"Huckle-bones" in East Sussex and "Dibs" in West Sussex. Parish (_Dict.
of Sussex Dialect_) mentions that huckle-bones, the small bone found in
the joint of the knee of a sheep, are used by children for playing the
game of "Dibs;" also Peacock's _Manley and Corringham Glossary_. Barnes
(_Dorset Glossary_) says, "A game of toss and catch, played mostly by
two with five dibs or huckle-bones of a leg of mutton, or round pieces
of tile or slate." Halliwell's description is clearly wrong. He says it
was a game formerly played by throwing up the hip-bone of some animal,
on one side of which was a head of Venus and on the other that of a dog.
He who turned up the former was the winner (_Dictionary_). Miss J.
Barker writes that "Huckle-bones" is played in Hexham; and Professor
Attwell (Barnes) played the game as a boy, and is still a proficient in
it; he played it recently for my benefit with his set of real
huckle-bones (A. B. Gomme); and see _Notes and Queries_, 9th ser., iv.
378, 379.
The figures or sets are practically the same as those described under
"Fivestones." The game is very ancient. In the _Sanctuarie of
Salvation_, &c., translated from the Latin of Levinus Lemnius by Henry
Kinder (8vo, London, printed by H. Singleton), p. 144, we read, "These
bones are called 'huckle-bones' or 'coytes.'" For further information
relating to this game, as played by the ancients, the reader may consult
_Joannis Meursii Ludibunda, sive de Ludis Græcorum, Liber singularis_
(8vo, Lugd. Bat. 1625), p. 7, and _Dan. Souterii Palamedes_, p. 81; but
more particularly, _I Tali ed altri Strumenti lusori degli antichi
Romani, discritti da Francesco de 'Ficoroni_, 4to, Rom. 1734. Against
the suggestion that the modern game is derived directly from the
Romans, is the fact that it is known in countries never traversed or
occupied by the Romans. Thus Dr. Clarke, in his _Travels in Russia_,
1810, p. 106, says: "In all the villages and towns from Moscow to
Woronetz, as in other parts of Russia, are seen boys, girls, and
sometimes even old men, playing with the joint-bones of sheep. This game
is called 'Dibbs' by the English. It is of very remote antiquity; for I
have seen it very beautifully represented on Grecian vases; particularly
on a vase in the collection of the late Sir William Hamilton, where a
female figure appeared most gracefully delineated kneeling upon one
knee, with her right arm extended, the palm downwards, and the bones
ranged along the back of her hand and arm. In this manner the Russians
play the game."
See "Dalies," "Fivestones."
Hummie
The game otherwise called "Shinty." The shinty or hummie is played by a
set of boys in two divisions who attempt to drive with curved sticks a
ball, or what is more common, part of the vertebral bone of a sheep, in
opposite directions (_Blackwood's Magazine_, August 1821, p. 36). If one
of the adverse party happens to stand or run among his opponents, they
call out "Hummie, keep on your own side."--Jamieson.
Hundreds
A game at marbles, which is carried on until one of the players scores
100 or some other high number agreed upon. Any number can play, but it
is best described for two players, A. and B. First the players taw up to
a hole; if both get in, they repeat the process until one is left out,
say B.; then A. counts 10. Should both fail, the nearest goes first. He
may now lay his taw about the hole or fire at the other, on hitting
which he counts another 10. He now goes for the hole again, and failing,
lies where he happens to stop. If he misses, B. from his present
position tries to get into the hole, and failing, lies still; but if he
reaches the hole, he counts 10, and proceeds as A. had done. The one who
first gets the 100 (or other number) now goes in for his "pizings,"
which performance takes place thus:--The loser, so far, is lying about,
and the winner goes back to "drakes," and again tries to lodge in the
hole; and if he succeeds, the game is up. If not, he lies still, and the
loser tries for the hole; if he gets in he counts another 10, or if he
should succeed in hitting the winner he scores his adversary's 100 to
his own number, and then goes on for his "pizings" as the other had
done. In failure of either securing the game thus, the process is
repeated at "drakes." When, however, the one who is on for his "pizings"
manages to taw into the hole, the game is concluded.--Easther's
_Almondbury and Huddersfield Glossary_.
Hunt the Hare
A game among children, played on the ice as well as in the fields
(Brockett's _North Country Words_). Strutt (_Sports_, p. 381) says "Hunt
the Hare" is the same game as "Hunt the Fox." In this game one boy is
permitted to run out, and having law given to him--that is, being
permitted to go to a certain distance from his comrades before they
pursue him--their object is to take him, if possible, before he can
return home.
See "Hare and Hounds."
Hunt the Slipper
[Music]
--Lancashire (Mrs. Harley).
All the players but one sit on the floor in a circle with their legs
crossed (Turkish fashion), one acting as Chief, all pretending to work
at making or mending shoes. The other player brings a slipper to the
Chief Cobbler, and desires it to be mended, saying--
Cobbler, cobbler, mend my shoe,
Get it done by half-past two.
The child walks away, and returns in a few moments and asks whether the
shoe is ready. The Cobbler says, "Not quite; call again in an hour's
time," or makes any other excuse which occurs to him. When the child
calls again, she is told it has been sent home. After several pretences
the child declares an intention to search for it. The Cobblers in the
ring then all place their hands under their knees, and pass the slipper
secretly from one to another in such a way as to prevent the owner of
the shoe getting it for some time. The Cobbler from whom the slipper is
taken becomes the owner next time (Barnes, A. B. Gomme). In the
Nottinghamshire version (Miss Peacock) the rhyme is--
Cobbler, cobbler, mend my shoe,
Give it a stitch and that will do.
Versions from Wakefield, Liphook, Ellesmere, and other places are
practically the same as the Barnes game, but Mr. Udal gives an
elaboration of the Dorsetshire game in the _Folk-lore Journal_, vii.
238. One Lancashire version (Miss Dendy) reverses the characters by
making the Cobbler run round the ring, and the children requiring the
shoe to be mended, call out, "Blackie, come mend my slipper." Mrs.
Harley, in another Lancashire version, gives the words sung to the tune
printed as--
Pass on, pass on, passy on the slipper;
The best fun we ever had was passing on the slipper.
Holloway (_Dict. of Provincialisms_) says this game was well known in
Somerset, Hants, Sussex, but now is almost out of fashion. He describes
it as being played without words. The child who has to find the shoe
stands in the centre of the circle. The chief amusement arises from the
one in the circle who has the slipper striking the one who stands up
(the searcher) while he or she is steadily looking for it in an opposite
direction. Strutt (_Sports_, p. 387) also describes this game.
Hunt the Staigie
A boys' game. One is chosen to be the Staigie (little stallion). The
other players scatter themselves over the playground. The Staigie locks
his fingers into each other. He then repeats the words--
Hunt the Staigie,
Huntie, untie, staige,
Ailleman, ailleman, aigie,
and rushes off with his hands locked, and tries to touch one of the
players. He must not unlock his hands till he has caught one. When he
has captured one, the two join hands and hunt for another. When another
is caught, he joins the two. This goes on till all are hunted
down.--Keith (Rev. W. Gregor).
[Illustration]
See "Chickidy Hand," "Whiddy."
Hunting
[Music]
--Earls Heaton (Herbert Hardy).
[Music]
--Epworth (C. C. Bell).
I. Oh, a-hunting we will go, a-hunting we will go;
We'll catch a little fox and put him in a box,
And never let him go.
--Bath (Miss Large).
II. Hunting we will go, brave boys,
Hunting we will go;
We'll catch an old fox
And put him in a box,
For a-hunting we will go.
Halt! shoulder arms! fire!
--Horncastle, North Kelsey, Lincoln (Miss Peacock).
III. O have you seen the Shah,
O have you seen the Shah?
He lights his pipe on a star-light night,
O have you seen the Shah?
For a-hunting we will go,
A-hunting we will go;
We'll catch a fox and put him in a box,
A-hunting we will go.
--Epworth, Doncaster (C. C. Bell).
(_b_) The players march two by two, all singing. The first pair let go
hands, separate, and skip widely apart, still singing. Gradually, in
this manner, two separate lines are formed, until, following each other
and singing, the pairs come together again, join hands, and march and
sing in couplets linked.
The Bath game is played by the children standing in two rows facing each
other, and clapping hands and singing the verse. At the same time the
two children facing each other at the top of the lines join hands and
trip down and up between the lines. Their hands are unclasped, and the
two children run down the outside of the lines, one running on each
side, and meet at the bottom of the lines, where they stand. The two
children now standing at the top proceed in the same way: this is
continued until all the children have done the same. A ring is then
formed, when the children again clap and sing. Any number can play at
this game.
In the Epworth version the children range themselves in double rank at
one end of the room or playground, and march down to the other end hand
in hand. At the bottom they loose hands and divide, the first rank
turning right, the second left, and march back in two single files to
the other end again, where they re-form as at first, and repeat their
man[oe]uvre, singing the verses alternately.
The Lincolnshire game is played by the children walking two and two in a
circle round one of their companions, singing. The players then stand
facing the child in the centre, and place their hands on their partners'
shoulders. After the lines are sung the centre child cries out, "Halt!
Shoulder arms! Fire!" at which words each child kisses his partner. If
the commander sees any one hesitate, or avoid kissing, he runs forward
and takes the defaulter's place, leaving him to fill the middle
position.
Similar versions are played at Earls Heaton (Mr. Hardy), Forest of Dean
(Miss Matthews), Ellesmere (Burne, _Shropshire Folk-lore_, p. 574),
Derbyshire (_Folk-lore Journal_, i. 386).
Hurling
A game played with a ball. The players are divided into two equal
parties, each of which tries to secure and keep the ball in their
possession. The prize is a ball made of cork, covered with
silver.--Courtney's _West Cornwall Glossary_.
In Taylor's _Antiquitates Curiosæ_, p. 144, it is stated:--"The game of
hurling consisted in throwing or hurling a ball of wood about three
inches in diameter, and covered with plated silver, sometimes gilt. On
the ball was frequently a Cornish motto allusive to the game, and
signifying that fair play was best. Success depended on catching the
ball dexterously when dealt, and conveying it away through all the
opposition of the adverse party, or, if that was impossible, to throw it
into the hands of a partner, who, in his turn, was to exert his utmost
efforts to convey it to his own goal, which was often three or four
miles distant from that of his adversaries."
T. Durfey's _Collin's Walk through London_, 1690, p. 192, says: "Hurling
is an ancient sport us'd to this day in the countys of Cornwall and
Devon, when once a year the hardy young fellows of each county meet; and
a cork ball thinly plated with silver being thrown up between 'em, they
run, bustle, and fight for it, to the witty dislocating of many a
shrew'd neck, or for the sport of telling how bravely their arms or legs
came to be broke, when they got home." It is fully described by Carew
in his _Survey of Cornwall_, 1602, p. 73.
It is also a very ancient Irish game, and Mr. Kinahan says: "Many places
are called after it: such as, Killahurla, the hurlers' church;
Gortnahurla, the field of the hurlers; Greenanahurla, the sunny place of
the hurlers; this, however, is now generally corrupted into
hurling-green. The hurling-green where the famous match was played by
the people of Wexford against those of Cather (now divided into the
counties of Carlow and Wicklow), and where the former got the name of
yellow bellies, from the colour of the scarfs they wore round their
waist, is a sunny flat on the western side of North Wicklow Gap, on the
road from Gorey to Trinnahely. There are also many other different names
that record the game."--_Folk-lore Journal_, ii. 266.
See "Bandy," "Camp," "Football," "Hockey," "Hood," "Shinty."
Hurly-burly
An undescribed boys' game. In it the following rhyme is used--
Hurly-burly, trumpy trace,
The cow stands in the market-place;
Some goes far, and some goes near,
Where shall this poor sinner steer?
--Patterson's _Antrim and Down Glossary_.
For a similar rhyme see "Hot Cockles."
Huss
Children play a game which is accompanied by a song beginning--
Hussing and bussing will not do,
But go to the gate, knock, and ring--
Please, Mrs. Brown, is Nellie within?
--Parish's _Dictionary of the Sussex Dialect_.
Hustle Cap
A boys' game, played by tossing up halfpence. It is mentioned in
_Peregrine Pickle_, cap. xvi. Cope (_Hampshire Glossary_) says,
"Halfpence are placed in a cap and thrown up, a sort of
'pitch-and-toss.'"
Hynny-pynny
A peculiar game at marbles, sometimes called "Hyssy-pyssy," played
in some parts of Devon and Somerset. A hole of some extent was made
in an uneven piece of ground, and the game was to shoot the marbles
at some object beyond the hole without letting them tumble into it.
The game occasionally commenced by a ceremony of no very delicate
description, which sufficed to render the fallen marble still more
ignominious.--Halliwell's _Dictionary_.
Isabella
[Music]
--Ogbourne, Wilts (H. S. May).
[Music]
--Earls Heaton (H. Hardy).
[Music]
--London (A. B. Gomme).
I. Isabella, Isabella, Isabella, Farewell!
Last night when we parted
I left you broken-hearted,
And on a green mountain,
There stands a young man.
Could you love him?
Could you love him?
Could you love him? Farewell!
Choose one, love,
Choose one, love,
Choose one, love, Farewell!
Take a walk, love,
Take a walk, love,
Take a walk, love, Farewell!
In the ring, love,
In the ring, love,
In the ring, love, Farewell!
Put the ring on,
Put the ring on,
Put the ring on, Farewell!
Go to church, love,
Go to church, love,
Go to church, love, Farewell!
Take a kiss, love,
Take a kiss, love,
Take a kiss, love, Farewell!
Shake hands, love,
Shake hands, love,
Shake hands, love, Farewell!
--Enborne, Newbury (M. Kimber).
II. Isabella, Isabella, Isabella, Farewell!
Last night when I departed
I left her broken-hearted;
Upon the steep mountain
There stands a young man.
Who'll you choose, love?
Who'll you choose, love?
Who'll you choose, love? Farewell!
Go to church, love,
Go to church, love,
Go to church, love, Farewell!
Say your prayers, love,
Say your prayers, love,
Say your prayers, love, Farewell!
Put your ring on,
Put your ring on,
Put your ring on, Farewell!
Come back, love,
Come back, love,
Come back, love, Farewell!
Roast beef and plum pudding,
Roast beef and plum pudding,
Roast beef and plum pudding,
For our dinner to-day.
Kiss together, love,
Kiss together, love,
Kiss together, love, Farewell!
--Ogbourne, Wilts (H. S. May).
III. Isabella, Isabella, Isabella, Farewell!
Last night when I departed
I left you broken-hearted
Broken-hearted on the mountain,
On the mountain, Farewell!
Choose your loved one, choose your loved one,
Choose your loved one, Farewell!
Kiss your hand, love, kiss your hand, love,
Kiss your hand, love, Farewell!
Go to church, love, go to church, love,
Go to church, love, Farewell!
Say your prayers, love, say your prayers, love,
Say your prayers, love, Farewell!
Come to dinner, love, come to dinner, love,
Come to dinner, love, Farewell!
What have you for dinner, for dinner, for dinner,
What have you for dinner, for dinner to-day?
Roast beef and plum pudding, plum pudding, plum pudding,
Roast beef and plum pudding, plum pudding to-day.
--Southampton (Mrs. W. R. Carse).
IV. Isabella, Isabella, Isabella, Farewell!
Last night I met you downhearted and sad,
And down by the river I met your young man.
Choose a lover, choose a lover,
Choose a lover, Farewell!
Walk to church, love, walk to church, love,
Walk to church, love, Farewell!
Come to the ring, love, come to the ring, love,
Come to the ring, love, Farewell!
Give a kiss, love, give a kiss, love,
Give a kiss, love, Farewell!
--West Grinstead, Sussex (_Notes and Queries_, 8th Series, i. 249, Miss
Busk).
V. Arabella!
Arabella!
Arabella! Farewell!
Last night when we parted
I left you broken-hearted
Down by the mill-side.
Who'll you have, love?
Who'll you have, love?
Who'll you have, love? Farewell!
Go to church, love,
Go to church, love,
Go to church, love, Farewell!
Come back, love,
Come back, love,
Come back, love, Farewell!
Shake hands, love,
Shake hands, love,
Shake hands, love, Farewell!
Take a kiss, love,
Take a kiss, love,
Take a kiss, love, Farewell!
--Platt School, near Wrotham, Kent (Miss Burne).
VI. Isabella, Isabella, Isabella, Farewell!
Last night when we parted
I left you broken-hearted,
And on the green meadow
You was standing alone.
Choose a sweetheart, choose a sweetheart,
Choose a sweetheart, fair maid.
Take her hand, love, take her hand, love,
Take her hand, love, fair maid.
Kneel down, love, kneel down, love,
Kneel down, love, fair maid.
Take a kiss, love, take a kiss, love,
Take a kiss, love, fair maid.
Now you're married I wish you joy,
First a girl and then a boy,
Seven years after son and daughter;
Pray, young couple, come kiss together.
Kiss her once, kiss her twice, kiss her three times over.
--From a London nursemaid, 1878 (A. B. Gomme).
VII. Isabella, Isabella, Isabella, Farewell!
Last night when we parted
I believed you broken-hearted,
As on the green mountain
You stands [_qy._ sang] like a lark.
Go to church, love, go to church, love,
Go to church, love, Farewell!
In the ring, love, in the ring, love,
In the ring, love, Farewell!
Give a kiss, love, give a kiss, love,
Give a kiss, love, Farewell!
Isabella, Isabella, Isabella, Farewell!
--Fernham and Longcot (Miss I. Barclay).
VIII. Isabella, Isabella, Isabella, Farewell!
Last night when I departed I left her broken-hearted;
On the hill yonder there stands your young man.
Fetch him here, love, fetch him here, love,
Fetch him here, love, Farewell!
Shut the gates, love, shut the gates, love,
Shut the gates, love, Farewell!
Open the gates, love, open the gates, love,
Open the gates, love, Farewell!
Go to church, love, go to church, love,
Go to church, love, Farewell!
Show your ring, love, show your ring, love,
Show your ring, love, Farewell!
--Hanbury, Staffs. (Miss E. Hollis).
IX. The trees are uncovered, uncovered, uncovered,
The trees are uncovered, Isabella, for me!
Last night when we parted we were all broken-hearted,
Isabella, Isabella, Isabella, for me!
Then give me your hand, love, your hand, love, your hand,
love,
Then give me your hand, love, and a sweet kiss from you.
--Earls Heaton (Herbert Hardy).
X. When the trees are uncovered, Isabellow, for me.
Last night when we parted
She was nigh broken-hearted,
Isabellow, Isabellow, Isabellow, for me.
Your hand, love, your hand, love,
Then give me your hand, love,
Take a sweet kiss from me.
--Winterton, Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire (Miss Peacock).
XI. Isabella, Isabella, Isabella, Farewell!
Last night when we parted I left you broken-hearted,
And down by the river you saw your young man.
In the stream, love, in the stream, love,
In the stream, love, Farewell!
Go to church, love, go to church, love,
Go to church, love, Farewell.
In the ring, love, in the ring, love,
In the ring, love, Farewell!
--Long Eaton, Nottinghamshire (Miss Youngman).
XII. Elizabella, Farewell!
Last night as we parted
She left me broken-hearted,
And on a green mountain
She looked like a dove.
Choose your loved one,
Choose your loved one,
Choose your loved one, Farewell!
Go to church, love, Farewell!
Say your prayers, love, Farewell!
In the ring, love, Farewell!
Shake hands, loves,
Shake hands, loves, Farewell!
Give a kiss, loves,
Give a kiss, loves, Farewell!
--Liphook, Hants (Miss Fowler).
XIII. Last night when we parted
She was nigh broken-hearted,
To-morrow we gather
And a bright welcome be.
Then give me your hand, love,
Your hand, love, your hand, love,
Then give me your hand, love,
Isabella for me.
Isabella, Isabella,
Isabella for me.
--North Derbyshire (S. O. Addy).
(_b_) In the Enborne, Newbury, version (Miss Kimber) a ring is formed by
the children (boys and girls) joining hands. Another child stands in the
centre. The ring of children walk round while singing the verses. The
singing is confined to the ring. When the centre child is told to
"choose," she selects a boy from the ring, who goes into the centre and
they stand together. At the next verse these two children walk out of
the ring arm-in-arm. When the next verse is sung they return, and again
stand in the centre. At the next verse the boy pretends to put a ring on
the girl's finger. They walk out of the ring when told to go to church
(two children in the ring unclasping hands to let them walk out, and
again clasping hands after they return), and kiss each other and shake
hands when the two next verses are sung. The child who was first in the
centre then joins the ring, and the game proceeds in the same way with
the second child, who chooses in his turn. All the other versions follow
the same rules, suiting their actions to the words, except Ogbourne,
Wilts, in which the two children in the centre sing the verse, "roast
beef and plum pudding." They stand face to face, take hold of each
other's hands, and sway their arms from side to side. The ring then sing
the concluding verse. In those versions where "say your prayers" and
"kneel down" occur, the two centre children kneel, and hold their open
hands together in front of them to imitate a book. In the London version
(A. B. Gomme) a handkerchief was laid on the ground, and the two
children stood on each side of it and clasped hands across it. In the
Fernham and Longcot version the one child leads the other out of the
ring at "go to church," with a graceful half-dancing motion, and back
again in the same way. The first child joins the ring while the refrain
is sung. In the Hanbury version the centre child pretends to be weeping;
another child stands outside the ring and goes into it; when the two
meet they kiss. In the North Derbyshire version (Mr. S. O. Addy) a ring
is formed of young men and women, a young man being in the centre. He
chooses a young woman at the singing of the fifth line, and then joins
the ring, the girl remaining in the centre.
(_c_) The tunes of all versions are very similar. The tune of the
Newbury game (Miss Kimber) is the same as the _first_ part of the
Ogbourne tune printed (Mr. H. S. May); that from Nottingham (Miss
Youngman) is the same as the first part of the London version. This is
also the case with the Hanbury, Staffs. (Miss E. Hollis) and Fernham and
Longcot game. What difference there is is very slight. The Platt, Kent,
game (Miss Burne), is sung to the same tune as "Green Gravel," given
_ante_, p. 170. The _first_ portion only of the tune is repeated for all
verses sung after the first verse. The Barnes game is sung to the same
tune as the Earls Heaton (Mr. Hardy), which is printed _ante_. A version
played at Barnes is almost identical with the Southampton version, and
another collected by Miss Thoyts in Berkshire (_Antiquary_, vol. xxvii.
p. 193) is similar to the Hanbury version. The first lines run--Choose
your lover; Open the gates; Go to church, love; Kneel down, love; Say
your prayers, love; Put on the ring; Stand up, love; In the ring, love;
Kiss together, love.