Part 35
You daurna set your foot upon, Your foot upon, your foot upon; You daurna set your foot upon, Or gentle George will kiss you.
Three times kiss you, four times bless you, Five times butter and bread Upon a silver salver.
Who shall we send it to, Send it to, send it to? Who shall we send it to? To Mrs. ----'s daughter. Take her by the lily-white hand, Lead her over the water; Give her kisses, one, two, three. She is the favourite daughter.
--Perth (Rev. Dr. Gregor).
Glasgow ships come sailing in, &c. (three times) Three times bless you, three times kiss you, Three times butter and bread upon a silver saucer. Whom shall I send it to, I send it to, I send it to? To Captain Gordon's daughter.
--Rosehearty (Rev. Dr. Gregor).
The Glasgow ships come sailing in, &c. (as first version). Three times down and then we fall, then we fall, then we fall, Three times down and then we fall, in a fine summer morning. Three times butter and bread, butter and bread, butter and bread, Three times butter and bread upon a silver saucer. Come, choose you east, come choose you west, Come, choose you east, come choose you west, To the very one that you love best.
--Nairn (Rev. Dr. Gregor).
Glasgow ships come sailing in, &c. (as first version) She daurna set a foot upon, &c. Or gentle John will kiss her. Three times round the ring, three times bless her, I sent a slice of bread and butter upon a silver saucer. Whom shall we send it to? &c. To Captain ----'s daughter. Her love's dead and gone, dead and gone, dead and gone, She turns her back to the wa's again. She washes her face, she combs her hair, She leaves her love at the foot of the stair, She wears on her finger a guinea gold ring, And turns her back to the wa's again.
All join hands and form a ring. At the end of verses the girl named turns her back, and the game is resumed.--Fochabers (Rev. Dr. Gregor); Port William School, Wigtonshire.
In a version from Auchterarder, N. B., sent by Miss E. S. Haldane, the words are very similar to these. After all the children have turned their backs to the inside they have what is called the "pigs' race," which is running swiftly round in this position. See "Uncle John," vol. ii. pp. 321-322.
Granny's Needle.
[See "Auld Grannie."]
Green Gravel.
[Vol. i. pp. 170-183.]
Round apples, round apples, by night and by day, There stands a valley in yonder haze; There stands poor Lizzie with a knife in her hand, There's no one dare touch her, or she'll go mad; Her cheeks were like roses, and now they're like snow, Poor Lizzie! poor Lizzie! you're dying, I know, We'll wash you with milk, and we'll dry [or roll] you with silk, And we'll write down your name with a gold pen and ink.
--New Galloway (Rev. Dr. Gregor).
Boys and girls take hands and go round saying--
Round the green gravel Grass grows green, Many's the lady fit to be seen, Washed in milk and dried in silk. The last pops down!
The last boy or girl to pop down has to tell who he (or she) is courting.--Kiltubbrid, Co. Leitrim (L. L. Duncan).
Green Grass.
[Vol. i. pp. 153-169.]
All the girls arrange themselves in a line, and one stands in front. The one in front sings--
Dis-a-dis-a green grass, Dis-a-dis-a-dis; Come all ye pretty fair maids, And walk along wi' us. Will ye have a duck, my dear (pointing to one of the girls in the line), Or will ye have a drake, Or will ye have a young man To answer for your sake?
The girl pointed to answers--
I'll neither have a duck, my dear, Nor will I have a drake; But I will have a young man To answer for my sake.
She now leaves the line and takes her stand beside the one that stands in front, and all begin to clap their hands and sing--
The bells will ring, And the psalms will sing, And we'll all claps hands together.
The two in front then begin to sing what the one first sang, and the same goes on till all are chosen.--Peterhead; St. Andrews (Mrs. Stewart, when a girl).
Here we go in a merry band, Round about the berry buss; Come all ye pretty fair maids, And dance along with us; We shall have a duck and drake, We shall have a dragon, We shall have a young man, The prince of the Saigen. The young man dies, And leaves the girl a widow. The birds shall sing, the bells shall ring, And we will all clap hands together. Here we go a roving, A roving in a band; I will take my pretty Mary, I will take her by the hand.
--Perth (Rev. Dr. Gregor).
Another version, very similar to that given in vol. i. pp. 161-162 from Congleton Workhouse School, and sent me by Mr. J. Lawson, Laurieston School, Kirkcudbrightshire, begins, "Will you take silver and gold?"
Another Scottish version of this game is given in _Notes and Queries_, 3rd ser., v. 393, as follows:--
A duss, a duss of green grass, A duss, a duss, a duss; Come all you pretty maidens, And dance along with us; You shall have a duck, my dear, And you shall have a dragon, And you shall have a young gudeman, To dance ere you're forsaken. The bells shall ring, The birds shall sing, And we'll all clap hands together.
Green Grass.
[A game so called by Dr. Gregor, but apparently not belonging to the one usually known under that name.]
The girls stand in a line, and one stands in front. All sing--
Green grass suits us, As my boots are lined with silver; E. I. O, E. I. O, my ain bonnie (a girl's Christian name).
The girl in front then chooses the girl named, and both girls join hands and wheel round, whilst all sing--
I kissed her once, I kissed her twice, I kissed her three times over. Hop, hop, the butcher's shop, I cannot stay any longer. If I stay my mother will say I played with the boys up yonder.
--Tyrie (Rev. Dr. Gregor).
Another version is--
Green grass set her fair, a bunch of gold and silver, A white rosette upon her breast, a gold ring on her finger, A I O, my Jessie O; I wish I had my Jessie O. I kissed her once, &c., as above.
Heap the Cairn.
[See "More Sacks to the Mill," vol. i. p. 390.]
One boy is thrown flat on the ground, then another is thrown over him, and then another and another, and the bigger boys dash the smaller ones on those that are down, while all keep shouting--
Heap the cyarn-- Dirt and sharn.
--Keith (Rev. Dr. Gregor).
Hear all! Let me at her.
Hear all! let me at her; Hear all! let me go; Hear all! let me at her, When my mammy will or no.
---- has ta'en a notion For to go and sail the sea; There he's left his own dear ----, Weeping on the Greenland sea.
Hold your tongue, my own dear ----, Take your baby on your knee. Drink his health, my jolly sailors, I'll come back and marry thee.
I will buy thee beads and ear-rings, I will buy thee diamond stones, I will buy thee silken ribbons, When thy baby's dead and gone.
---- says she'll wear the ribbons, ---- says she'll wear them a'-- ---- says she'll wear the ribbons When her baby's dead and gone.
A ring is formed, one player in the centre. When the verses are sung the girl in the middle chooses another to take her place.--Fochabers (Rev. Dr. Gregor.)
Hen and Chickens.
[See "Auld Grannie," p. 404.]
High Windows.
[See "Drop Handkerchief," vol. i. pp. 109-112; "Black Doggie," vol. ii. pp. 407-408.]
Boys hold hands and go round in ring form.
One player stands in the middle and strikes one of those in the ring with a bit of grass; both players then run out of the ring, and the boy who was in the midst must catch the other before he goes round three times. At the third time the boys all cry "High Windows," raising their hands at the same time to let the two inside the circle.--Kiltubbrid, Co. Leitrim (L. L. Duncan).
Hot Cockles.
[Vol. i. p. 229.]
A version of this game, in which a dell or goal is appointed. The players stand together, one player places his head between the knees of another, who bends down, and slaps him on the back, keeping time to the following rhyme, saying--
Skip, skip, sko, Where shall this young man go? To the east, or the west? Or the young crow's nest?
The kneeling boy shouts out the name of the dell, and the other players all rush off shouting out its name. The one who gets there first wins the game.--Meiklefolla, Aberdeenshire (Rev. Dr. Gregor).
Hulla-balloo-ballee.
[See "Lubin," vol. i. pp. 352-361.]
One version of Lubin Loo, from Forfar, Linlithgow, and Argyllshire, is the same as those given in vol. i. A Nairnshire version is called "Hullabaloo-ballee."
Hulla-balloo, ballee, Hulla-balloo, ballight; Hulla-balloo, ballee, All on a winter's night, Put your right foot in, &c. Turn round about.
At "turn round about," they reverse the direction, and dance round the other way, and so on.--Rev. Dr. Gregor; and Mrs Jamieson.
Another version is--
Old Simon, the king, young Simon, the squire, Old Simon, the king, sat round a nice warm fire; Keep your right hand in, shove your right hand out, Shake it a little, a little, and turn yourself about! Keep your right foot in, shove your left foot out, Shake it a little, a little, and turn yourself about. Hally gallee, gallee, gallee; Hally gallo, gallo, gallo; Hally gallee, gallee, gallee, Upon a Saturday night. Keep your right hand in, &c.
--Galloway (J. G. Carter).
Several versions of this game are given by Mr. E. W. B. Nicholson in his interesting little book "Goldspie," pp. 176-184. He considers "Hilli-ballu," "Hulla-baloo," and similar words to be the original of the English forms "Here we dance Looby Loo," or Lubin, and all of these to be derived from hunting cries, such as ha, là bas! loup! uttered by huntsmen to definite musical notes, possibly introduced into songs and afterwards adapted as lullabies because of their resemblance to the lulling-cries ba (= bye) and lulli.
Isabella.
[Vol. i. pp. 247-256.]
Two or three versions which vary slightly in method of playing may be given. The first is played in the usual way until the last line is said, when the player turns her back to the circle facing outwards as in Wall-flowers.
Isabella, Isabella, Isabella, farewell; There is my hand, love, there is my hand, love, farewell! Over the mountains, over the mountains, over the mountains, farewell! Her love's dead and gone, dead and gone, dead and gone! Her love's dead and gone, turn your back behind her.
--Perth (Rev. Dr. Gregor).
Another version is--
Isabella, fare ye wella; Isabella, fare ye wella; Isabella, farewell!
One player then leaves the ring singing--
"I'm off to the Indies," &c.
The ring all sing--
"Over the mountains" (as above) six times, ending with--
"Isabella, Isabella, farewell" (as above).
The player who had previously left the ring returns singing, "I'm come back from the Indies," &c.
A ring is formed, one player kneels in the centre, the players in the ring fix their eyes steadily on the kneeling girl all the time.--Fochabers, N.E. Scotland (Rev. Dr. Gregor).
In the next version the words of each verse are:--
Isabella, farewella, &c. Back from London, &c. Go to London, &c. Pull the brooch off my bosom, &c. Pull the ring off my finger, &c.
--Laurieston School, Kircudbrightshire (J. Lawson).
Jenny Jones.
[Vol. i. pp. 260-283.]
The versions printed here vary, it will be seen, from those printed in vol. i., principally in the words used towards the end of the game, the earlier portions being very similar. The first one is an exceedingly interesting variant, the funeral details being fuller, and the idea of the spirit of the dead or Ghost surviving also.
The first lines of each verse are as follows:--
I've come to see Jenny Jones, How does she do? She is washing, &c., you can't see her now. I've come to see Jenny Jones, &c. She is scrubbing, &c., you can't see her now. I've come to see, &c. She is ill, &c. I've come to see, &c. She's very ill, &c. I've come to see, &c. She's dying, &c. I've come to see. She's dead. We'll come in blue, blue, blue. Will that suit? Blue is for sailors, &c. That won't suit. We'll come in red, &c. Red is for soldiers, &c. We'll come in white, &c. White is for weddings, &c. We'll come in black, &c. Black is for mourning, &c. That will suit.
They then take up Jenny Jones, and carry her to a little distance off, lay her on the ground, and all stand round. One child stands over the grave, and while sprinkling Jenny with dust, says--
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. If God won't have you, the devil must.
Then Jenny jumps up and runs after the other children, who try to escape. The one she catches is "Jenny" next time.--Barrington (Dr. A. C. Haddon).
In another version called "Georgina" one player selected to act as Georgina kneels down against a wall, and the others stand round to conceal her. Two go apart to act as callers, while another stands near the group as mother. The callers come forward and say--
We came to see Georgina, &c. And how is she to-day? She's upstairs washing, &c., And you can't see her to-day. Farewell, ladies.
They then retire, but return in a little while, and put the question as before. She is then "starching," said as above; and next time she is "ironing," the fourth time the mother's answer is, "She fell downstairs and broke her arm, and you can't see her to-day;" the fifth time, "Two doctors are at her;" the sixth, she is "worse;" and the seventh, she is "dead." The two callers remain when this reply is given. At this point Georgina makes a noise by rapping two stones together. The two at once exclaim, "Oh! mother, mother, what's that knocking?" and she answers, "The coach going by." The knocking is repeated, and the question, and she says, "The wall falling down." On the knocking being heard a third time, she tells them to "take a candle and look." They pretend to do so, and "Georgina" starts up to chase them. They all run off shouting, "The Ghost."--Strichen and Fochabers (Rev. Dr. Gregor).
I came to see Georgina, Georgina, Georgina, I came to see Georgina, and how is she to-day? She's upstairs ironing. I came to see Georgina, &c. (as above). She fell downstairs and broke her muckle toe. I'm very sorry to hear that, &c. She's dead. Bad news, bad news, bad news to-day. What shall we dress her in? &c. Dress her in red. Red is for the soldier, and that won't do, &c. What shall we dress her in? &c. Dress her in blue. Blue is for the sailor, &c. What shall we dress her in? &c. Dress her in white. White is for the angels, that will do, &c. Mother, mother, what's that? &c. A gig running past. Mother, mother, what's that? &c. The boys playing at marbles. Mother, mother, what's that? what's that? what's that? Mother, mother, what's that? Georgina's ghost!!
Ending with a general stampede.
--Nairnshire (Mrs. Jamieson).
We've come to see poor Janet, And how is she to-day? She's up the stairs washing, She can't come down to-day. Very well, we'll call another day. We've come to see poor Janet, And how is she to-day? She's up the stairs ironing, &c. Well, we'll call, &c. We've come to see poor Janet, &c. She's fallen downstairs and broken her horn toes, &c. Poor Janet, we'll call, &c. We've come, &c. She's dead, &c. What's she to be dressed in? Red. That's for soldiers; that won't do. Blue. That's for sailors; that won't do. White. That will do.
--Rosehearty (Rev. Dr. Gregor).
Played in usual way until the end. Janet is then carried off and laid down on the ground, but she starts up and chases them.
Many other versions have been sent me, but none with different features. The best is one from Mr. J. G. Carter, Dalry, Galloway, called "Jenny Jo," but presenting no fresh details, and where white is used for the burial. Four children stand on one side with Jenny at their back, the other players on the opposite. She is buried with great mourning. In a version from Hemsby (Mrs. Haddon) the words are the same, except: "White is the colour for weddings," and black is for funerals. Then Jenny is carried to the grave, the other children walking behind two by two; they kneel round Jenny, and have a good cry over her. Another version from Laurieston School (Mr. J. Lawson), called "Jerico," very similar to above, gives two additional verses. The first lines are, "Carry a poor soldier to the grave," and "Now the poor mother's weeping at the grave." In one version, after Jenny has been carried to her grave, the children stand round and sprinkle earth over her, and say, "Dust and dust, dust and dust," and then pretend to strew flowers. This I got in London. Another version from North Scotland begins, "I come to see _Geneva_" continues in usual way until "she is lying" instead of "ill"; then "she's dying," followed by "she's dead"; then the funeral. In another version Dr. Haddon sent me, the game is only a fragment. After "Jenny Jo's dead and gone, all the day long," they continue, "Pipes and tobacco for Jenny Jo" (repeat twice), "Pipes and tobacco for Jenny Jo, all the day long."
Jockie Rover.
[See "Stag," vol. ii. pp. 212, 374.]
One is chosen to be Rover, and a place is marked off called "The Den," from which he starts, and to which he and the others caught can run for protection. He has to clasp his hands and set off in pursuit of one of the players, whom he must crown without unclasping his hands. Before he leaves the den he calls out--
Jockie Rover, Three times over, If you do not look out, I'll gie you a blover.
When he catches one he unclasps his hands, and makes for the den along with the one caught. The players close in upon them, and beat them with their caps. The two now join hands, and before leaving the den repeat the same words, and give chase to catch another. When another is caught, the three run to the den, followed by the others pelting them.
During the time they are running to catch another player, every attempt is made by the others to break the band by rushing on two outstretched arms, either from before or from behind. Every time one is taken or the band broken, all already taken rush to the den, beaten by those not taken.--Dyke (Rev. Dr. Gregor).
A form of "Warney," "Whiddy."
Jolly Lads, Bold.
[Vol. i. pp. 294-296.]
Here come two bold, jolly lads, Just new come from the shore: We'll spend our time in drinking wine, As we have done before.
Then the ring dances round, singing--
We will have a round, and a round, We will have a pretty, pretty girl, For to dance upon the ground. Her shoes are made of morocco, Her stockings lined with silk, Her teeth are white as anything, And her skin as white as milk. We shall have a round, and a round, &c.
--Auchterarder, N. B. (Miss E. S. Haldane).
A ring is formed by players joining hands. Two other players dance round the ring in opposite directions, singing the first four lines while the ring stands still. Then the ring dances round singing the rest of the lines. The two outside then each take a player from the ring and begin again.
The words of the dance game, "Here we go around," vol. i. p. 205, are practically the same as the latter part of this, and suggests that this or a similar round is its original.
Jolly Miller. [Vol. i. pp. 289-293.]
This is played with the usual double ring, boys on the outside, girls inside, one child in centre. At the last a rush is made to obtain a vacant place.
He was a jolly miller, He lived by himself. As the wheel went round, he made his wealth, One hand in his pocket, the other at his back, As the mill went round, he made his wealth.
The girls being in the inside, turn and go the opposite way; and, while doing so, sing--
A hunting we will go, A hunting we will go, We'll catch a little fox, and we'll put him in a box, And a hunting we will go.
--Auchterarder, N. B. (Miss E. S. Haldane).
In this version the "grab" appears to be lost, and the "hunting" put in before the rush for the vacant place is made.
Keys of Heaven.
I will give you a golden ring, And jewels to hang and birds to sing, If you'll be my true lover, And true love of mine.
I will give you the keys of the chest, And gold enough to dress you in church, If you'll be my true lover, And true love of mine.
I will give you the keys of even [heaven], And angels to wait upon you six and seven, If you'll be my true lover, And true love of mine.
--Marylebone (A. B. Gomme).
Children form a ring by joining hands; they dance round. One stands in centre. She chooses another from the ring after singing the words, and the two dance round together.
This game is evidently but a fragment, the proper way of playing being forgotten. It would originally have been played in line form instead of a circle, and answers of "No" or "Yes," or other verses implying negative and then affirmative, given by the chosen or selected girl. These lines, and those given _post_ (p. 450), as "Paper of pins," are interesting fragments probably of one and the same game.
Kick the Block.
[See vol. i. p. 401.]
A small circle is made, and the stone or block is put in it. A boy stands with his foot on the stone and his eyes shut until all the other players are hid. He then tries to find them, and keep his block in its place. If one should come out when he is away from his block it is kicked out, and all the boys that were found hide again.--Laurieston School, Kirkcudbrightshire (J. Lawson).
Another version of the same game, sent me by Mr. William P. Merrick, Shepperton, Middlesex, is called "Fly Whip."
The same game as "Mount the Tin," played somewhat differently.
Lady of the Land.
[Vol. i. pp. 313-319.]
A number of girls stand in a line. One of them represents the widow and the other the children. Another stands in front. All sing--
There came a poor widow from Sunderland, With all her children in her hand, One can bake, and one can sew, And one can do the hilygoloo. Please take one out.
The player who is standing alone in front of the other players chooses one from the line. The two then join right and left hands and wheel round in front, all singing--
Oh there's poor (girl's name chosen), She has gone without a farthing in her hand, Nothing but a guinea gold ring, Good-bye (girl's name), Good-bye, good-bye.
The mother shakes hands with the one chosen.
--Fraserburgh (Rev. Dr. Gregor).
Another version--
There is a poor widow from Sankelone, With all her children in her hand, One can knit, and one sew, And one can play the liligolor.
The widow then says--
Please take one in, Please take one in.
The one in front picks out one and places her at her back, and she lays hold of her dress, then all sing--
Now for poor (girl's name who has been chosen), she is gone, Without her father (? farthing) in her hand, She has lost her guinea gold ring, Good-bye, good-bye, Good-bye, good-bye.
The widow shakes hands with the girl. This is repeated till all are taken out and the widow is left by herself. She cries, and tries to take back her daughters. All run off.
--Cullen (Rev. Dr. Gregor).