The Traditional Games of England, Scotland, and Ireland Volume I Part 7

Noughts and Crosses.

Nur and Spel.

Nuts in May.

ERRATA.

On page 15, line 12, _for_ "Eggatt" _read_ "Hats in Holes."

On pp. 24, 49, 64, 112, _for_ "_Folk-lore Journal_, vol. vi." _read_ "vol. vii."

On page 62, last line, _insert_ "vol. xix." _after_ "_Journ.

Anthrop. Inst._"

On page 66, line 4, _delete_ "Move All."

On page 224, fig. 3 of "Hopscotch" should be reversed.

On page 332, diagram of "London" omitted.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

CHILDREN'S GAMES.

Accroshay

A cap or small article is placed on the back of a stooping boy by other boys as each in turn jumps over him. The first as he jumps says "Accroshay," the second "Ashotay," the third "a.s.sheflay," and the last "Lament, lament, Leleeman's (or Leleena's) war." The boy who in jumping knocks off either of the things has to take the place of the stooper.-Cornwall (_Folk-lore Journal_, v. 58).

See "Leap-frog."

All-hid

"A meere children's pastime" (_A Curtaine Lecture_, 1637, p. 206). This is no doubt the game of "Hide and Seek," though Cotgrave apparently makes it synonymous with "Hoodman Blind." See Halliwell's _Dictionary_.

It is alluded to in Dekker's _Satiromastix_, "Our unhansomed-fac'd Poet does play at Bo-peepes with your Grace, and cryes All-hidde, as boyes doe." Tourneur, _Rev. Trag._, III., v. 82, "A lady can at such Al-hid beguile a wiser man," is quoted in Murray's _Dictionary_ as the first reference.

All a Row

All a row, a bendy bow, Shoot at a pigeon and kill a crow; Shoot at another and kill his brother; Shoot again and kill a wren, And that'll do for gentlemen.

-Northall's _English Folk Rhymes_, p. 386.

This is a marching game for very little children, who follow each other in a row.

(_b_) Halliwell gives the first two lines only (_Nursery Rhymes_, No.

dxv., p. 101), and there is apparently no other record of this game. It is probably ancient, and formerly of some significance. It refers to days of bows and arrows, and the allusion to the killing of the wren may have reference to the Manx and Irish custom of hunting that bird.

All in the Well

A juvenile game in Newcastle and the neighbourhood. A circle is made, about eight inches in diameter, termed the well, in the centre of which is placed a wooden peg four inches long, with a b.u.t.ton balanced on the top. Those desirous of playing give b.u.t.tons, marbles, or anything else, according to agreement, for the privilege of throwing a short stick, with which they are furnished, at the peg. Should the b.u.t.ton fly out of the ring, the player is ent.i.tled to double the stipulated value of what he gives for the stick. The game is also practised at the Newcastle Races and other places of amus.e.m.e.nt in the North with three pegs, which are put into three circular holes made in the ground about two feet apart, and forming a triangle. In this case each hole contains a peg about nine inches long, upon which are deposited either a small knife or some copper. The person playing gives so much for each stick, and gets all the articles that are thrown off so as to fall on the outside of the holes.-Northumberland (Brockett's _North Country Glossary_).

All the Birds in the Air

A Suffolk game, not described (Moor's _Suffolk Glossary_). Jamieson also gives it without description. Compare the rhyme in the game "Fool, fool, come to School," "Little Dog, I call you."

All the Boys in our Town

I. All the boys in our town Shall lead a happy life, Except 'tis --, and he wants a wife.

A wife he shall have, and a-courting he shall go, Along with --, because he loves her so.

He huddles her, he cuddles her, He sits her on his knee; He says, My dear, do you love me?

I love you, and you love me, And we shall be as happy As a bird upon a tree.

The wife makes the pudding, And she makes it nice and soft- In comes the husband and cuts a slice off.

Tas-el-um, Tos-el-um, don't say Nay, For next Monday morning shall be our wedding day; The wife in the carriage, The husband in the cart.

-Hamps.h.i.+re (from friend of Miss Mendham).

II. All the boys in our town Leads a happy life, Excepting [Charley Allen], And he wants a wife; And a-courting he shall go Along with [girl's name], Because he loves her so.

He kisses her, he cuddles her, He sets her on his knee, And says, My dearest darling, Do you love me?

I love you and you love me; We'll both be as happy As birds on the tree.

Alice made a pudding, She made it nice and sweet, Up came Charley, cut a slice off- A slice, a slice, we don't say No; The next Monday morning the wedding goes (or "is our wedding day").

I've got knives and forks, I've got plates and dishes, I've got a nice young man, He breaks his heart with kisses.

If poor Alice was to die, Wouldn't poor Charley, he _would_ cry.

He would follow to the grave With black b.u.t.tons and black c.r.a.pe, And a guinea for the church, And the bell shall ring.

Up came the doctor, up came the cat, Up came the devil with a white straw hat.

Down went the doctor, down went the cat, Down went the devil with a white straw hat.[1]

-Deptford (Miss Chase).

III. Up the heathery mountains and down the rushy glen We dare not go a-hunting for Connor and his men; They are all l.u.s.ty bachelors but one I know, And that's [Tom Mulligan], the flower of the flock; He is the flower of the flock, he is the keeper of the glen, He courted [Kate O'Neill] before he was a man; He huggled her, he guggled her, he took her on his knee, Saying, My bonnie [Kate O'Neill], won't you marry me?

So -- made a pudding so nice and so sweet, Saying, Taste, love, taste, and don't say no, For next Sunday morning to church we will go.

With rings on our fingers and bells on our toes, And a little baby in her arms, and that's the way she goes.

And here's a clap, and here's a clap, for Mrs. --'s daughter.