The Traditional Games of England, Scotland, and Ireland Volume Ii Part 88

A form of Drop Handkerchief differing 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 may either 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.

Bonnet Ridgie.

["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.-d.y.k.e School (Rev. Dr. Gregor.)

b.u.t.ton, The.

["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 b.u.t.ton, 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 b.u.t.ton into one player's hands. He then asks the first man, saying, "Who has the b.u.t.ton?" 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 b.u.t.ton, who, of course, keeps his secret). When all the forfeits are in the master says, "b.u.t.ton, b.u.t.ton, show, and let all fools know;" then those who have guessed right receive back their forfeits. The holder of the b.u.t.ton 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).

Canlie.

[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).

Carry my Lady to London.

[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 town Upon a summer's day.

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

Cat and Dog Hole.

[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 att.i.tude 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 subst.i.tuted 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. .h.i.t 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 subst.i.tute 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 b.u.t.ton, 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 b.u.t.ton 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 b.u.t.ton in such a way that the b.u.t.ton is projected some distance along the ground. Then a boy on the opposite side spins his top and tries to hit the b.u.t.ton in the opposite direction. This is continued alternately until one or other side succeeds in getting the b.u.t.ton to the goal.-London Streets (A. B.

Gomme).

Chucks.

[Vol. i. p. 69; also "Five-stones," pp. 122-129, "Huckle-bones," pp.