Part 34

(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.

The centre child takes the one selected by the hand, and they stand together in the centre, while the ring dances round and sings--

Open the gates to let the bride out, to let the bride out, to let the bride out, Open the gates to let the bride out, my dilsee dollsie dee. Open the gates to let the bride out, my dilsee dollsie dofficer.

The children then unclasp hands, and the two children walk out. Another child goes in the centre and the game is begun again, and continued until the ring is too small for dancing round. Sometimes, instead of this, the two children return to the ring singing, "Open the gates and let the bride in," and then they take places in the circle, while another goes in the centre.--(Dr. A. C. Haddon.)

Doagan.

An extraordinary game, which was played by Manx children sixty years ago. A rude wooden representation of the human form was fastened on a cross, and sticks were thrown at it, just after the fashion of the modern "Aunt Sally." But it is quite possible that this game, taken in connection with the following very curious words which the children repeated when throwing the sticks, is a survival of a more serious function--

Shoh dhyt y Doagan. "This to thee, the Doagan." Cre dooyrt y Doagan? "What says the Doagan?" Dar y chrosh, dar y chron, "Upon the cross, upon the block," Dar y maidjey beg, jeeragh ny cam, "Upon the little staff, straight or crooked," Ayns y cheylley veg shid hoal, "In the little wood over yonder." My verrys oo yn kione jeh'n Doagan, "If thou wilt give the head of the Doagan," Verym y kione jeeds er y hon.[16] "I will give thy head for it."

Mr. Moore writes that Kelly, who gives these words in his Dictionary, says that Doagan was a play, and that it refers to the head of Dagon being broken off. Does he mean the Philistine god of that name? As he is capable of seeing a reference to the god, Baal, in the Manx word for May-day, Boaldyv, it is quite possible that his imagination may lead him so far!--Isle of Man (A. W. Moore).

[16] Manx Society, vol. xiii. p. 63.

Down in Yonder Meadow.

[Vol. i. p. 99; ii. p. 323; "All the Boys," i. 2-6.]

Down in yonder meadow where the green grass grows, Where (name of girl) she bleaches her clothes; She sang, she sang, she sang so sweet, She sang (name of boy) across the street. He kissed her, he kissed her, he bought her a gown, He bought her a gown and a guinea gold ring, A guinea, a guinea, a guinea gold ring, A feather for the church and a pea-brown hat. Up the streets and down the streets the windows made of glass, Oh, isn't (name of girl) a braw young lass. But isn't (name of boy) as nice as she, And when they get married I hope they will agree. Agree, agree, I hope they will agree, And when they get married I hope they will agree.

--Laurieston School, Kirkcudbrightshire (J. Lawson).

Down in yonder meadow where the green grass grows, Where so and so (a girl's name) she bleaches her clothes; She sang, and she sang, and she sang so sweet, Come over (a boy's name), come over, come over the street. So and so (same girl's Christian name) made a pudding so nice and sweet, So and so (same boy's Christian name) took a knife and tasted it. Taste, love; taste, love; don't say no, For the next Sabbath morning to church we must go. Clean sheets and pillowslips, and blankets an' a', A little baby on your knee, and that's the best of a'. Heepie tarrie, heepie barrie, bo barrie grounds, Bo barrie ground and a guinea gold ring, A guinea gold ring and a peacock hat, A cherry for the church and a feather at the back. She paints her cheeks and she curls her hair, And she kisses (boy's name) at the foot o' the stair.

--Fraserburgh (Rev. Dr. Gregor).

The above are played in the same way as previously described.

Another version, from Perth, says, after the line, "She sang, and she sang" (as above).

Come over the water, come over the street, She baked him a dumpling, she baked it so sweet That bonny (Billie Sanders) was fain for to eat, &c.

Down in the meadows where the green grass grows, There's where my Nannie she sound her horn; She sound, she sound, she sound so sweet;

. . . . .

Nannie made the puddin' so nice and so sweet, Johnny took a knife and he taste a bit; Love, taste; love, taste, and don't say nay, For next Sunday mornin' is our weddin'-day. Off wid the thimble and on wid the ring; A weddin', a weddin', is goin' to begin. O Nannie, O Nannie, O Nannie my joy, Never be ashamed for to marry a boy! For I am but a boy, and I'll soon be a man, And I'll earn for my Nannie as soon as I can. And every evenin' when he comes home, He takes her for a walk on the Circular Road. And every little girl that he sees passin' by, He thinks 'tis his Nannie he has in his eye.

--Howth, Dublin (Miss H. G. Harvey).

Draw a Pail of Water.

[Vol. i. pp. 100-107].

A lump of sugar, Grind your mother's flour, Three sacks an hour, One in a rush, two in a crush, Pray, old lady, creep under the bush (all jump round).

--Girton village, Cambridgeshire (Dr. A. C. Haddon).

Drop Handkerchief.

[Vol. i. pp. 109-112; "Black Doggie," vol. ii. p. 407.]

As played at Fochabers the game varies slightly in the way it is played from those previously described. The words are--

"I dropt it, I dropt it, a king's copper next, I sent a letter to my love, and on the way I dropt it."

The players forming the ring are forbidden to look round. The one having the handkerchief endeavours to drop it at some one's back without his or her knowledge, and then to get _three_ times round the ring without being struck by the handkerchief. If the player does not manage this she has to sit in the centre of the ring as "old maid;" the object in this version evidently is not to let the player upon whom the handkerchief is dropped be aware of it.--Fochabers, N.E. Scotland (Rev. Dr. Gregor).

Dumb Crambo.

[See "Hiss and Clap," vol. i. p. 215.]

The players divide into two sides: one side goes outside the room, the other remains in the room, and decides on some verb to be guessed and acted by the other. The outside party is told that the chosen verb "rhymes with ----." The outside party decide on some verb, and come in and act this word in dumb show, whilst the inside party sit and look on, hissing if the guess is wrong, and clapping if the acting shows the right word is chosen. No word must pass on either side.--Bedford, and generally known (Mrs. A. C. Haddon).

Dump.

[Vol. i. p. 117.]

A version of this game played by three children. The three sit close together, close their hands and place them over each other, the first one on the knee of one of them. One then asks, "Faht's that cockin' up there?" "Cock a pistol; cock it aff," replies another. The same process is gone through till only one hand is left on the knee. Then the one whose hand was uppermost at the beginning of the game says--

Faht's in there? Gold and money (is the answer). Fahr's my share o't? The moosie ran awa' wi't. Fahr's the moosie? In her hoosie. Fahr's her hoosie? In the wood. Fahr's the wood? The fire brunt it. Fahr's the fire? The water quencht it. Fahr's the water? The broon bull drank it. Fahr's the broon bull? At the back a (of) Burnie's hill Fahr's the back a Burnie's hill? A' claid wi' snaw. Fahr's the snaw? The sun meltit it. Fahr's the sun? Heigh, heigh up i' the air.

He who speaks first, or laughs first, or lats (lets) their teeth be seen, gets nine nips, nine nobs, an' nine double douncornes, an' a gueed blow on the back o' the head.--Corgarff (Rev. Dr. Gregor).

Eendy, Beendy.

Eendy, Beendy, baniba, roe, Caught a chicken by the toe; To the east, to the west, To the old crow's nest, Hopping in the garden, swimming in the sea, If you want a pretty girl, please take me.

--N. Scotland, locality forgotten (Rev. Dr. Gregor).

One girl dances forward from a line of children singing the words. Another from a line opposite responds, and they dance together. They look first to the east and then to the west by turning their heads in those directions alternately.

Farmer's Den, The.

All players but one form a ring, this one stands in the centre. The ring dances round singing the words--

The farmer in his den, the farmer in his den, For it's oh, my dearie, the farmer's in his den. For the farmer takes a wife, For the farmer takes a wife; For it's oh, my dearie, the farmer takes a wife.

The child in centre then chooses one from the circle, who goes in the middle, and the ring dances round again singing--

For the wife takes a child, &c. (as above).

And choosing another child from the ring, then--

For the child takes a nurse, &c. (as above).

For the nurse takes a dog, &c. (as above).

Then all the players join in singing--

For we all clap the dog, For we all clap the dog. For it's oh! my dearie, we all clap the dog.

While singing this all the players pat the one who was chosen as "dog" on his or her back.--Auchencairn, N.B. (Mary Haddon).

Fire on the Mountains.

[See "Round Tag," vol. ii. pp. 144-145.]

The players arrange themselves into a double circle with a space between each pair. The one at the back stands and the inside players kneel. Another player stands in the centre and cries out, "Fire on the mountain; run, boys, run!" Those players who are standing in the outer circle begin to run round, those kneeling remaining in that position. They continue running until the centre player cries "Stop!" They all then (including the centre player) make a rush to get a stand behind one of the kneeling players, the one who is left out going into the centre.--Auchterarder, N.B. (Miss E. S. Haldane).

This game may possibly suggest an origin for "Round tag," although the incident of "catching" or "touching" a runner does not appear, and the inner circle of players apparently are always stationary.

Fool, Fool, come to School.

[Vol. i. p. 132.]

Played in the usual way with the following difference in the formula. The leader says, "Fool, foolie, come to your schoolie." When the fool comes, the leader says, "What have you been doing to-day?" Fool says, "Cursin' and swearin'." Fool is then chased off, recalled, and again questioned. Fool answers, "Suppin' my porridge and readin' my Bible." She is then welcome, and asked in the usual way to point out one from the school.--Aberdeen (Rev. Dr. Gregor).

Another formula sent me by Mr. C. C. Bell is to say, when the fool is sent back, "Fool, fool, go back to school, and learn more wit."

French Jackie,

name for "Round Tag" and "Two and Threes," in Tyrie (Rev. Dr. Gregor).

Galloping.

Galloping, galloping to the fair, Courting the girls with the _red_ petticoats; Galloping, galloping all day long, Courting the girls with the _speckled_ petticoats.

Girls sing this resting one knee on the ground, striking the other knee with their right hand as they say each word. The length of the song depends upon the ingenuity of the players in finding new colours for the petticoats each time.--Isle of Man (A. W. Moore).

The game is not known now.

Gallant Ship.

[See "Round and Round the Gallant Ship," vol. ii. p. 143.]

Up spoke a boy of our gallant ship, And a well-spoken boy was he-- I have a mother in London town, This night she'll be looking for me.

She may look, she may sigh, with the tear in her eye, She may look to the bottom of the sea. Three times round went our gallant ship, And three times round went she! And three times round went our gallant ship, Till she came to the bottom of the sea!

The players form a ring and dance round, getting quicker as they sing "Three times round," &c. When the last line is sung they let go hands and sink to the ground. The player who sinks down first is taken away by the others and asked whom he or she loves best. The ring is then reformed, and the child who has given her sweetheart's name is placed in the centre. The ring then dances round singing out the name of the sweetheart.

Mrs. Brown is new comed hame, A coach and four to carry hame.

--Galloway (J. G. Carter).

Galley, Galley Ship.

[See "Merry-ma-tansa," vol. i. pp. 369-376; ii. p. 443.]

Three times round goes the galley, galley ship, And three times round goes she; Three times round goes the galley, galley ship, And she sank to the bottom of the sea.

Choose your neighbours one or two, One or two, one or two; Choose your neighbours one or two, Around about Mary Matanzie.

A treacle scone to tell her name, To tell her name, to tell her name; A treacle scone to tell her name, Around about Mary Matanzie.

A guinea gold watch to tell his name, To tell his name, to tell his name; A guinea gold watch to tell his name, Around about Mary Matanzie.

(Name of boy) is his name, Is his name, is his name, ---- is his name, Around about Mary Matanzie.

--Laurieston School, Kircudbrightshire (J. Lawson).

A version of "Merry-ma-tansa," incomplete. [See vol. i. p. 375.]

Another is--

Three times around goes our gallant ship, And three times around goes she, she, she; And three times around goes our gallant ship, And she sinks to the bottom of the sea.

Played in ring form with one child in centre. All sink down on the ground when the above lines are sung, and the last to rise must tell the name of her sweetheart. Then the circle forms around her, and all sing--

Here's the bride just new come in, Just new come in, just new come in; Here's the bride just new come in, Around the merry guid tanzy.

Guess wha's her guid lad, Her guid lad, her guid lad; Guess wha's her guid lad, Around the merry guid tanzy.

(Willie Broon) is his name, Is his name, is his name, (Willie Broon) is his name, Around the merry guid tanzy.

--St. Andrews and Howth (Miss H. E. Harvey).

Miss Harvey writes: I believe "tanzy" is the name of a kind of dance.

Glasgow Ships.

Glasgow ships come sailing in, Come sailing in, come sailing in; Glasgow ships come sailing in, On a fine summer morning.