The Traditional Games of England, Scotland, and Ireland Volume I Part 48

Hecklebirnie

A play among children in Aberdeenshire. Thirty or forty children in two rows, joining opposite hands, strike smartly with their hands thus joined on the head or shoulders of their companion as he runs the gauntlet through them. This is called "pa.s.sing through the mires of Hecklebirnie."-Jamieson.

The editors of Jamieson append a lengthy note connecting the name of this game with the northern belief that the wicked were condemned to suffer eternal punishment in Hecla, the volcanic mountain in Iceland.

See "Namers and Guessers."

Hen and Chicken

Chickery, chickery, cranny crow, I went to the well to wash my toe, When I got back a chicken was dead.

This verse is said by the Hen to her Chickens, after which they all go with the Hen to search for the dead Chicken. On their way they meet the Fox. The following dialogue between the Fox and Hen ensues, the Hen beginning:-

What are you doing?

Picking up sticks.

What for?

To make a fire.

What's the fire for?

To boil some water.

What's the water for?

To boil some chickens in.

Where do you get them from?

Out of your flock.

That I'm sure you won't.

-Derbyshire (_Folk-lore Journal_, i. 386).

The game is played in the usual manner of "Fox and Goose" games. One is chosen to be the Hen, and one to be the Fox. The rest are the Chickens.

The Chickens take hold of each other's waists, the first one holding the Hen's waist. At the end of the dialogue the Fox tries to get hold of one of the chickens. If he succeeds in catching them, they all with the Fox try to dodge the Hen, who makes an effort to regain them.

It is known at Winterton under the name of "Pins and Needles." The players stand in a row, one behind another, with one of the party as their Leader. Another player, called "Outsider," pretends to scratch the ground. The Leader asks, the questions, and the Outsider replies-

What are you scratching for?

Pins and needles.

What do you want your pins and needles for?

To mend my poke.

What do you want your poke for?

To put some sand in.

What do you want your sand for?

To sharpen knives with.

What do you want your knives for?

To cut all the little chickens' heads off with.

Here the Outsider tries to dodge past the Leader to catch one of the children at the further end of the row, the Leader meanwhile attempting to bar her progress. When at last she succeeds, the child caught takes her place, and the game is recommenced.-Winterton (Miss M. Peac.o.c.k).

See "Fox and Goose," "Gled-wylie."

Here comes a l.u.s.ty Wooer

[Music]

-Rimbault's _Nursery Rhymes_.

Here comes a l.u.s.ty wooer, My a dildin, my a daldin; Here comes a l.u.s.ty wooer, Lily bright and shine a'.

Pray who do you woo?

My a dildin, my a daldin; Pray who do you woo?

Lily bright and shine a'.

For your fairest daughter, My a dildin, my a daldin; For your fairest daughter, Lily bright and shine a'.

Then there she is for you, My a dildin, my a daldin; Then there she is for you, Lily bright and shine a'.

-Ritson (_Gammer Gurton's Garland_, 1783).

Northall says this game is played after the manner of the "Three Dukes"

(_Folk Rhymes_, p. 383). Halliwell (_Nursery Rhymes_, p. 98) has a version, and Rimbault (_Nursery Rhymes_) gives both words and tune. It is also contained in _The Merrie Heart_ (p. 47). See "Jolly Hooper,"

"Jolly Rover."

Here comes One Virgin

Here comes one Virgin on her knee, On her knee, on her knee, Here comes one Virgin on her knee, Pray what will you give her?

When did you come?

I came by night and I came by day, I came to steal poor Edie away.

She is too old, she is too young, She hasn't learnt her virgin tongue.

Let her be old or let her be young, For her beauty she must come.

In her pocket a thousand pounds, On her finger a gay gold ring.

Good-bye, good-bye, my dear.

-Hurstmonceux, Suss.e.x (Miss Chase).

One child stands by herself, and the rest of the players range themselves in line. The child sings the first verse and the line replies, the four succeeding verses being alternately sung. After the last line the girl tries to pull one whom she has chosen from the line toward her. If not successful, she must try again. If she is, they both stand in the middle, and commence singing the words again with-

Here come _two_ virgins on their knees, &c.

Probably a degraded version of "Three Lords from Spain."