He whipped his children now and then;
When he whipped them he made them dance,
Out of Scotland into France;
Out of France into Spain,
Back to dear old England again.
O-u-t spells "out,"
If you please stand out.
I had a little dog and his name was Buff,
I sent him after a penn'orth of snuff,
He broke the paper and smelled the snuff,
And that's the end of my dog Buff.
He shan't bite you--he shan't bite you--he shan't bite you,
&c., &c.--he _shall_ bite you all over.
--Dorsetshire (_Folk-lore Journal_, vii. 213).
VII. I sent a letter to my love,
I carried water in my glove,
And by the way I dropped it.
I did so! I did so!
I had a little dog that said "Bow! wow!"
I had a little cat that said "Meow! meow!"
Shan't bite you--shan't bite you--
Shall bite you.
--Cornwall (_Folk-lore Journal_, v. 52).
VIII. I sent a letter to my love,
I carried water in my glove,
I dript it, I dropped it, and by the way I lost it.
--Hersham, Surrey (_Folk-lore Record_, v. 87).
IX. I have a pigeon in my pocket,
If I have not lost it;
Peeps in, peeps out,
By the way I've lost it;
Drip, drop,
By the way I've lost it.
--Earls Heaton (H. Hardy).
X. I have a pigeon in my pocket,
It peeps out and in,
And every time that I go round
I give it a drop of gin.
Drip it, drop it, drip it, drop it.
--Settle, Yorkshire (Rev W. S. Sykes).
XI. I sent a letter to my love,
I thought I put it in my glove,
But by the way I dropped it.
I had a little dog said "Bow, wow, wow!"
I had a little cat said "Mew, mew, mew!"
It shan't bite you,
It _shall_ bite _you_.
--Bexley Heath (Miss Morris).
XII. I sent a letter to my love,
And by the way I droppt it;
I dee, I dee, I dee, I droppt it,
And by the way I droppt it.
--Keith (Rev. W. Gregor).
XIII. I had a little dog, it shan't bite you,
Shan't bite you, shan't bite you,
Nor you, nor you, nor you.
I had a little cat, it shan't scratch you,
Shan't scratch you, nor you, nor you.
I wrote a letter to my love, and on the way I dropped it.
And one of you have picked it up and put it in your pocket.
It wasn't you, it wasn't you, nor you, nor you, but it
was _you_.
--London (A. B. Gomme).
XIV. I have a little dog and it lives in my pocket.
It shan't bite you, &c.
Now you're married I hope you'll enjoy
First a girl and then a boy;
Seven years gone, and two to come,
So take her and kiss her and
Send her off home.
--Wolstanton, North Staffs. Potteries (Miss A. A. Keary).
(_b_) In Dorsetshire a ring is formed by all the players joining hands
except one. The odd player, carrying a handkerchief, commences to walk
slowly round the outside of the ring, repeating the words; then,
touching each one with her handkerchief as she passes, she says, "Not
you," "not you," "not you," &c., &c., till the favoured individual is
reached, when it is changed to "But you!" and his or her shoulder
lightly touched at the same time. The first player then runs round the
ring as fast as he can, pursued by the other, who, if a capture is
effected (as is nearly always the case), is entitled to lead the first
player back into the centre of the ring and claim a kiss. The first
player then takes the other's place in the ring, and in turn walks round
the outside repeating the same formula.--_Folk-lore Journal_, vii. 212;
Penzance (Mrs. Mabbott).
In Shropshire, as soon as the player going round the ring has dropped
the handkerchief on the shoulder of the girl he chooses, both players
run _opposite ways_ outside the ring, each trying to be the first to
regain the starting-point. If the one who was chosen gets there first,
no kiss can be claimed. It is often called "Drop-handkerchief," from the
signal for the chase. The more general way of playing (either with or
without words), as seen by me on village greens round London, is, when
the handkerchief has been dropped, for the player to dart through the
ring and in and out again under the clasped hands; the pursuer must
follow in and out through the same places, and must bring the one he
catches into the ring before he can legally claim the kiss.
Elworthy (_West Country Words_), in describing this game, says: "The
person behind whom the handkerchief is dropped is entitled to kiss the
person who dropped it, if he or she can catch him or her, before the
person can get round the ring to the vacant place. Of course, when a
girl drops it she selects a favoured swain, and the chase is severe up
to a point, but when a girl is the pursuer there often is a kind of
donkey race lest she should have to give the kiss which the lad takes no
pains to avoid." Mr. Elworthy does not mention any words being used, and
it is therefore probable that this is the "Drop-handkerchief" game,
which generally has no kissing. It also, in the way it is played,
resembles "French Jackie." In the Wolstanton game, Miss Keary says: "If
the owner of the handkerchief overtakes the one who is bitten as they
run round, they shake hands and go into the middle of the ring, while
the others sing the marriage formula." In Berkshire (_Antiq._ xxvii.
255) the game is played without words, and apparently no handkerchief or
other sign is used. Miss Thoyts says the young man raises his hat when
he embraces the young woman of his choice. To "throw (or fling) the
handkerchief" is a common expression for an expected proposal of
marriage which is more of a condescension than a complimentary or
flattering one to the girl. "Kiss in the Ring" is probably a relic of
the earliest form of marriage by choice or selection. The custom of
dropping or sending a glove as the signal of a challenge may have been
succeeded by the handkerchief in this game. Halliwell, p. 227, gives the
game of "Drop Glove," in which a glove is used. For the use of
handkerchiefs as love-tokens see Brand, ii. 92.
See "Drop Handkerchief," "French Jackie."
Kit-Cat
A game played by boys. Three small holes are made in the ground,
triangularly about twenty feet apart, to mark the position of as many
boys, each of whom holds a small stick, about two feet long. Three other
boys of the adverse side pitch successively a piece of stick, a little
bigger than one's thumb, called Cat, to be struck by those holding the
sticks. On its being struck, the boys run from hole to hole, dipping the
ends of their sticks in as they pass, and counting one, two, three, &c.,
as they do so, up to thirty-one, which is game. Or the greater number of
holes gained in the innings may indicate the winners, as at cricket. If
the Cat be struck and caught, the striking party is out, and another of
his sidesmen takes his place, if the set be strong enough to admit of
it. If there be only six players, it may be previously agreed that three
_put outs_ shall end the innings. Another mode of putting out is to
throw the Cat home, after being struck, and placing or pitching it into
an unoccupied hole, while the in-party are running. A certain number of
misses (not striking the Cat) may be agreed on to be equivalent to a put
out. The game may be played by two, placed as at cricket, or by four,
or I believe more.--Moor's _Suffolk Words_; Holloway's _Dict. of
Provincialisms_.
Brockett (_North Country Words_, p. 115) calls this "'Kitty-Cat,' a
puerile game.
Then in his hand he takes a thick bat,
With which he used to play at 'Kit-Cat'"
--Cotton's _Works_, 1734, p. 88.
See "Cat and Dog," "Cudgel," "Munshets," "Tip-Cat."
Kit-Cat-Cannio
A sedentary game, played by two, with slate and pencil, or pencil and
paper. It is won by the party who can first get three marks ([o]'s or
[x]'s) in a line; the marks being made alternately by the players [o] or
[x] in one of the nine spots equidistant in three rows, when complete.
He who begins has the advantage, as he can contrive to get his mark in
the middle.--Moor's _Suffolk Words_.
The same game as "Nought and Crosses," which see.
Kittlie-cout
A game mentioned but not described by a writer in _Blackwood's
Magazine_, August 1821, as played in Edinburgh. He mentions that the
terms "hot" and "cold" are used in the game. The game of "Hide and
Seek."--Jamieson.
Knapsack
One boy takes another by the feet, one foot over each shoulder, with his
head downwards and his face to his back, and sets off running as fast as
he can. He runs hither and thither till one or other of the two gets
tired.--Keith (Rev. W. Gregor).
Knights
Two big boys take two smaller ones on their shoulders. The big boys act
as horses, while the younger ones seated on their shoulders try to pull
each other over. The "horses" may push and strike each other with their
shoulders, but must not kick or trip up with their feet, or use their
hands or elbows. The game is usually won by the Horse and Knight who
throw their opponents twice out of three times (G. L. Gomme). Strutt
(_Sports_, p. 84) describes this, and says, "A sport of this kind was in
practice with us at the commencement of the fourteenth century." He
considers it to bear more analogy to wrestling than to any other sport.
He gives illustrations, one of which is here reproduced from the
original MS. in the British Museum. The game is also described in the
Rev. J. G. Wood's _Modern Playmate_, p. 12.
[Illustration]
Knocked at the Rapper
The girl who spoke of this game, says Miss Peacock, could only remember
its details imperfectly, but as far as she recollects it is played as
follows:--The players dance round a centre child, leaving one of their
number outside the circle. The dancers sing to the one in their midst--
Here comes ----,
He knocked at the rapper, and he pulled at the string,
Pray, Mrs. ----, is ---- within?
At "is ---- within," the child outside the circle is named. The centre
child says--
O no, she has gone into the town:
Pray take the arm-chair and sit yourself down.
The ring of children then sing--
O no, not until my dearest I see,
And then one chair will do for we.
Then all sing--
My elbow, my elbow,
My pitcher, and my can:
Isn't ---- ---- a nice young girl?
Mentioning the supposed sweetheart.
Isn't ---- ---- as nice as she?
Mentioning the outside child.
They shall be married when they can agree.
Then the inside and outside children each choose a companion from the
circle, and the rest repeat:--
My elbow, my elbow, &c.
When the words have been sung a second time, the four children kiss, and
the two from the circle take the places of the other, after which change
the game begins again.--North Kelsey, Lincolnshire (Miss M. Peacock).
Knor and Spell
See "Nur and Spell."
Lab
A game of marbles (undescribed).--Patterson's _Antrim and Down
Glossary_.
See "Lag."
Lady of the Land
[Music]
--Tong, Shropshire (Miss R. Harley).
I. Here comes the lady of the land,
With sons and daughters in her hand;
Pray, do you want a servant to-day?
What can she do?
She can brew, she can bake,
She can make a wedding cake
Fit for you or any lady in the land.
Pray leave her.
I leave my daughter safe and sound,
And in her pocket a thousand pound,
And on her finger a gay ring,
And I hope to find her so again.
--_Somerset and Dorset Notes and Queries_, i. 133.
II. There camed a lady from other land,
With all her children in her hand--
Please, do you want a sarvant, marm?
Leave her.
I leaves my daughter zafe and zound,
And in her pocket a thousan pound,
And on her finger a goulden ring,
And in her busum a silver pin.
I hopes when I return,
To see her here with you.
Don't'e let her ramble; don't'e let her trot;
Don't'e let her car' the mustard pot.
The Mistress says softly--
She shall ramble, she shall trot,
She shall carry the mustard pot.
--_Dorset County Chronicle_, April 1889; _Folk-lore Journal_, vii. 228.
III. Here comes an old woman from Baby-land,
With all her children in her hand.
Pray take one of my children in.
[Spoken] What can your children do?
[Sung] One can bake, one can brew,
And one can bake a lily-white cake.
One can sit in the parlour and sing,
And this one can do everything.
--Tong, Shropshire (Miss R. Harley).
IV. Here comes a poor woman from Baby-land
With three small children in her hand.
One can brew, the other can bake,
The other can make a pretty round cake.
One can sit in the garden and spin,
Another can make a fine bed for the king;
Pray, ma'am, will you take one in?
--Halliwell's _Nursery Rhymes_, p. 72.
V. Here is a poor widow from Sandy Row,
With all her children behind her.
One can knit and one can sew,
And one can make the winder go.
Please take one in.
Now poor Nellie she is gone
Without a farthing in her hand,
Nothing but a guinea gold ring.
Good-bye, Nellie, good-bye!
--Belfast (W. H. Patterson).
VI. Here comes an old woman from Baby-land,
With six poor children by the hand.
One can brew, one can bake,
And one can make a lily-white cake;
One can knit, one can spin,
And one can make a bed for a king.
Please will you take one in? [choose out one]
Now poor ---- she is gone
Without a farthing in her hand,
Nothing but a gay gold ring.
Good-bye! Good-bye!
Good-bye, mother, good-bye!
--Isle of Man (A. W. Moore)
VII. Here comes a poor widow from Sandalam,
With all her children at her hand;
The one can bake, the other can brew,
The other can make a lily-white shoe;
Another can sit by the fire and spin,
So pray take one of my daughters in.
The fairest one that I can see
Is pretty [Mary] come to me.
And now poor [Mary] she is gone
Without a guinea in her hand,
And not so much as a farthing. Good-bye!
Good-bye, my love, good-bye!
--Forest of Dean, Gloucester (Miss Matthews).
VIII. Here comes an old woman from Cumberland,
With seven poor children in her hand;
One can sing, the other can sew;
One can sit up in the corner and cry, Alleluia!
Choose the fairest you can see.
The fairest one that I can see is ----, come to me.
Now my daughter ---- gone,
A thousand pound in her pocket and a gold ring on her finger.
Good-bye, mother, good-bye!
--Berkshire (Miss Thoyts, _Antiquary_, xxvii. 254).
IX. There was an old woman from Sandyland
With all her children in her hand.
One can knit and one can sow [sew],
One can make a lily-white bow.
Please take one in.
When all the children have been taken in, the Old Woman says--
There was an old woman from Sandiland
With no children by the hand.
Will you give me one?
--Ballynascaw School, co. Down (Miss C. N. Patterson).
(_b_) The first Dorsetshire game is played as follows:--Two girls are
chosen, the one to represent a lady and the other a mother, who is
supposed to be taking her children out to service. She has one or more
of them in each hand, and leads them up to the lady, saying or singing
the first verse. The dialogue then proceeds, and the verse is repeated
until all the children are similarly disposed of. A few days are
supposed to pass, after which the mother calls to see her children, when
the lady tells her she cannot see them. At last she insists upon seeing
them, and the children are all "sat down" behind the lady, and the
mother asks one child what the lady has done to her; and she tells her
"that the lady has cut off her nose, and made a nose-pie, and never give
her a bit of it." Each one says she has done something to her and made a
pie, and when all have told their tale "they all turn on her and put her
to prison."
The second Dorsetshire game somewhat differs. One child takes seven or
eight others whom she pretends are her children. Another child,
presumably a mistress in want of servants, stands at a distance. The
first child advances, holding the hand of her children, saying the first
verse. The dialogue is concluded, and as the woman and her children are
supposed to be out of hearing, the last couplet is said or sung. This
process is gone through again until the mistress has engaged all the
children as her servants, when she is supposed to let them all out to
play with the mustard pots, which are represented by sticks or stones,
in their hands.
The other versions are played as follows:--The children form a line, the
one in the middle being the mother, or widow; they advance and retire,
the mother alone singing the first verse. One child, who is standing
alone on the opposite side, who has been addressed by the widow, then
asks [not sings] the question. The mother, or widow, sings the reply,
and points to one child when singing the last line, who thereupon
crosses over to the other side, joining the one who is standing alone.
This is continued till all have been selected. The Ballynascaw version
(Miss Patterson) is played in a similar way. One child sits on a bank,
and the others come up to her in a long line. The "old woman" says the
first five lines. No question is asked by the "lady," she simply takes
one child. The "old woman" shakes hands with this child, and says
good-bye to her. When all the children have been "taken in" by the one
who personates the "lady," the "old woman" says the other three lines,
and so one by one gets all the children back again. The Berkshire
version (Miss Thoyts) is said, not sung, and is played with two leaders,
"old woman" and "lover." As the lover chooses a child, that one is sent
behind him, holding round his waist. Each child as she goes says,
"Good-bye, mother, good-bye," and pretends to cry. Finally they all cry,
and the game ends in a tug of war. This tug is clearly out of place
unless only half the children are selected by one side. Miss Thoyts does
not say how this is done.
(_c_) This game is called "School-teacher" in Belfast. The corruption of
"Lady of the Land," to "Babyland," "Babylon," and "Sandiland," is
manifest. It appears to be only fragmentary in its present form, but the
versions undoubtedly indicate that the origin of the game arises from
the practice of hiring servants. Mr. Halliwell has preserved another
fragmentary rhyme, which he thinks may belong to this game.
I can make diet bread
Thick and thin,
I can make diet bread
Fit for the king; (No. cccxliv.)
which may be compared with the rhyme given by Chambers (_Popular
Rhymes_, p. 136), and another version given by Halliwell, p. 229.
If these rhymes belong to this game it would have probably been played
by each child singing a verse descriptive of her own qualifications, and
I have some recollection, although not perfect, of having played a game
like this in London, where each child stated her ability to either brew,
bake, or churn. It is worth noting that the Forest of Dean and Berkshire
versions have absorbed one of the "selection" verses of the love-games.
Mr. Halliwell, in recording the _Nursery Rhymes_, Nos. cccxliii. and
cccxliv., as quoted above, says, "They are fragments of a game called
'The Lady of the Land,' a complete version of which has not fallen in my
way." Mr. Udal's versions from Dorsetshire are not only called "The Lady
of the Land," but are fuller than all the other versions, though
probably these are not complete. Mr. Newell (_Games_, pp. 56-58) gives
some versions of this game. He considers the original to have been a
European game (he had not found an English example) in which there were
two mothers, a rich and a poor one; one mother begging away, one by one,
all the daughters of the other.
(_d_) This game no doubt originates from the country practice of hiring
servants at fairs, or from a dramatic "Hirings" being acted at Harvest
Homes. The "Good-bye" of mother and daughters belongs, no doubt, to the
original game and early versions, and is consistent with the departure
of a servant to her new home. The "lover" incident is an interpolation,
but there may have been a request on the part of the "mother" to the
"lady" not to allow the girl followers or sweethearts too soon. As to
the old practice of hiring servants, Miss Burne has noted how distinctly
it stamps itself upon local custom (_Shropshire Folklore_, pp. 461,
464). That the practice forms the groundwork of this game is well
illustrated by the following descriptive passage. "They stay usually two
or three dayes with theire friends, and then aboute the fifth or sixth
day after Martynmasse will they come to theire newe masters; they will
depart from theire olde services any day in the weeke, but theire desire
(hereaboutes) is to goe to theire newe masters eyther on a Tewsday or on
a Thursday; for on a Sunday they will seldome remoove, and as for
Monday, they account it ominous, for they say--
Monday flitte,
Neaver sitte;
but as for the other dayes in the weeke they make no greate matter. I
heard a servant asked what hee could doe, whoe made this answeare--
I can sowe,
I can mowe,
And I can stacke;
And I can doe,
My master too,
When my master turnes his backe."
--Best's _Rural Economy of Yorks._, 1641; _Surtees Society_, pp.
135-136.
In _Long Ago_, ii. 130, Mr. Scarlett Potter mentions that in South
Warwickshire it was customary at harvest-homes to give a kind of
dramatic performance. One piece, called "The Hiring," represents a
farmer engaging a man, in which work done by the man, the terms of
service, and food to be supplied, are stated in rhymes similar to the
above. See "Lammas."
Lady on the Mountain
[Music]
--Barnes, Surrey (A. B. Gomme).
I. There stands a lady on the mountain,
Who she is I do not know;
All she wants is gold and silver,
All she wants is a nice young man.
Choose one, choose two, choose the fairest one of the two.
The fairest one that I can see,
Is pretty ----, walk with me.
--Barnes, Surrey (A. B. Gomme).
II. There lives a lady on the mountain,
Who she is I do not know;
All she wants is gold and silver,
All she wants is a nice young man.
Choose one, choose two,
Choose the fairest of the few.
Now you're married I wish you joy,
Father and mother you must obey;
Love one another like sister and brother,
And pray, young couple, come kiss one another.
--Colchester (Miss G. M. Frances).
III. Here stands a lady on a mountain,
Who she is I do not know;
All she wants is gold and silver,
All she wants is a nice young man.
Choose you east, and choose you west,
Choose you the one as you love best.
Now Sally's got married we wish her good joy,
First a girl and then a boy;
Twelve months a'ter a son and da'ter,
Pray young couple, kiss together.
--Berrington (_Shropshire Folk-lore_, pp. 509, 510).
IV. Stands a lady on the mountain,
Who she is I do not know;
All she wants is gold and silver,
All she wants is a nice young beau.
Take her by the lily-white hand,
Lead her across the water;
Give her kisses, one, two, three,
For she is her mother's daughter.
--Shipley, Horsham (_Notes and Queries_, 8th series, i. 210, Miss Busk).
V. There stands a lady on a mountain,
Who she is I do not know;
All she wants is gold and silver,
All she wants is a nice young man.
Now she's married I wish her joy,
First a girl and then a boy;
Seven years after son and daughter,
Pray young couple kiss together.
Kiss her once, kiss her twice,
Kiss her three times three.
--Wrotham, Kent (Miss D. Kimball).
VI. There stands a lady on the ocean [mountain],
Who she is I do not know her;
All she wants is gold or silver,
All she wants is a nice young man.
Choose once, choose twice,
Choose three times over.
Now you're married I wish you joy,
First a girl and then a boy;
Seven years old a son and daughter,
Play and cuddle and kiss together.
Kiss her once, kiss her twice,
Kiss her three times over.
--Deptford (Miss Chase).
VII. There stands a lady on the mountain,
Who she is I do not know:
Oh! she wants such gold and silver!
Oh! she wants such a nice young man!
Now you're married I wish you joy,
First a girl and then a boy;
Seven years after a son and a daughter,
Kiss your bride and come out of the ring.
--Berkshire (Miss Thoyts, _Antiquary_; xxvii. 254).
(_b_) A ring is formed, one child in the centre. The ring sing the first
verse, and then the centre child chooses one from the ring. The chosen
pair kiss when the ring has sung the second. The first child then joins
the ring, and the game begins again. In the Barnes version the centre
child calls one to her from the ring by singing the second verse and
naming the child she chooses.
(_c_) A version from Lady C. Gurdon's _Suffolk County Folk-lore_ (p. 62)
is the same as previous versions, except that it ends--
Now you're married you must be good
Make your husband chop the wood;
Chop it fine and bring it in,
Give three kisses in the ring.
Other versions are much the same as the examples given.
(_d_) This game has probably had its origin in a ballad. Miss Burne
draws attention to its resemblance to the "Disdainful Lady" (_Shropshire
Folk-lore_, p. 561), and Halliwell mentions a nursery rhyme (No.
cccclxxix.) which is very similar. Mr. Newell (_Games_, p. 55) prints
words and tune of a song which is very similar to that ballad, and he
mentions the fact that he has seen it played as a round by the "Arabs of
the street." He considers it to be an old English song which has been
fitted for a ring game by the addition of a verse.
See "Lady on Yonder Hill."
Lady on Yonder Hill