The Traditional Games of England, Scotland, and Ireland Volume Ii Part 59

The mother turns partly round when singing the two first lines of her verses addressing her daughters, and then faces the suitors when singing to them the remaining two lines. When she accepts the "kings" she brings one of her daughters forward, presents her to the suitors, and shows them the money in her pocket, and the ring on her finger. The daughter goes with the kings, who take her a little way apart, pretend to rob her of her ring, money, and clothes, and then bring her back to her mother, and sing the last verse. They then run off in all directions, and the mother and daughters chase and catch them, and they change sides. Sometimes all the daughters are taken by the suitors before they are robbed and brought back. The game is also played by five players only; three representing the sailors or suitors, and two the mother and daughter. The mother then chases the suitors, and whoever she catches becomes the daughter the next game. These are the usual methods of playing. In the Norfolk version the middle one of the three suitors takes the girl, robs her, and all three bring her back and sing the verses. In the Isle of Man version one player sits down, the others join hands, advance and retire singing the lines. The girl who is chosen joins the one sitting down.

(_d_) This game points to that period of tribal society, when the youths of one tribe sought to obtain their wives from the maidens of another tribe according to the laws of exogamy, but a definite person is here selected for the wife, and it is to the relatives or persons having authority (as in "Three Knights") that the demand for the bride is made, and not to the girl personally, as in "Three Dukes."

The game, while not so interesting a one to us as "Three Dukes," and "Three Knights," has its particular or peculiar features. It is probably later, and shows more clearly that position and wealth were of importance to a man in the obtaining of a wife. Individually he has not (apparently) courted the girl before, but he comes for that purpose now.

He may be announcing himself under the various ranks or professions mentioned, before stating his real position; or, this may show that the girl having many suitors, and those of all degrees, the "mother" or relatives are actuated by purely mercenary motives, and wish to select the best and richest suitor for her. We must remember that it was accounted great honour to a girl to have many suitors and amongst these men distinguished by the performance of brave deeds, which had gained them renown and pre-eminence, or wealth. The fact that the rejection or acceptance of the suitors is made known to the girl by the "mother," or person having authority, shows that "sanction" or permission is necessary, and that "rejection" or "acceptance" is signified to the suitors in the words, you "may not," or, you "may" have a lodging here, signifies admission into the family. This is a most interesting feature.

The girl is to "wake up," that would be to rouse up, be merry, dress in bridal array and prepare for the coming festival. She is also given to the suitors with "in her pocket one hundred pounds," and "on her finger a gay gold ring." This, it will be seen, is given her by her "mother" or person having authority, and probably refers to the property the girl brings with her to her new abode for her proper maintenance there; the ring shows likewise her station and degree in her former abode, and is the token that she is fit bride for a king, and must be treated accordingly. Curious, too, is "Here's my daughter safe and sound," which looks like a warrant or guarantee of the girl's fitness to be a bride.

The expression "walk with," meaning "to marry," again occurs in this game as in "Three Dukes." The line occurring in two versions, "And down by the door they bend their knee," is suggestive of courtesy shown to the bride and her family at the threshold of the house.

The incident of the three kings becoming robbers is not easily understood. Robbery was common of course, particularly when money and valuables were known to be carried on the person; but I do not think this is sufficient in itself to account for the incident. It may be a reflection of the later fact that a man always took possession of his wife's personal property after marriage, and considered it his own to do as he pleased with. When this idea became codified in written law, the idea might readily get reflected in the game, when _kings_ would not be understood as apparently taking things that did not belong to them, unless they were bandits in disguise. This last verse and the robbery may be a later addition to the game, when robbery was of everyday occurrence. There may have been (although there is nothing now in any version to warrant the idea) some similar action on the part of the kings, such as a further arraying of the bride, and presenting her to their party or house, which has been misunderstood. Mr. Newell suggests that children having forgotten the original happy finish, and not understanding the "haggling" over the suitors, turned the kings into bandits. Children think it such a natural thing to wish to marry kings, princes, and princesses, and are so sincere in thinking it a matter of course to refuse a sailor or soldier for a king, when it is only a question of marriage, and not of choosing the one you like the best, that this reason does not to me seem to apply to a game of this kind.

Through the Needle Eye, Boys

Two leaders each choose a name such as "Golden Apple" and "Golden Pear."

The remaining children all hold each other's waists in a long string, the "Golden Apple" and "Golden Pear" holding hands aloft like an arch.

The string of children then runs under the arch. The last child that pa.s.ses under is detained by the "Golden Apple" and "Golden Pear" (they having dropped hands previously). The detained child is asked in a whisper which she prefers, "Golden Apple," "Golden Pear;" she chooses, and then stands at the back of the "Golden Apple" or "Golden Pear." When all the children have pa.s.sed through, the "Golden Apple" and "Golden Pear" hold each other's hands and stand with the others behind them and pull like a "Tug of War." There should be a line drawn between the "Golden Apple" and the "Golden Pear," and whichever side pulls the other over the line, wins the game.-Northumberland (from a lady friend of Hon.

J. Abercromby).

The formula sung in Fraserburgh when the players are running under the raised arms is-

Clink, clink, through the needle ee, boys, One, two, three, If you want a bonnie la.s.sie, Just tak me.

After the tug of war the victors call out "Rotten eggs, rotten eggs"

(Rev. W. Gregor).

The words used in Galloway are-

Through the needle e'e, boys, Through the needle e'e!

If 'twasna for your granny's sake, I wadna let 'e through.

-Galloway (J. G. Carter).

Jamieson describes this game in the south of Scotland as follows: "Two children form an arch with both hands. The rest, who hold each other by the skirts following in a line, attempt to pa.s.s under the arch. The first, who is called the king, is sometimes laid hold of by those who form the arch, each letting fall one of his arms like a portcullis for enclosing the pa.s.senger. But more generally the king is suffered to pa.s.s, the attempt being reserved for the last; whoever is seized is called the prisoner. As soon as he is made captive he takes the place of one of those who formed the arch, and who afterwards stand by his side."

It is differently played in Mearns, Aberdeen, and some other counties. A number of boys stand with joined hands in a semicircle, and the boy at one end of the link addresses the boy at the other end of the line:

A-- B--, if ye were mine, I wad feed you with claret wine; Claret wine is gude and fine, Through the needle-ee, boys.

The boy to whom this is addressed makes room between himself and his next neighbour, as they raise and extend their arms to allow the opposite boy to run through the opening followed by all the other boys still linked to each other. If in running through the link should be broken, the two boys who are the cause suffer some punishment.-Ed.

Jamieson's Dictionary.

The Northumberland game resembles "Oranges and Lemons." The other versions are nearer the "Thread the Needle" and "How many Miles to Babylon" games. Both games may be derived from the same custom.

See "How many Miles to Babylon," "Thread the Needle."

Thun'er Spell

A thin lath of wood, about six inches long and three or four inches broad, is taken and rounded at one end. A hole is bored in that end, and in the hole is tied a piece of cord between two and three yards long. It is then rapidly swung round, so as to produce a buzzing sound. The more rapidly it is swung, the louder is the noise. It was believed that the use of this instrument during a thunder-storm saved one from being struck with "the thun'er bolt." I have used it with this intention (Keith). In other places it is used merely to make a noise. It is commonly deeply notched all round the edges to increase the noise.

Some years ago a herd boy was observed making one in a farm-kitchen (Udny). It was discovered that when he was sent to bring the cows from the fields to the farmyard to be milked, he used it to frighten them, and they ran frantically to their stalls. The noise made the animals dread the bot-fly or "cleg." This torment makes them throw their tails up, and rush with fury through the fields or to the byres to shelter themselves from its attacks. A formula to effect the same purpose, and which I have many and many a time used when herding, was: c.o.c.k tail!

c.o.c.k tail! c.o.c.k tail! Bizz-zz-zz! Bizz-zz-zz.-Keith (Rev. W. Gregor).

Dr. Gregor secured one of these that was in use in Pitsligo, and sent it to the Pitt-Rivers Museum at Oxford, where it now lies. Professor Haddon has made a collection of these toys, and has written on their connection with the Australian boomerang.

They are still occasionally to be met with in country districts, but are used simply for the purpose of making a noise.

See "b.u.mmers."

Tick

A game mentioned by Drayton, and still played in Warwickshire.-Halliwell's _Dictionary_. The same game as "Touch."

Tickle me Quickly

An old game (undescribed) mentioned in Taylor's _Motto_, 1622, sig. D, iv.

Ticky Touchwood.

Ticky, ticky Touchwood, my black hen, She lays eggs for gentlemen; Sometimes nine and sometimes ten, Ticky, ticky Touchwood, my black hen.

-Sporle, Norfolk (Miss Matthews).

Addy (_Sheffield Glossary_, under "Tiggy Touchwood") says, "One player who is called Tiggy stands out, and each of the others takes hold of or touches a piece of wood, such as a door, or rail, &c. One then leaves his 'wood' and runs across the playground, and if whilst doing so Tiggy can touch him he must stand out or take Tiggy's place."

One child is chosen to be "Ticky," _i.e._, to be on the _qui vive_ to lay hold of or touch any one who is not touching wood. If played out of doors it must be clearly defined _what is wood_, trees and all growing wood being forbidden. The fun consists in the bold ventures of those who tempt "Ticky" to run after them, and contrive to touch "wood" just before he touches them. When one is caught he is "Ticky" in turn.-Swaffham, Norfolk (Miss Matthews).

Played within a given boundary, in which were wooden buildings or fences. When one of the players was being pursued by the tigger, if he touched wood he could not be made prisoner, but he was not allowed to remain long in that position, and directly his hand left wood he was liable to instant capture. If when pursued he called out "a barla!" he was again exempt from capture, but he could not move from the position or place where he or she was when they called out, a barla! When wishing to move he had to call out "Ma barla oot!" No den in this game, but constant running.-Biggar (Wm. Ballantyne).

Lowsley (_Berkshire Glossary_) says, "Boys have games called Touch-wood and Touch-iron, where any one not touching either of the substances named is liable to be caught by the one standing out."

Ross and Stead (_Holderness Glossary_) give this game as Tiggy Touchwood, a game similar to Tig, but in which the player must touch wood. It is called Ticky, Ticky Touchwood by Brogden (_Lincolnshire Provincial Words_), and Tiggy in Addy's _Sheffield Glossary_.

Also played in another way. One tree or piece of wood was selected for "Home," and the players darted out from this saying, "Ticky, Ticky Touchwood," then running back to the tree and touching it before Ticky caught them. "Parley" or "fainits" were the words called out when exempt.-London (A. B. Gomme).

It is also described in Patterson's _Antrim and Down Glossary_.

Tig.

A game in which one player touches another, then runs off to be pursued and touched in turn.

Mr. Addy says, "Children _tig_ each other when they leave school, and there is a rivalry among them to get the last tig. After a boy has said _tig-poison_, he is not to be 'tigged' again." Brockett says: "Tig, a slight touch (as a mode of salutation), a play among children on separating for the night, in which every one endeavours to get the last touch; called also Last Bat."-Brockett's _North Country Words_, and consult d.i.c.kinson (_c.u.mberland Glossary_), also Jamieson. A boys' game, in which the player scores by touching one who runs before him.-Stead's _Holderness Glossary_. A play among children when separating for the night.-Willan's _Dialect Words of West Riding of Yorks._ Called also "Touch" and "Tigga Tiggy," in East and West Cornwall; (Courtney and Couch), also Patterson's _Antrim and Down Glossary_.

See "Canlie," "Cross Tig."