Wolf and the Lamb, The

The wolf’s gone to Devonshire,And won’t be back for seven year.Sheep, sheep, come home.

The sheep then made rushes from different points, and tried to get across to the other base. The other player in the centre tried to catch the sheep as they ran. Those caught joined the side of the wolf, and caught others in their turn.

It appears clear that the “Decoy” is the correct character in this game instead of a “shepherd” or “master,” as now given.The decoy is evidently assuming the character and voice of the shepherd, or shepherd’s dog, to induce the sheep to leave the fold where they are protected, in order to pounce upon them as they endeavour to go in the direction the voice calls them. The game owes its origin to times and places, when wolves were prowling about at night, and sheep were penned and protected against them by shepherds and watch-dogs.

Two are chosen—one to represent the wolf and the other the lamb. The other players join hands and form a circle round the lamb. The wolf tries to break through the circle, and carry off the lamb. Those in the circle do all they can to prevent the wolf from entering within the circle. If he manages to enter the circle and seize the lamb, then other two are chosen, and the same process is gone through till all have got a chance of being the lamb and wolf. This game evidently represents a lamb enclosed in a fold, and the attempts of a wolf to break through and carry it off.

—Fraserburgh, Aberdeen,April 14, 1892(Rev. W. Gregor).

[Play]

Tune Would you know how doth the Peasant—Monton, Lancashire (Miss Dendy).

—Monton, Lancashire (Miss Dendy).

Would you know how doth the peasant?Would you know how doth the peasant?Would you know how doth the peasantSow his barley and wheat!And it’s so, so, doth the peasant,And it’s so, so, doth the peasant,And it’s so, so, doth the peasantSow his barley and wheat!Would you know how doth the peasant, &c.,Reap his barley and wheat?It is so, so, doth the peasant, &c.,Reap his barley and wheat!Would you know how doth the peasant, &c.,Thresh his barley and wheat?It is so, so, doth the peasant, &c.,Thresh his barley and wheat!Would you know how doth the peasant, &c.,When the seed time is o’er?It is so, so, doth the peasant, &c.,When the seed time is o’er!Would you know how doth the peasant, &c.,When his labour is done?It is so, so, doth the peasant, &c.,When his labour is done!And it’s so, so, doth the peasant,And it’s so, so, doth the peasant,And it’s so, so, doth the peasant,When his labour is o’er.

Would you know how doth the peasant?Would you know how doth the peasant?Would you know how doth the peasantSow his barley and wheat!

And it’s so, so, doth the peasant,And it’s so, so, doth the peasant,And it’s so, so, doth the peasantSow his barley and wheat!

Would you know how doth the peasant, &c.,Reap his barley and wheat?

It is so, so, doth the peasant, &c.,Reap his barley and wheat!

Would you know how doth the peasant, &c.,Thresh his barley and wheat?

It is so, so, doth the peasant, &c.,Thresh his barley and wheat!

Would you know how doth the peasant, &c.,When the seed time is o’er?

It is so, so, doth the peasant, &c.,When the seed time is o’er!

Would you know how doth the peasant, &c.,When his labour is done?

It is so, so, doth the peasant, &c.,When his labour is done!

And it’s so, so, doth the peasant,And it’s so, so, doth the peasant,And it’s so, so, doth the peasant,When his labour is o’er.

—Monton, Lancashire (Miss Dendy).

II.

It is so, so, does the peasant [or, farmer],It is so, so, does the peasant,It is so, so, does the peasant,When sowing times come.It is so, so, does the peasant, &c.,When reaping time comes.It is so, so does the peasant, &c.,When his threshing times comes.It is so, so, does the peasant, &c.,When the hunting’s begun.It is so, so does the peasant, &c.,When the day’s work is done.

It is so, so, does the peasant [or, farmer],It is so, so, does the peasant,It is so, so, does the peasant,When sowing times come.

It is so, so, does the peasant, &c.,When reaping time comes.

It is so, so does the peasant, &c.,When his threshing times comes.

It is so, so, does the peasant, &c.,When the hunting’s begun.

It is so, so does the peasant, &c.,When the day’s work is done.

—Frodingham, Lincoln and Notts (Miss M. Peacock).

(c) The leader of this game stands in the middle, the players stand in a ring round him; when there are a sufficient number of players, several rings are formed one within the other, the smallest children in the inner ring. The different ringsmove in alternate directions when dancing round. All the children sing the words of each verse and dance round. They unclasp hands at the end of each alternate verse, and suit their actions to the words sung. At the end of the first verse they stand still, crook their arms as if holding a basket, and imitate action of sowing while they sing the second verse; they then all dance round while they sing the third, then stand still again and imitate reaping while they sing the fourth time. Then again dance and sing, stand still and imitate “thrashing” of barley and wheat; after “seed time is o’er,” they drop on one knee and lift one hand as if in prayer, again dancing round and singing. Then they kneel on one knee, put their hands together, lay their left cheek on them, and close their eyes as if asleep; while singing, “when his labour is o’er,” at the last verse, they all march round, clapping hands in time.

This is theMonton game. TheFrodingham gameis played in the same way, except that the children walk round in a circle, one behind another, when they sing and imitate the actions they mention. “When the hunting’s begun” they all run about as if on horseback; “when the day’s work is done,” they all kneel on one knee and rest their heads on their hands.

This game is evidently a survival of the custom of dancing, and of imitating the actions necessary for the sowing and reaping of grain which were customary at one time. Miss Dendy says—“It is an undoubtedly old Lancashire game. It is sometimes played by as many as a hundred players, and is then very pretty. The method of playing varies slightly, but it is generally as described above.” The fact that this game was played by such a large number of young people together, points conclusively to a time when it was a customary thing for all the people in one village to play this game as a kind of religious observance, to bring a blessing on the work of the season, believing that by doing so, they caused the crops to grow better and produce grain in abundance.

See “Oats and Beans and Barley.”

[See “All the Birds,” vol. i. p. 2; “Oranges and Lemons,” vol. ii. pp. 25-35.]

A’ the birdies i’ the airTick tae to my tail.

A contest game of the oranges and lemons class. Two players, who hold hands and form the arch, call out the formula, and the other players, who are running about indifferently, go one by one to them and decide, when asked, which side they will favour, and stand behind one or the other.

After the tug the side which has lost is called “Rotten eggs, rotten eggs.”—Aberdeen (Rev. Dr. Gregor).

[Vol. i. pp. 2-6.]

Two versions of this game, one from Howth and another from St. Andrews, sent me by Miss H. E. Harvey, do not differ sufficiently from the versions i. and ii. printed as above to be given here in full.

The St. Andrews game, after the line,

“I love you, and you love me”

(as printed in vol. i. version ii.), continues—

When we get married, I hope you will agree,I’ll buy the chest of drawers, you’ll buy the cradle.Rock, rock, bubbly-jock,Send her upstairs, lay her in her bed,Send for the doctor before she is dead.In comes the doctor and out goes the clerk,In comes the mannie with the sugarally hat.Oh, says the doctor, what’s the matter here?Oh, says Johnny, I’m like to lose my dear.Oh, says the doctor, nae fear o’ that.

One player of a party acts as post and leaves the room. When he is outside he knocks at the door. Another player, who is the doorkeeper (inside), calls out, “Who’s there?” The reply is, “American post.” “What with?” “A letter.” “For whom?” The name of one of the players in the room is given by the post. The one named then must go outside, and kiss the post, and in turn becomes post.—Fraserburgh (Rev. Dr. Gregor).

This, sometimes called “Postman,” is now more generally played as a penalty when forfeits are being performed. The player whose penalty it is, is the first one to be “post.” Postage is demanded, the amount being paid by kisses.

The players, usually girls, stand in line up to a wall. One in front sings, going backwards and forwards.

As I was walking down a hill, down a hill, down a hill,As I was walking down a hill,Upon a frosty morning.Who do you think I met coming down, coming down, &c.,Who do you think I met, &c.

She then chooses one from the line and both sing:—

I met my true love coming down, &c.He gave me kisses, one, two, three (clap hands),Upon a frosty morning.—Cullen (Rev. Dr. Gregor).

[A version of “Hen and Chickens,” vol. i. pp. 201, 202.]

Here a variation of dialogue occurs. The game is played as previous Hen and Chicken games. The Hen says—

What are ye scrapin’ for?

Auld grannie says—

A darning needle?What are ye going to do with the darning needle?Mak a poke.What to do with the poke?To gang to the peat moss to get some peats.What for?To make a fire, to make some tea, to pour over your wee chickens.

A darning needle?

What are ye going to do with the darning needle?

Mak a poke.

What to do with the poke?

To gang to the peat moss to get some peats.

What for?

To make a fire, to make some tea, to pour over your wee chickens.

Auld grannie rushes at them, and pretends to throw the water over them. When she has caught some players, and the sides are about equal in strength, the game ends in a tug of war.—Dalry, Galloway (J. G. Carter.)

Another, called “Grannie’s Needle,” has a slightly different parley.

What are you looking for, granny?My granny’s needle.What are you going to do with the needle, granny?To make a bag.And what are you going to do with the bag, granny?To gather sand.What are you going to do with the sand, granny?To sharpen knives.And what are you going to do with the knives, granny?To cut off your chickens’ heads.

What are you looking for, granny?

My granny’s needle.

What are you going to do with the needle, granny?

To make a bag.

And what are you going to do with the bag, granny?

To gather sand.

What are you going to do with the sand, granny?

To sharpen knives.

And what are you going to do with the knives, granny?

To cut off your chickens’ heads.

—Belfast (W. H. Patterson).

[Addendum][Addendum][Addendum]

[Pots, vol. ii. p. 64.]

1. Throw the ball up against a wall three times and catch it.

2. Throw it up and clap hands three times before catching it.

3. Throw it up and put your hands round in a circle.

4. Throw it up and clap your hands before and behind.

5. Throw it up and clap and touch your shoulder.

6. Throw it up and clap and touch your other shoulder.

7. Throw it up three times with your right hand and catch it with your right.

8. Throw it up with your left and catch it with your left.

9. Throw it up with your right and catch it with your right, dog snack fashion (i.e.as a dog snacks, knuckles up).

10. Throw it up with your left and catch it with your left (dog snack).

11. Throw it up and clap and touch your knee.

12. Throw it up and clap and touch your other knee.

13. Throw it up and turn round.

These actions should each be performed three times.—Laurieston School, Kircudbrightshire (J. Lawson).

This is a more complete version of “Pots.”

Another game is—

One girl takes a ball, strikes it on the ground, and keeps pushing it down with her hand. While she is doing this, the other players stand beside her, and keeping unison with the ball, repeat—

Game, game, ba’ ba’,Twenty lasses in a raw,Nae a lad amon them a’Bits game, game, ba’, ba’.

If the girl keeps the ball dancing up and down—“stottin’” during the time the words are being repeated, it counts one game gained. She goes on “stottin’” the ball, and the others go on repeating the words till she allows the ball to escape from her control.—Fraserburgh (Rev. Dr. Gregor); Dalry, Galloway (J. G. Carter).

Another rhyme for a ball game is—

Little wee laddie, foo’s yer daidie?New come oot o’ a basket shadie.A basket shadie’s ower full,New come oot o’ a roarin’ bull.A roarin bull’s ower fat,New come oot o’ a gentleman’s hat.A gentleman’s hat’s ower fine,New come oot o’ a bottle o’ wine.A bottle o’ wine is ower reid,New come oot o’ a crust o’ breid.A crust o’ breid is ower broon,New come oot o’ a half-a-croon.A half-a-croon is ower little,New come oot o’ a weaver’s shuttle.A weaver’s shuttle’s ower holey,New come oot o’ a paint pottie,Game, game, game, game, game!

—Rev. Dr. Gregor.

[SeeFool, Fool, come to school, vol. i. p. 132.]

Played as “Fool” with these differences. The namer cries to the fool in the same formula as the Sussex version (vol. i. p. 133). The fool, called here “Bannockburn,” says, “Are ye it?” to each player pointing to them in turn. When she points at the correct one that player runs off. Bannockburn runs after and tries to catch her. If the first runner can get back into the row untouched she gets renamed, if caught she has to take Bannockburn’s place.

During the naming, Bannockburn tries to overhear the names given. But when noticed coming near, those being named, cry “Bannockburn away dune the sea.”—Dalry, Galloway (J. G. Carter).

[seeDrop Handkerchief, vol. i. 109-112.]

A form ofDrop Handkerchiefdiffering from those versions previously given.

The players join hands, form a circle and stretch out as far as each one’s arms will allow. One player is outside the ring. When she sees they can stretch no further she cries out “Break,” when they all loose hands and stand as far apart as possible. The player outside then goes round the ring singing, “I have a black doggie, but it winna’ bite you, nor you, nor you,” until she comes to one whom she chooses; she then throws the handkerchief down on the ground behind this one quietly. If this player does not notice the handkerchief, not one in the circle must tell her, or they are “out.” The player who dropped the handkerchief walks round until she comes again to the one behind whom she dropped it. She picks it up and tells her she is “burnt.” Then this player has to stoop down on her knees and is out of the game. Should the selected player notice the handkerchief, she picks it up and pursues the other round and through the ring, following wherever the first one leads until she catches her; they then change places; should she not follow the exact way the first player went, she too is out and must go down on her knees.—Rosehearty (Rev. Dr. Gregor).

Another version from Fraserburgh says that the players mayeither join hands in a ring or sit upon the ground on their knees. The outside player goes round the circle three times, first saying “Black Doggie winna tack you, nor you.” Then she goes round again and drops the handkerchief behind any one she pleases. She then runs and is pursued until caught, the other child following Black Doggie in and out wherever she goes.[Addendum][Addendum]

[“Scots and English,” vol. ii. pp. 183-184.]

Players are chosen alternately by two chiefs. The line is drawn between the two sides, and the caps of each side are placed on the ground at each of the ends. When the two sides are ranged, the players try to catch and pull each other across the line. If one is pulled across he is called a “slink,” and must stand till he is set at liberty by one of his own side crossing the line and touching him. If this one manages to touch him before he is crowned,i.e., has the crown of his head touched by one of his opponents, and if he is able to regain his own side before the same operation takes place, both are free. Each player watches an opportunity to gather up the caps of the opposing side. If one is clever and swift enough to reach the caps and gather them all before he is crowned, his side wins.—Dyke School (Rev. Dr. Gregor.)

[“Diamond Ring,” vol. i. p. 96; “Forfeits,” p. 137; “Wads and the Wears,” vol. ii. pp. 327-8.]

Played as “Diamond Ring,” except that all sit round the fire, one man takes a button, puts it between his two hands, and goes round to each of the other players, who have their two hands held out, palms together, saying, “Don’t tell what you got,” and quietly dropping the button into one player’s hands. He then asks the first man, saying, “Who has the button?” One player is named. The master of the game says then “What forfeit will you give me that he has it?” The player gives a forfeit. So on all round, every one guessing and giving a forfeit (including he who holds the button, who, of course, keeps his secret). When all the forfeits are in the master says, “Button, button, show, and let all fools know;” then those whohave guessed right receive back their forfeits. The holder of the button then kneels down to deliver sentences on the others. The master takes a forfeit and holds it over the kneeler’s head, saying, “Fine, fine, superfine, what’s the owner of this fine thing of [gentleman’s or lady’s] wear to do?” The man kneeling gives a sentence, such as—to take the broom, ride it three times round the room, and each time kiss the crook hanging in the chimney—and so on.

If a man refuses to perform his sentence he is made to kneel down, and everything that can be got hold of is piled on his back.—Kiltubbrid, Co. Leitrim (L. L. Duncan).

[See “Tom Tiddler’s Ground,” vol. ii. p. 298.]

Name for “Friar’s Ground,” in Co. Cork. “Canlie” is the Friar. The game is played as at Chirbury.—Co. Cork (Mrs. B. B. Greene).

[Vol. i. p. 59.]

Carry a lady to London town,London town, London town;London town’s a bonny place,It’s a’ covered o’er in gold and lace.

Or—

Carry a lady to London town,London town, London town;Carry a lady to London townUpon a summer’s day.

Another rhyme for “Carry my Lady to London,” and played in the same way.—Galloway, N. B. (J. G. Carter).

[Vol. i. p. 63; “Tip-cat,” vol. ii. p. 294.]

Two versions of this, differing somewhat from those given previously.

(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 “thestance.” 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).

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.

[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 chickensTo 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.

[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).

[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).

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).

[“Tip it,” vol. ii. p. 294.]

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).

[“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.”

[“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.

[“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 gold,Dig for the land that I was told.As I went down by the water sideI met my lad with a tartan plaid.My wee lad is a jolly sailor,And shall be for evermore.(Name of boy) took the notionTo 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 notionFor to go and sail the sea;He has left his own true loveWeeping 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.

[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—

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