The Traditional Games of England, Scotland, and Ireland Volume Ii Part 97

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).

Another Isle of Man version varies slightly, beginning, "We're three young mothers from Babylon," and continuing in a similar way to the one in vol. i. p. 315-

One can wash, and one can sew, Another can sit by the fire and spin, The other can make a fine bed for the king, Please, ma'am, to take one in.

The queen then says-

Come, my dearest ... and give me your hand, And you shall have the nicest things in all this pleasant land.

The girls are thus gradually chosen.

-Isle of Man (A. W. Moore).

Here's a poor widow from Babylon, Six poor children left alone, One can bake, and one can brew, And one can shape, and one can sew.

One can sit by the fire and spin, And one can make a bed for a king; Come Tuesday east, come Tuesday west, Come choose the one that you love best.

-Galloway, N. B. (J. G. Carter).

Leap-Frog.

[Vol. i. pp. 133, 327, 328.]

The chief rules of this game, obtaining in N.E. Scotland in Dr. Gregor's boyhood, were:-The boy that stooped his back was called "the bull,"

p.r.o.nounced "bill." The bull was not to "horn," _i.e._, throw up his back when the player placed his hands on it to leap over, or to bend his back down, and that the player was to lay his hands on the bull's back quite flat, and not to "knockle," _i.e._, drive the knuckles into it. The best way to play was:-A line was drawn beside the bull, over which the heel of the player must not pa.s.s. All the players, the one after the other in succession, leaped over the bull. The one last over called out, "Fit it," _i.e._, foot it, which meant that the bull had to measure from the line a breadth and a length of his foot. This done he stooped, and all the players went over as before, and another breadth and length of foot were added. This went on as long as the players thought they were able to leap over the bull. When they thought they could not do so, the last player called out, "Hip it," _i.e._, take a hop. This done, the bull put himself into position, and each player now took a hop from the line to the bull, and then went over him. Here the same process of footing was gone through as before, as long as the players were able to go clear over the bull. Then came a step with as much footing as was considered safe, and then came a jump with so much footing. It was now with the players "hip, step, an' jump," and over the bull. Then more "fitin',"

and perhaps another "hip," and so on-two hips, two steps, two jumps, and a flying leap over the bull. It was not often the game reached this point. Some one of the players had failed to pa.s.s right over the bull and caused him to fall, or had overstepped the line. When any player did either the one or the other, he had to become bull.-Keith (Rev. Dr.

Gregor).

This is a fuller and more complete description than that of "Foot and Over" (vol. i. p. 133).

Another mode of playing leap-frog is: the players stand with their backs to the leapers, and only bend the head and the leaper's hands are placed between the shoulders. Instead of running a few yards in front, each player advances only a few feet, leaving just as much room as to allow the player scope to fall and spring again. This mode requires considerable agility and practice. The higher the leap, so much the greater the fun.-Keith (Rev. Dr. Gregor.)

London Bridge.

[Vol. i. pp. 333-350.]

In the following versions of the game only the first lines of each verse are given, as said by each side. Descriptions of method of playing were not in all cases sent me. They are probably the same as those given under this game in vol. i., which is for two players to form an arch by holding up their joined hands, and the other players running under it.

(1.) London Bridge is falling down, &c, my fair lady.

What will it take to build it up? &c.

Needles and pins will build it up, &c.

Needles and pins will not hold, &c.

Bricks and mortar will build it up, &c.

Bricks and mortar will wash away, &c.

Silver and gold will build it up, &c.

Silver and gold will be stolen away, &c.

We will set a watchman to watch all night, &c.

What if the watchman falls asleep, &c.

We will set a dog to bark, &c.

See the robbers pa.s.sing by, &c.

What have the robbers done to you? &c.

They have broke my locks and stole my gold, &c.

Off to prison they must go, &c.

What will you take to set them free? &c.

-Perth (Rev. Dr. Gregor).

(2.) London Bridge is broken down, Build it up with lime and stone; Lime and stone will build and break; Set an old man to watch all night.

Perhaps this man will run away, Ten times the wedding day.

-Tyrie (Rev. Dr. Gregor).

(3.) Broken bridges falling down, falling down, falling down, my fair lady.

What will you give to mend it up? &c.

Those running under the arch say-

A guinea gold ring will mend it up, &c.

The two players say no.

A pin I'll give to mend it up.

No!

A thousand pounds to mend it up; This will waste away, my fair lady; We'll mend it up with golden pins, my fair lady, For golden pins will never rust, never rust, my fair lady.

-Fochabers, N.E. Scotland (Rev. Dr. Gregor).

(4.) The broken bridge is falling down, falling down, falling down, The broken bridge is falling down, my fair lady; Stones and bricks will build it up, &c.

-Nairnshire (Rev. Dr. Gregor).

(5.) Broken bridges falling down, My fair lady, which will you have?

Open the door for the king's soldiers.

What king are you?

I am true to the very last one.

-Isle of Man (A. W. Moore).

Versions of this game from Scotland have been sent me, which show great similarity to those previously printed, but the game is more or less in a state of decadence. The best version is that from Perth. One from St.