dig for gold,
Dig for the land that I was told.
As I went down by the water side
I met my lad with a tartan plaid.
My wee lad is a jolly sailor,
And shall be for evermore.
(Name of boy) took the notion
To go and sail on the ocean.
He took poor (name of girl) on his knee,
And sailed across Kilmarnock sea.
Stop your weeping, my dear ----,
He'll come back and marry you.
He will buy you beads and earrings,
He will buy you a diamond stone,
He will buy a horse to ride on,
When your true love is dead and gone.
What care I for the beads and earrings,
What care I for the diamond stone,
What care I for the horse to ride on,
When my true love is dead and gone.
--Laurieston School, Kircudbrightshire (J. Lawson).
Another version is--
Billy Johnston took a notion
For to go and sail the sea;
He has left his own true love
Weeping on the Greenock quay.
I will buy you beads and earrings,
I will buy you diamonds three,
I will buy you beads and earrings,
Bonny lassie, if you marry me.
What care I for beads and earrings,
What care I for diamonds three,
What care I for beads and earrings,
When my own true love is far from me.
--Perth (Rev. Dr. Gregor).
Compare with this "Keys of Heaven," p. 437, and "Paper of Pins," p. 450.
Dilsee Dollsie Dee.
[See "Here's a Soldier," vol. i. p. 206, and "Three Dukes," vol. ii. pp.
233-255].
A ring is formed, one child standing in the middle, all sing the words--
Which of us all do you love best, do you love best, do you love
best,
Which of us all do you love best, my dilsee dollsie dee.
Which of us all do you love best, my dilsee dollsie dofficer.
The child in the centre says--
You're all too black and ugly (three times), my dilsee dollsie dee,
You're all too black and ugly, my dilsee dollsie dofficer.
The first verse is repeated, and the child in the centre points to one
in the ring and says--
This is the one that I love best, that I love best, that I love
best,
This is the one that I love best, my dilsee dollsie dee.
This is the one I love the best, my dilsee dollsie dofficer.