Part 14
This is a boys' game. A round area is marked out by boundary sticks, and at a chosen point of the boundary the base is fixed. This is marked out independently of the boundary, but inside it. Sides are then chosen. One side are the "ins," and strike the ball; the other side are the "outs," and deliver the ball, scout, and endeavour to get their opponents, the "ins," out as soon as possible. The ball (an indiarubber one) is delivered by the "feeder," by pitching it to a player, who stands inside the base armed with a short stick. The player endeavours to strike the ball as far away as possible from the fielders or scouts. As soon as the ball is struck away he runs from the base to the first boundary stick, then to the second, and so on. His opponents in the meantime secure the ball and endeavour to hit him with it as he is running from stage to stage. If he succeeds in running completely round the boundary before the ball is returned it counts as one rounder. If he is hit he is out of the game. He can stay at any stage in the boundary as soon as the ball is in hand, getting home again when the next player of his own side has in turn hit the ball away. When a ball is returned the feeder can bounce it within the base, and the player cannot then run to any new stage of the boundary until after the ball has again been hit away by another player. If a player misses a ball when endeavouring to strike at it he has two more chances, but at the third failure he is bound to run to the first boundary stick and take his chance of being hit with the ball. If a ball is caught the whole side is out at once; otherwise, the side keeps in until either all the players have been hit out with the ball or until the base is crowned. This can be done by bouncing the ball in the base whenever there is no player there to receive the delivery from the feeder. When a complete rounder is obtained, the player has the privilege either of counting the rounder to the credit of his side, or of ransoming one of the players who have been hit out, who then takes his part in the game as before. When all but one of the players are "out," this last player in hitting the ball must hit it away so as to be able to make a rounder, and return to the base before his opponents get back the ball to crown the base.
An elaborate form of this game has become the national game of the United States.
Rounds
See "Roundabout."
Row-chow-Tobacco
See "Bulliheisle," "Eller Tree," "Snail Creep," "Wind up the Bush Faggot."
Rowland-Ho
A Christmas game.--Halliwell's _Dictionary_.
Rumps
A game with marbles [undescribed].--Dickinson's _Cumberland Glossary_.
Rusty
A boys' game, exactly the same as "Ships."--Addy's _Sheffield Glossary_.
Sacks
A number of children place their closed fists on top of one another in a pile. The leader asks, pointing to the topmost fist, "What's in that sack?" Answer, Potatoes, or anything the child chooses. The leader tips it off with her finger, saying, "Knock it away," and so to the very undermost fist, when she asks, "What's in this sack?" The answer must be, "Bread and cheese;" and then the following dialogue takes place:--
Where's my share? The mouse eat it. Where's the mouse? The cat killed it. Where's the cat? The dog worried it. Where's the dog? The cow tossed it. Where's the cow? The butcher killed it. Where's the butcher? Behind the door.
And who ever speaks the first word shall get a sound round box on the ear.--Co. Cork (Mrs. B. B. Green).
Saddle the Nag
An equal number of players is chosen on each side. Two chiefs are chosen by lot. One of the chiefs takes his stand by a wall, and all his party bend their backs, joined in a line. One of the opposite side leaps on the back of the one farthest from the one standing at the wall, and tries to make his way over the backs of all the stooping boys, up to the one standing. Those stooping move and wriggle to cast him off, and if they succeed in doing so, he stands aside till all his side have tried. When all have tried and none succeed in crowning the one standing, the sides change. If one or more succeed, then each such has a second chance before the sides change. Each side commonly has six chances. The side that succeeds in oftenest touching the chief's head wins the game.--Dyke (Rev. W. Gregor).
See "Skin the Goatie."
Saggy
A game with marbles [undescribed].--Dickinson's _Cumberland Glossary_.
Sailor Lad
A sailor lad and a tailor lad, And they were baith for me; I wid raither tack the sailor lad, And lat the tailor be.
What can a tailor laddie dee Bit sit and sew a cloot, When the bonnie sailor laddie Can turn the ship aboot.
He can turn her east, and he can turn her west, He can turn her far awa'; He aye tells me t' keep up my hairt For the time that he's awa'.
I saw 'im lower his anchor, I saw 'im as he sailed; I saw 'im cast his jacket To try and catch a whale.
He skips upon the planestanes, He sails upon the sea; A fancy man wi' a curly pow Is aye the boy for me, Is aye the boy for me; A fancy man wi' a curly pow Is aye the boy for me.
He daurna brack a biscuit, He daurna smoke a pipe; He daurna kiss a bonnie lass At ten o'clock at night.
I can wash a sailor's shirt, And I can wash it clean; I can wash a sailor's shirt, And bleach it on the green. Come a-rinkle-tinkle, fal-a-la, fal-a-la, Aboun a man-o'-war.
--Rosehearty (Rev. W. Gregor).
A circle is formed by joining hands. They dance round and sing. Sometimes at Rosehearty two play the game by the one taking hold of the other's left hand with her right.
Sally go Round the Moon
Sally go round the moon, Sally go round the stars; Sally go round the moon On a Sunday afternoon.
--Deptford, Kent (Miss E. Chase).
Three or more girls take hold of hands, forming a ring; as they spin round they sing the lines. They then reverse and run round in the other direction with an _O!_ or repeat over again.
This game is mentioned in the _Church Reformer_, by the Rev. S. D. Headlam, as one being played at Hoxton, but no account of how the game is played is given.
Sally Water
[Music]
--Yorkshire (Mr. H. Hardy).
[Music]
--Lancashire (Miss Dendy).
[Music]
--Enborne (Miss Kimber).
[Music]
--Welford (Mrs. Stephen Batson).
[Music]
--Liverpool (Mr. C. C. Bell).
[Music]
--Beddgelert, Wales (Mrs. Williams).
[Music]
--Nottingham (Miss Youngman).
I. Sally, Sally Water, Sprinkle in the pan; Rise, Sally, rise, Sally, And choose a young man. Choose [or bow] to the east, Choose [or bow] to the west, And choose [or bow to] the pretty girl [or young man] That you love best.
[Another version has:
Choose for the best one, Choose for the worst one, Choose for the pretty girl That you love best.]
And now you're married I wish you joy; First a girl and then a boy; Seven years after son and daughter; And now, young people, jump over the water.
--Symondsbury, Dorsetshire (_Folk-lore Journal_, vii. 207).
II. Sally, Sally Walker, sprinkle water in the pan; Rise, Sally, rise, Sally, and seek your young man; Turn to the east and turn to the west, And choose the one that you love best.
Now you're married we wish you joy, First a girl and then a boy, Seven years after a son and a daughter, So young lovers kiss together.
--Chudleigh Knighton, Devon (Henderson's _Folk-lore of the Northern Counties_, p. 27).
III. Sally, Sally Water, Sprinkle in the pan; Hi! Sally; Ho! Sally, Choose a young man; Choose for the best, Choose for the worst, Choose for the very one you love best.
Now you're married we wish you joy, First a girl and then a boy, Seven years after sister and brother; Kiss each other and come out of the water.
--Somersetshire, _Notes and Queries_, 8th series, i. 249 (Miss R. H. Busk).
IV. Sally Waters, Sally Waters, come sprinkle in the pan; Rise, Sally; rise, Sally, for a young man! Choose for the best, choose for the worst, Choose for the very one you love the best.
Now you are married, we wish you joy; First a girl and then a boy, Seven years afterwards son and daughter; Pray, young couple, kiss together.
--London version (Miss Dendy).
V. Sally, Sally Walker, Sprinkling in a pan; Rise, Sally; rise, Sally, For a young man.
Come, choose from the east, Come, choose from the west, Come, choose out the very one That you love best.
Now there's a couple Married in joy; First a girl, And then a boy.
Now you're married; You must obey Every word Your husband says.
Take a kiss And walk away, And remember the promise You've made to-day.
--Fochabers (Rev. W. M'Gregor).
VI. Sally, Sally Waters, Sprinkled in the pan; Rise, Sally, rise, Sally, For a young man, Choose the best and choose the worst, And choose the prettiest you love best.
--Welford, Berks (Mrs. Stephen Batson).
VII. Sally, Sally Wallflower, Sprinkled in the pan, &c., Now you're married, &c., On the carpet you shall kneel, &c.
--_Notes and Queries_, 5th series, iii.
VIII. Sallie, Sallie Waters, Sprinkled in a pan; Rise, Sallie, rise, Sallie, Choose a young man. Choose the best, and Choose the worst, and Choose the one that you love best.
Now that you are married, I'm sure we wish you joy, First a girl, then a boy; Seven years after, Son and daughter, Pray, young couple, come kiss together.
--Enborne, Berks; Marlborough, Wilts; Lewes, Sussex (Miss Kimber).
IX. Sally, Sally Waters, Sprinkle in a pan; Cry, Sally, cry, Sally, For a young man. Come choose the worst, Come choose the best, Come choose the young man That you like the best.
And now you're married I wish yer good joy, Every year a girl and a boy. Come love one another Like sister and brother, And kiss together for joy.
Clash the bells, Clash the bells.
--Maxey, Northants; and Suffolk (Rev. W. D. Sweeting).
X. Sally, Sally Water, sprinkle in the pan; Rise, Sally, rise, Sally, for a young man. Pick and choose, but choose not me, Choose the fairest you can see.
Now Sally is married, we wish her much joy, First a girl and then a boy; Seven years after a son and a daughter, Please to come and kiss together.
--Summertown, Oxford (A. H. Franklin in _Midland Garner_, N. S. ii. 32).
XI. Sally, Sally Waters, sprinkle in the pan; Rise, Sally, rise, Sally, for a young man. Choose for the worst, choose for the best,[7] Choose for the prettiest that you loves best. Now you are married, &c.
--Longcot, Berkshire, (Miss J. Barclay).
XII. Sally, Sally Waters, Sprinkle in a pan; Cry, Sally, cry, Sally, For a young man.
Rise up, Sally, Dry your tears; Choose the one you love the best, Sally, my dear.
--Earls Heaton, Yorks. (Herbert Hardy).
XIII. Sally, Sally Water, sprinkle in the pan, Is not ---- a nice young man? and Is not (girl's name) as good as he? They shall be married if they can agree. I went to her house and I dropped a pin, I asked if Mrs. ---- was in. She is not within, she is not without, She is up in the garret walking about. Down she comes as white as milk, With a rose in her bosom as soft as silk. She off with her glove and showed me her ring, To-morrow, to-morrow the wedding begins.
--Surrey (_Folk-lore Record_, v. 88).
XIV. Sally, Sally Walker, come sprinkle your pan, For down in the meadows there's a nice young man; Rise up, Sally, don't look sad, For you shall have a husband, good or bad.
On the carpet you shall kneel Till the grass grows round your feet; Stand up straightly on your feet, And choose the one you love so sweet.
Now Sally's married, we wish her joy, First a girl, then a boy; If it's a boy, we'll buy him a cap, If it's a girl, we will buy her a hat. If one won't do, will buy you two, If two won't do, will buy you three, If three won't do, will get you four, If four won't do, will get no more, So kiss and shake hands, and come out.
--Tong, Shropshire (Miss C. F. Keary).
XV. Sally, Sally Water, come sprinkle your pan (_or_ plants), For down in the meadows there lies a young man. Rise, Sally, rise, and don't you look sad, For you shall have a husband, good or bad. Choose you one, choose you two, Choose the fairest you can see!
The fairest one as I can see, Is _Jenny Wood_, pray come to me!
Now you are married, I wish you good joy, First a girl and then a boy; Seven years now, and seven to come, Take her and kiss her, and send her off home.
--_Shropshire Folk-lore_, p. 509.
XVI. Sally, Sally Water (or Slauter), Come sprinkle in your can, Why do you get married To a foolish young man? Pick the worst, and pick the best, And pick the one that you love best.
. . . . .
To a nice young man
. . . . .
So kiss and say good-bye.
[My informant forgets the rest.]
--Nottinghamshire (Miss M. Peacock).
XVII. Sally Water, Sally Water, Come sprinkle your can, Why don't you rise, Sally, And choose a young man? Come choose of the wisest, Come choose of the best, Come choose of the young man That lies in your breast.
--Gloucestershire and Warwickshire (Northall, 378).
XVIII. Sally Water, Sally Water, Come, sprinkle your can; Who do you lie mourning, All for a young man? Come, choose of the wisest, Come, choose of the best, Come, choose of the young men The one you love best.
--Addy's _Sheffield Glossary_.
XIX. Sally, Sally Salter, Sprinkle in some water; Knock it in a mortar, And send it in a silver saucer To ---- ---- door.
--Stixwould, Lincolnshire, seventy years ago (Miss M. Peacock).
XX. Sally Water, Sally Water, Springin' in a pan; Cry, Sally, cry, Sally, For a young man; Choose for the worst 'un, Choose for the best 'un, Choose the little gell 'at you love the best.
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.
--Wakefield, Yorkshire (Miss Fowler).
XXI. Sally, Sally Water, Come, water your can, Such a young lady before a young man; Rise, Sally Water, Don't look so sad, For you shall have a husband, good or bad.
Now you're married we wish you joy; Father and mother, you need not cry; Kiss and kiss each other again; Now we're happy, let's part again.
--Long Itchington, Warwickshire (_Northamptonshire Notes and Queries_, ii. 105).
XXII. Sally, Sally Slarter, Sitting by the water, Crying out and weeping For a young man. Rise, Sally, rise, Dry up your eyes; Turn to the east, Turn to the west, Turn to the young man That you love the best. So now you've got married I hope you'll enjoy Your sons and your daughters, So kiss and good-bye.
--Addy's _Sheffield Glossary_.
XXIII. Sally, Sally Walker, sprinkled in a pan; What did she sprinkle for? for a young man; Sprinkle, sprinkle, daughter, and you shall have a cow; I cannot sprinkle, mother, because I don't know how. Sprinkle, sprinkle, daughter, and you shall have a man; I cannot sprinkle, mother, but I'll do the best I can. Pick and choose, but don't you pick me; Pick the fairest you can see. The fairest one that I can see is ----. Come to me. Now you're married I wish you much joy; Your father and mother you must obey; Seven long years a girl and a boy; So hush, a bush, bush, get out of the way.
--Buckingham (Thos. Baker in _Midland Garner_, New Series, ii. 31).
XXIV. Little Sally Walker sitting in a sigh, Weeping and waiting for a young man. Come choose you east, come choose you west, The very one that you love best.
--Nairn (Rev. W. Gregor).
XXV. Little Sally Walker sitting on the sand, Crying and weeping for a young man. Rise, Sally, rise, Sally, wipe away your tears, Try for the east, and try for the west, Try for the (little) very one you love best.
Now they're married I wish them joy, Every year a girl and boy, Loving each other like sister and brother, I hope to see them meet again.
--Fraserburgh (Rev. W. Gregor).
XXVI. Little Sally Sander Sitting in the sander, Weeping and crying for her young man. Rise, Sally, rise And wipe away your tears; Choose to the east, Choose to the west, And choose to the very one that you love best. Now you're married we wish you joy, First a girl and then a boy; Twelve months after son and daughter, All join hands and kiss together.
--Penzance, Cornwall (Mrs. Mabbott).
XXVII. Sally, Sally Walker, tinkle in a can; Rise up, Sally, and choose a young man. Look to the east, and look to the west, Choose the one that you love the best.
--Settle, Yorkshire (Rev. W. S. Sykes).
XXVIII. Sally Water, Sally Water, Come sprinkle your fan; Sally, Sally Waters, sprinkle in a pan; Rise, Sally, rise, Sally, for a young man. Choose to the east, and choose to the west, And choose the dearest one that you love best.
Now you're married, we wish you joy, First a girl and then a boy; Love one another like sister and brother, And never lose time by kissing one another.
--West Haddon (_Northamptonshire Notes and Queries_, ii. 104).
XXIX. Little Sally Waters, sitting in the sun, Crying and weeping for her young man. Rise, Sally, rise, wipe up your tears, Fly to the east, fly to the west, Fly to the one that you love the best.
--Brigg, Lincolnshire (Miss Barker).
XXX. Hie Sally Walker, hie Sally Ken, Hie Sally Walker, follow young men. Choose to the east, and choose to the west, Choose to the very one you love best.
Marriage comfort and marriage joy, First a girl and then a boy. Seven years after, seven years to come, Fire on the mountain, kiss and run.
--Belfast, Ireland (W. H. Patterson).
XXXI. Little Alice Sander Sat upon a cinder, Weeping and crying for her young man. Rise up, Alice, dry your tears, Choose the one that you love best, Alice my dear.
Now they have got married I hope they will joy, Seven years afterwards, seven years ago, Now is the time to kiss and go.
--Earls Heaton, Yorks. (Herbert Hardy).
XXXII. Rise, Sally Walker, Rise if you can, Rise, Sally Walker, and follow your good man; Choose to the east, and choose to the west, Choose to the one you love best. There is a couple married in joy, Past a girl and then a boy, Seven years after, seven years to come, Kiss you couple, kiss and be done. A' the many hours to us a happy life, Except ---- and he wants a wife. A wife shall he have, And a widower shall he be, Except ---- that sits on his knee, A guid fauld hoose and a blacket fireside, Draw up your gartens and show all your bride.
--(Rev. W. Gregor).
XXXIII. Arise, Sally Walker, arise, if you can, Arise, Sally Walker, and follow your good man; Come choose to the east, come choose to the west, Come choose to the very one you love best.
This is a couple married with joy; First a girl and then a boy, Seven years after and seven years to come, This young couple married and begun. [The Christian name of a girl] made a pudding so nice and sweet, [Boy's Christian name] took a knife and tasted it. Taste love, taste love, don't say No, The next Sunday morning To church we shall go. Clean the brazen candlesticks, And clean the fireside, Draw back the curtains. And lat's see the bride. A' the men in oor toon leads a happy life, Except [a boy's full name], and he wants a wife. A wife shall he hae, and a widow she shall be; For look at [a girl's full name] diddling on's knee. He paints her cheeks and he curls her hair, And he kisses the lass at the foot o' the stair.
--Tyrie (Rev. W. Gregor).
[The form of words at Cullen is the same for the first seven lines, and then the words are:--]
XXXIV. This young couple be married and be done, A' the men in oor toon leads a happy life, Except ---- and he wants a wife. A wife he shall have, and a widow she shall be, Except [a girl's name] that sits on his knee, Painting her face and curling her hair, Kissing [a girl's name] at the foot o' the stair.
--Cullen (Rev. W. Gregor).
XXXV. Rise, Sally Walker, rise if you can, Rise, Sally Walker, follow your gudeman. Come choose to the east, come choose to the west, Come choose to the very one that you love best.
Now they're married I wish them joy, Every year a girl or boy, Loving each other like sister and brother, And so they may be kissed together.