The Traditional Games of England, Scotland, and Ireland Volume I Part 30

One boy kneels, holding a long rope, the other end of which is held by another boy; the other players stand round about with handkerchiefs in hands, knotted. The one who holds the rope-end and standing cries out-

Doncaster cherries, ripe and sound; Touch 'em or taste 'em- Down, you dogs!

-Earls Heaton, Yorkshire (H. Hardy).

This is evidently a version of "Badger the Bear," with a different and apparently degraded formula.

Dools

A school game. The dools are places marked with stones, where the players always remain in safety-where they dare neither be caught by the hand nor struck with b.a.l.l.s. It is only when they leave these places of refuge that those out of the doons have any chance to gain the game and get in; and leave the doons they frequently must-this is the nature of the game. Now this game seems to have been often played in reality by our ancestors about their doon-hills.-Mactaggart's _Gallovidian Encyclopaedia_.

Down in the Valley

I. Down in the valley where the green gra.s.s grows Stands E-- H--, she blows like a rose.

She blows, she blows, she blows so sweet.

In came F-- S-- and gave her a kiss.

E-- made a pudding, she made it nice and sweet, F-- took a knife and fork and cut a little piece.

Taste of it, taste of it, don't say nay, For next Sunday morning is our wedding day.

First we'll buy a money box, Then we'll buy a cradle; Rock, rock the bottom out, Then we'll buy another.

Bread and cheese all the week, cork on Sunday, Half a crown on Sat.u.r.day night, and a jolly good dance on Monday.

-Cowes, Isle of Wight (Miss E. Smith).

II. Down in the meadows where the green gra.s.s grows, To see -- blow like a rose.

She blows, she blows, she blows so sweet.

Go out, --; who shall he be?

-- made a pudding, She made it so sweet, And never stuck a knife in Till -- came to eat.

Taste, love, taste, love, don't say nay, For next Monday morning is your wedding day.

He bought her a gown and a guinea gold ring, And a fine c.o.c.ked hat to be married in.

-West Haddon, Northamptonshire; Long Itchington, Warwickshire (_Northants Notes and Queries_, ii. 105).

III. Down in the valley the violets grow.

Dear little --, she blows like a rose.

She blows, she blows, she blows so sweet.

Come along in.

Buy a shawl, buy a new black shawl, A bonnet trimmed with white and a new parasol.

Oh dear, oh dear, what can I do, For next Monday morning is my wedding due.

-Shipley, Horsham; _Notes and Queries_, 8th series, i. 210 (Miss Busk).

(_b_) The children form a ring by joining hands, one child standing in the centre. They dance round. At the mention of the second name one from the ring goes into the centre. The two kiss at the end of the verse, and the first child takes the place in the ring, and the game begins again.

See "All the Boys," "Oliver, Oliver, follow the King."

Drab and Norr

A game similar to "Trippit and Coit."-Halliwell's _Dict._

Draw a Pail of Water

[Music]

-Sporle, Norfolk (Miss Matthews).

I. Draw a pail of water For my lady's daughter; My father's a king and my mother's a queen, My two little sisters are dressed in green, Stamping gra.s.s and parsley, Marigold leaves and daisies.

One rush, two rush, Pray thee, fine lady, come under my bush.

-Halliwell's _Nursery Rhymes_, Games, cclx.x.xvii.

II. Draw a pail of water, Send a lady a daughter; One o' my rush, two o' my rush, Please, young lady, creep under the briar bush.

-Liphook, Hants (Miss Fowler).

III. Draw, draw water, For my lady's daughter; One in a rush, Two in a bush, Pretty my lady, pop under the bush.

-Berrington and Ellesmere (_Shropshire Folk-lore_, p. 521).

IV. Draw a bucket o' water For a lady's daughter; One and a hush, two and a rush, Please, young lady, come under my bush.

-Fochabers (Rev. W. Gregor).

V. Draw a bucket of water For a lady's daughter; One in a bush, Two in a bush, Three in a bush, Four in a bush, And out you go.

-Crockham Hill, Kent (Miss Chase).

VI. Drawing a bucket of water For my lady's daughter; Put it in a chestnut tree, And let it stay an hour.

One of you rush, two may rush, Please, old woman, creep under the bush; The bush is too high, the bush is too low, Please, old woman, creep under the bush.

-Hampshire (Miss Mendham).

VII. Draw a pail of water For a lady's daughter; Give a silver pin for a golden ring- Oh pray, young lady, pop under.

-Northants (Rev. W. D. Sweeting).

VIII. Draw a bucket of water For my lady's daughter; One go rush, and the other go hush, Pretty young lady, bop under my bush.

-Sporle, Norfolk (Miss Matthews).

IX. Draw a bucket of water For the farmer's daughter; Give a gold ring and a silver watch, Pray, young lady, pop under.

-Sporle, Norfolk (Miss Matthews).

X. Draw a bucket of water For my lady's daughter; A guinea gold ring And a silver pin, So pray, my young lady, pop under.