The girls within the ring kiss. The one who first occupied the circle then joins the ring, while the last to come in enacts the part of mistress; and so on the game goes until all have had their turn.
"London Bridge" is a well-known and widely played game, though here and there with slightly differing rhymes. Two children—the tallest and strongest, as a rule—standing face to face, hold up their hands, making the form of an arch. The others form a long line by holding on to each other's dresses, and run under. Those running sing the first verse, while the ones forming the arch sing the second, and alternate verses, of the following rhyme:—
London bridge is fallen down,Fallen down, fallen down;London bridge is fallen down,My fair lady.
Question.—What will it take to build it up?(With repeats.)
Answer.—Needles and preens will build it up.
Question.—Needles and preens will rust and bend.
Answer.—Silver and gold will build it up.
Question.—Silver and gold will be stolen away.
Answer.—Build it up with penny loaves.
Question.—Penny loaves will tumble down.
Answer.—Bricks and mortar will build it up.
Question.—Bricks and mortar will wash away.
Answer.—We will set a dog to bark.
Question.—Here's a prisoner we have got.
At the words "a prisoner," the two forming the arch apprehend the passing one in the line, and, holding her fast, the dialogue resumes:—
Answer.—Here's a prisoner we have got.
Question.—What's the prisoner done to you?
Answer.—Stole my watch and broke my chain.
Question.—What will you take to set him free?
Answer.—A hundred pounds will set him free.
Question.—A hundred pounds I have not got.
Answer.—Then off to prison you must go.
Following this declaration, the prisoner is led a distance away from the rest by her jailers, where the questions are put to her, whether she will choose "a gold watch," or "a diamond necklace." As she decides she goes to the one side or the other. When, in like manner, all in the line have chosen, a tug-of-war ensues, and the game is ended.
"The Jolly Miller."—In this the players take partners—all except the miller, who takes his stand in the middle, while his companions walk round him in couples, singing:—
There was a jolly miller, who lived by himself,As the wheel went round he made his wealth;One hand in the hopper, and the other in the bag,As the wheel went round he made his grab.
At the word "grab," every one must change partners. The miller then has the opportunity of seizing one: and if he succeeds in so doing, the one necessarily left alone must take his place, and so on.
"Willie Wastle" is essentially a boy's game. One standing on a hillock or large boulder, from which he defies the efforts of his companions to dislodge him, exclaims, by way of challenge:—
I, Willie Wastle,Stand on my castle,And a' the dogs o' your toun,Will no ding Willie Wastle doun.
The boy who succeeds in dislodging him takes his place, and so on.
"Oats and Beans and Barley," a simple but pretty game, is played all over England, as well as in most parts of Scotland, with varying rhymes. In Perthshire the lines run:—
Oats and beans and barley grows,Oats and beans and barley grows;But you nor I nor nobody knowsHow oats and beans and barley grows.First the farmer sows his seeds,Then he stands and takes his ease;Stamps his feet, and claps his hands,Then turns around to view his lands.Waiting for a partner,Waiting for a partner;Open the ring and take one in,And kiss her in the centre.
The players form a ring by joining hands. One child—usually a boy—stands in the middle. The ring moving round, sing the first four lines. These completed, the ring stands, and still singing, each player gives suitable action to the succeeding words; showing how the "farmer sows his seeds," and how he "stands and takes his ease," etc. At the tenth line all wheel round. They then re-join hands, still singing, and atthe words, "Open the ring and take one in," the child in the middle chooses from the ring a partner (a girl, of course), whom he leads to the centre and kisses as requested. The two stand there together, while the ring, moving again, sing the marriage formula:—
Now you're married, you must obey,Must be true to all you say;You must be kind, you must be good,And help your wife to chop the wood.
"Hornie Holes" is a boys' game in which four play, a principal and assistant on either side. A stands with his assistant at one hole, and throws what is called a "cat" (a piece of stick, or a sheep's horn), with the design of making it alight into another hole at some distance, at which B stands, with his assistant, to drive it aside with his rod resembling a walking-stick. The following unintelligible rhyme is repeated by a player on the one side, while they on the other are gathering in the "cats." This is attested by old people as of great antiquity:—
Jock, Speak, and Sandy,Wi' a' their lousie train,Round about by Edinbro',Will never meet again.Gae head 'im, gae hang 'im,Gae lay him in the sea;A' the birds o' the airWill bear 'im companie.With a nig-nag, widdy—(or worry) bag,And an e'endown trail, trail,Quo' he.
The Crawadmits of a good deal of lively exercise, involving, as Dr. Chambers remarks, no more than a reasonable portion of violence. One boy is selected to be craw. He sits down upon the ground, and he and another boy then lay hold of the two ends of a long strap or twisted handkerchief. The latter also takes into his right hand another hard-twisted handkerchief, called theCout, and runs round the craw, and with the cout defends him against the attack of the other boys, who, with similar couts, use all their agility to get a slap at the craw. But, before beginning, the guard of the craw must cry out:—
Ane, twa, three—my craw's free.
And the first whom he strikes becomes craw, the former craw then becoming guard. When the guard wants respite, he must cry:—
Ane, twa, three—my craw's no free.
"Neevie-neevie-nick-nack."—A lottery game, and confined to boys, is of simple movement, but convenient in this—that only two players are required. They stand facing each other, the leader whirling his two closed fists, one containing a prize, the other empty, while he cajoles his opponent with the rhyme—
Neevie-neevie-nick-nack,Whilk hand will ye tak'—The richt are or the wrang,I'll beguile ye gin I can?
If he guesses correctly, he gains the prize. If he misses, he has to equal the stake. Until success falls to the second, the original player continues the lead.
"Blind Man's Buff," though not a rhyme-game, is yet so well known it is worth mentioning for the mere purpose of telling its story. Like many more such—if we only knew how—it is based on fact. It is of French origin, and of very great antiquity, having been introduced into Britain in the train of the Norman conquerors. Its French name, "Colin Maillard," was that of a brave warrior, the memory of whose exploits still lives in the chronicles of the Middle Ages.
In the year 999 Liége reckoned among its valiant chiefs one Jean Colin. He acquired the name Maillard from his chosen weapon being a mallet, wherewith in battle he used literally to crush his opponents.
In one of the feuds which were of perpetual recurrence in those times, he encountered the Count de Lourain in a pitched battle, and—so runs the story—in the first onset Colin Maillard lost both his eyes.
He ordered his esquire to take him into the thickest of the fight, and, furiously brandishing his mallet, did such fearful execution that victory soon declared itself for him.
When Robert of France heard of these feats of arms, he lavished favour and honours upon Colin, and so great was the fame of the exploit that it was commemorated in the pantomimic representations that formed part of the rude dramatic performances of the age. By degrees the children learned to act it for themselves, and it took the form of a familiar sport.
The blindfold pursuer, as with bandaged eyes and extended hands he gropes for a victim to pounce upon, seems in some degree to repeat the action of Colin Maillard, the tradition of which is also traceable in the name, "blind man's buff."
"Water Wallflower."—All should know this game, which is more commonly played by very small misses.
Forming a ring, all join hands and dance, or move slowly round, singing:—
Water, water wallflower, growing up so high,We are all maidens, and we must all die,Excepting [Nellie Newton], the youngest of us all,She can dance and she can sing, and she can knock us all down.
Here all clap hands, with the exception of the one named, who stands looking abashed, while the others sing:—
Fie, fie, fie, for shame,Turn your back to the wall again.
At the command, she who has been named turns, so that she faces outwards now, with her back to the centre of the ring; though she still clasps hands with those on either side, and continues in the movement, singing with the others. When all in like manner have been chapped out, and are facing the open, the game is finished.
"The Emperor Napoleon" is a little game which affords, invariably, a good deal of fun. Again, as so commonly, the form is in a ring, and all go round, singing:—
The Emperor Napoleon has a hundred thousand men,The Emperor Napoleon has a hundred thousand men,The Emperor Napoleon has a hundred thousand men,As he goes marching along.
In each successive singing of the verse, one syllable after another in the main line, beginning at the far end, is left out—or at least is not spoken—the blank, or blanks, as it happens latterly, having to be indicated merely by nods of the head. As each player makes a mistake, by speaking, instead of nodding, orvice versa, she pays a forfeit and drops out. The play goes on till all have fallen.
"A' the Birdies i' the Air," purely Scotch, is a simpler form merely of "London Bridge." Two players, facing each other, hold up their hands to form an arch, and call the formula:—
A' the birdies i' the airTick-to to my tail.
The others, who may be running about indifferently, decide in time which side they will favour, and when each and all have chosen which champion they will support, and have taken their places at her back, a tug-of-war ensues. Afterwards the victors chase the vanquished, calling, "Rotten eggs! rotten eggs!" and the game is ended; to be followed perhaps by
"Through the Needle-e'e, Boys," played also to some extent in the form of "London Bridge," and much resembling "Barley Break," a pastime of highborn lords and ladies in the time of Sir Philip Sydney, who describes it in hisArcadia. The boys first choose sides. The two chosen leaders join both hands, and raising them high enough to let the others pass through below, they sing:—
Brother [John], if ye'll be mine,I'll gie you a glass o' wine:A glass o' wine is good and fine,Through the needle-e'e, boys.
Letting their arms fall, they enclose a boy, and ask him to which side he will belong, and he is disposed according to his own decision. The parties being at length formed, are separated by a real or imaginary line, and place at some distance behind them, in a heap, their jackets, caps, etc. They stand opposite to each other, the object being to make a successful incursion over the line into the enemy's country, and bring off part or whole of the heap of clothes. It requires address and swiftness of foot to do so without being taken prisoner by the foe. The winning of the game is decided by which party first loses all its men or all its property. At Hawick, where this legendary mimicry of old Border warfare peculiarly flourishes, the boys are accustomed to use the following lines of defiance:—
King Covenanter, come out if ye daur venture!Set your feet on Scots ground, English, if ye daur!
"King Henry" somewhat resembles "I dree I droppit it;" only, instead of standing, the girls forming the ring sit, or rather crouch in a sort of working-tailor attitude. One girl, occupying the centre, is "it." A second girl is on the outside. Immediately the ring begins singing the rhyme:—
King Henry, King Henry,Run, boys, run;You, with the red coat,Follow with the drum,
the one on the outside is pursued by the girl from the centre. The rhyme may be repeated as often as the ring decides; but the object of the one who is "it" is to overtake and "tig" the other before the singing ceases. Otherwise she remains unrelieved, and must try, and try, until she succeeds in getting out, and putting another in her place; and so on.
"The Blue Bird," played by very small children, is rather pretty. The rhyme is:—
Here comes a [blue] bird through the window,Here comes a [blue] bird through the door;Here comes a [blue] bird through the window,Hey, diddle, hi dum, day.Take a little dance and a hop in the corner,Take a little dance and a hop in the floor;Take a little dance and a hop in the corner,Hey, diddle, hi dum, day.
The players dance round in a ring. One previously, by the process of a chapping-out rhyme, being made "it," goes first outside, then into the centre. Her business now is to decide who shall succeed her; and according as the colour-word in the rhyme—red, blue, green, or yellow, etc.—corresponds with the dress of all the individual players in the successive singing, the ones spotted successively take their place in the centre, and the process goes on, of course, until all have shared alike in the game.
"When I was a Young Thing," of simple though pretty action, has had a wide vogue. Its rhyme goes:—
When I was a young thing,A young thing, a young thing;When I was a young thing,How happy was I.'Twas this way, and that way,And this way, and that way;When I was a young thing,Oh, this way went I.
When I was a school-girl, etc.When I was a teacher, etc.When I had a sweetheart, etc.When I had a husband, etc.When I had a baby, etc.When I had a donkey, etc.When I took in washing, etc.When my baby died, oh died, etc.When my husband died, etc.
The players, joining hands, form a ring, and dance or walk round singing the words, and keeping the ring form until the end of the fourth line in each successive verse, when they unclasp, and stand still. Each child then takes hold of her skirt and dances individually to the right and left, making two or three steps. Then all walk round singly, singing the second four lines, and making suitable action to the words as they sing and go: the same form being continued throughout.
Still simpler is "Carry my Lady to London." In this game two children cross hands grasping each other's wrists and their own as well—thus forming a seat, on which a third child can be carried. When hoisted and in order, the bearers step out singing:—
Gie me a needle to stick i' my thoomTo carry my lady to London;London Bridge is broken down,And I must let my lady down.
Each child is thus carried in turn.
"A B C" is a spirited game, admirably adapted for indoor practice on a wet day, which is played by children seated round a table, or at the fireside. One sings a solo—a verse of some nursery rhyme. For instance:
Hey, diddle, diddle,The cat and the fiddle,The cow jumped over the moon;The little dog laughedTo see such sport,And the dish ran away with the spoon.
The chorus of voices takes up the tune, and the solo is repeated; after which the alphabet is sung through, and the last letter, Z, is sustained and repeated again and again, to bother the next child, whose turn it now is to sing the next solo. The new solo must be a nursery rhyme not hitherto sung by any of the company. If unable to supply a fresh rhyme within a fixed limit, the player stands out of the game and pays a forfeit. Less brain-taxing entertainments often engage adult wits.
"My Theerie and my Thorie," with a political significance, is a game widely played. In one place it is known as "Cam a teerie arrie ma torry;" in another, "Come a theory, oary mathorie;" in yet another, "Come a theerie, Come a thorie;" or it may be, as in Perthshire, "My theerie and my thorie." And even asthe refrain varies, so do the rhymes. But the action is generally the same. The players divide into two sides of about equal number, in lines facing each other. Moving forwards and backwards the sides sing verse about of the following rhyme:—
Question.—Have you any bread and wine,Bread and wine, bread and wine;Have you any bread and wine,My theerie and my thorie?
Answer.—Yes, we have some bread and wine,Bread and wine, bread and wine,Yes, we have some bread and wine,My theerie and my thorie.
Question.—We shall have one glass of it, etc.
Answer.—One glass of it you shall not get, etc.
Question.—We are all King George's men, etc.
Answer.—What care we for King George's men, etc.
Question.—How many miles to Glasgow Lee? etc.
Answer.—Sixty, seventy, eighty-three, etc.
Question.—Will I be there gin candle-licht? etc.
Answer.—Just if your feet be clean and slicht, etc.
Question.—Open your gates and let me through, etc.
Answer.—Not without a beck and a boo.
Reply.—There's a beck and there's a boo,Open your gates and let me through.
A struggle ensues to break through each other's lines, and reach a fixed goal on either side—the first to arrive being the victors.
"Glasgow Ships" is a simple but pretty game. All join hands, forming a ring, and, moving round, sing:—
Glasgow ships come sailing in,Come sailing in, come sailing in;Glasgow ships come sailing inOn a fine summer morning.
You daurna set your fit upon,Your fit upon, your fit upon;You daurna set your fit upon,Or Gentle John will kiss you.
Three times will kiss you;Four times will bless you;Five times butter and breadUpon a silver salver.
Who shall we send it to?Send it to, send it to;Who shall we send it to?To Mrs. [Thomson's] daughter.
Take her by the lily-white hand,Lead her o'er the water;Give her kisses, one, two, three,She's the favourite daughter.
Braw news is come to town,Braw news is carried;Braw news is come to town,[Maggie Thomson's] married.
First she got the kail-pot,Syne she got the ladle;Syne she got a dainty wean,And syne she got a cradle.
The girl named turns her back to the centre of the ring, and the game is resumed. When all in like manner have been named and have turned, the "soo's race" ensues: a hurry-scurry round—which continues until some one falls, and the game ends by all tumbling in a confused heap.
"Airlie's Green," played by boys and girls alike, has perhaps had its greatest vogue in Strathmore. A space is set apart for the "green," upon which he, or she, who is "Airlie" takes his, or her, stand. The play begins by the crowd encroaching on the "green," when all but "Airlie" sing:—
I set my fit on Airlie's green,And Airlie canna tak' me:I canna get time to steer my broseFor Airlie trying to catch me.
"Airlie's" object is to "tig" one within the boundary. The player touched takes his, or her, place, and the game may proceed thus as long as desired.
"Het Rowes and Butter Cakes," in some places called "Hickety, Bickety," is a purely boy's game. One stands with his eyes bandaged, and his hands against a wall or post, with his head resting upon them. One after another his fellows come up unnamed behind him, laying hands on his back; and the rhyme is repeated by all in chorus:—
Launchman, launchman, lo,Where shall this poor Scotchman go?Will he gang east, or will he gang west,Or will he gang to the hoodiecraw's nest?
The "hoodiecraw's nest" is the space between the blindfolded one's feet and the wall. When all have been sent to different places around, he who is "it" removes the bandage from his eyes; and when all are ready he gives the call—"Het rowes and butter cakes!" when all rush back to the spot whence despatched. The last to arrive is "it;" and the game goes on as before. Where played as "Hickety, Bickety," the rhyme is:—
Hickety, bickety, pease scone,Where shall this poor Scotchman gang?Will he gang east, or will he gang west;Or will he gang to the craw's nest?
"Queen Mary." In this game the rhyme goes:—
Queen Mary, Queen Mary, my age is sixteen,My father's a farmer on yonder green,With plenty of money to dress me fu' braw,But nae bonnie laddie will tak' me awa'.One morning I rose, and I looked in the glass,Says I to myself I'm a handsome young lass;My hands by my side and I gave a ha! ha!Yet there's nae bonnie laddie will tak' me awa'.
It is played by girls only, who stand in a row, with one in front alone to begin with, who sings the verses, and chooses another from the line. The two then join hands and advance and retire, repeating together the verses, with suitable action, as the one had done before alone. At the close they select a third from the line; and the game proceeds thus until all are taken over.
"Whuppity Scoorie," though a game peculiar to Lanark, and to the boys of Lanark, and played only once a year, is yet worth mentioning. Its origin, like so many of the Lanark celebrations, is lost in the mists of antiquity, nevertheless, it is still regularly played, and creates a sensation on its annual recurrence, affecting the old scarcely less than the young in the community. From the month of October till the month of February, inclusive, the bells in the Parish Church steeple there cease to ring at six o'clock in the evening, but resume on the first day of March. At the first peal of the bell then the children start and march three times round the church, after which a rush is made for the Wellgate Head, where they engage in a stand-up fight with the youth of New Lanark (who come that length to meet them), the weapons used being their bonnets attached to a long string. The fight over, the victors (generally the boys of the Old Town) return, marching in order, headed by one carrying a huge stick in exalted attitude, with a flag or handkerchief attached to it; and thus arranged, they parade the principal streets, singing, as their fathers and grandfathers sang before them:—
Hooray, boys, hooray,For we have won the day;We've met the bold New Lanark boys,And chased them doun the brae!
In Chambers'sPopular Rhymes of Scotlandthere is a description of "Hinkumbooby," which I have never seen played. It is, however, only an extended version of "Looby-Looby." The party form a circle (says thewriter), taking hold of each other's hands. One sings, and the rest join, to the tune ofLullibero:
Fal de ral la, fal de ral la;
while doing so they move a little sideways and back again, beating the time (which is slow) with their feet. As soon as the line is concluded, each claps his hands and wheels grotesquely round, singing at the same time the second line of the verse:—
Hinkumbooby, round about,
Then they sing, with the appropriate gesture—that is, throwing their right hand into the circle and the left out:—
Right hands in, and left hands out,
still beating the time; then add as before, while wheeling round, with a clap of the hands:—
Hinkumbooby, round about,Fal de ral la, fal de ral la;[Moving sideways as before, hand in hand.]Hinkumbooby, round about,[Wheeling round as before, with a clap ofthe hands.]
Left hands in and right hands out,Hinkumbooby, round about,Fal de ral la, fal de ral la,Hinkumbooby, round about.
Right foot in, and left foot out,[Right feet set into the centre.]Hinkumbooby, round about,Fal de ral la, fal de ral la,Hinkumbooby, round about.
Left foot in, and right foot out,Hinkumbooby, round about,Fal de ral la, fal de ral la, etc.
Heads in, and backs out,Hinkumbooby, round about,Fal de ral la, etc.
Backs in, and heads out,Hinkumbooby, round about,Fal de ral la, etc.
A' feet in, and nae feet out,[On this occasion all sit down, withtheir feet stretched into the centreof the ring; and it is a great point torise up promptly enough to be readyfor the wheel round.]Hinkumbooby, round about,Fal de ral la, etc.
Shake hands a', shake hands a',Hinkumbooby, round about,Fal de ral la, etc.
Good-night a', good-night a',[The boys bowing and the misses curtseyingin an affected formal manner.]Hinkumbooby, round about,Fal de ral la, fal de ral la,Hinkumbooby, round about.
More generally played—and not in Scotland only—is "Three Brethren come from Spain." The players stand in two lines, slightly apart, facing each other—theboys on one side, the girls on the other. The boys advance dancing, and singing the first verse. The girls remain motionless, and only she who represents the mother speaks.
We are three brethren come from Spain,All in French garlands;We are come to court your daughter, Jane,And adieu to you, my darlings.
As they recede, the mother replies:—
My daughter Jane she is too young,All in French garlands;She cannot bide your flattering tongue,And adieu to you, my darlings.
The boys advance again, singing:—
Be she young, or be she old,All in French garlands,It's for a bride she must be sold,And adieu to you, my darlings.
Answer:—
A bride, a bride, she shall not be,All in French garlands,Till she go through the world with me,And adieu to you, my darlings.
Address:—
Then fare ye well, my lady gay,All in French garlands;We'll come again some other day,And adieu to you, my darlings.
Answer:—
Come back, come back, you scornful knight,All in French garlands;Clear up your spurs, and make them bright,And adieu to you, my darlings.
Address:—
Of my spurs take you no thought,All in French garlands;For in this town they were not bought,And adieu to you, my darlings.
Answer:—
Smell my lilies, smell my roses,All in French garlands:Which of my daughters do you choose?And adieu to you, my darlings.
Address:—
Are all your daughters safe and sound?All in French garlands:Are all your daughters safe and sound?And adieu to you, my darlings.
Answer:—
In every pocket a thousand pounds,All in French garlands;On every finger a gay, gold ring,And adieu to you, my darlings.
The formula is repeated as above until every boy has chosen a lady-mate, when all march round arm-in-arm in pairs, and the game is ended.
"Here Comes a Poor Sailor from Botany Bay." This is played as a preliminary game to decide who shall join, and which side they will take, in a coming tug-of-war. The chief delight derived is in putting and answering questions. Two principals, standing as rival chiefs, and acting together as catechists, begin the play; and all are warned before replying:—
You must say neither "Yes," "No," nor "Nay,""Black," "White," nor "Grey."
Then, as each child approaches, the formula proceeds:—
Here comes a poor sailor from Botany Bay;Pray, what are you going to give him to-day?A pair of boots [may be the answer].What colour are they?Brown.Have you anything else to give him?I think so.What colour is it?Red.What is it made of?Cloth.And what colour?Blue.Have you anything else to give him?I don't think so.Would you like a sweet?Yes.
Now he is trapped. He has given one of the fatal replies; and the child who answered "Yes" goes to a den. After all have gone through a similar form, the youngsters are divided into two classes—those whoavoided answering in the prohibited terms, and the little culprits in the den, or prison, who had failed in the examination. The tug-of-war now begins, the one class being pitted against the other. No rope is used; but arms are entwined round waists, or skirts, or coat-tails are taken hold of; and the victors crow over the vanquished.
"Janet Jo," widely played, has fordramatis personæ, a Father, a Mother, Janet, and a Lover. Janet lies stretched at full length behind the scenes. The father and mother stand revealed to receive the visits of the lover, who approaches singing, to an air somewhat like "The Merry Masons":—
I'm come to court Janet jo,Janet jo, Janet jo;I'm come to court Janet jo—How is she the day?
Parents reply together:—
She's up the stair washin',Washin', washin';She's up the stair washin'—Ye canna see her the day.
The lover retires, and again, and yet again, advances with the same announcement of his object and purpose, to which he receives similar evasive answers from Janet's parents, who successively represent her as up the stair "bleaching," "drying," and "ironing clothes." At last they reply:—
Janet jo's dead and gane,Dead and gane, dead and gane;Janet jo's dead and gane—Ye'll see her face nae mae!