Chapter VI: Part 6

Halliwell gives this rhyme as No. ccclvii. of his _Nursery Rhymes_, but without any description of the game beyond the words, "A game of the fox." It is probably the same game as "Fox and Goose."

Fox and Goose (1)

In Dorsetshire one of the party, called the Fox, takes one end of the room or corner of a field (for the game was equally played indoors or out); all the rest of the children arrange themselves in a line or string, according to size, one behind the other, the smallest last, behind the tallest one, called Mother Goose, with their arms securely round the waist of the one in front of them, or sometimes by grasping the dress.

The game commences by a parley between the Fox and Goose to this effect, the Goose beginning.

"What are you after this fine morning?"

"Taking a walk."

"With what object?"

"To get an appetite for a meal."

"What does [will] your meal consist of?"

"A nice fat goose for my breakfast."

"Where will you get it?"

"Oh, I shall get a nice morsel somewhere; and as they are so handy, I shall satisfy myself with one of yours."

"Catch one if you can."

A lively scene follows. The Fox and Mother Goose should be pretty evenly matched; the Mother with extended arms seeking to protect her Brood, while the Fox, who tries to dodge under, right and left, is only allowed in case of a successful foray or grasp to secure the last of the train. Vigorous efforts are made to escape him, the Brood of course supplementing the Mother's exertions to elude him as far as they are able, but without breaking the link. The game may be continued until all in turn are caught.--_Folk-lore Journal_, vii. 217-18.

In Lancashire the children stand in line behind each other, holding each other by the waist. One stands facing them and calls out--

My mother sits on yonder chimney,
And she says she _must_ have a chicken.

The others answer--

She _can't_ have a chicken.

The one then endeavours to catch the last child of the tail, who when caught comes behind the captor; repeat until all have changed sides.--Monton, Lancashire (Miss Dendy).

A version of this game played at Eckington, Derbyshire, is played as follows:--A den is chalked out or marked out for the Fox. A larger den, opposite to this, is marked out for the Geese. A boy or a girl represents the Fox, and a number of others the Geese. Then the Fox shouts, "Geese, Geese, gannio," and the Geese answer, "Fox, Fox, fannio." Then the Fox says, "How many Geese have you to-day?" The Geese reply, "More than you can catch and carry away." Then the Geese run out of the den, and the Fox tries to catch them. He puts as many as he catches into his den (S. O. Addy).

(_b_) This game is a very general one at Christmas time. It is practically the same as "Gled Wylie," and "Hen and Chickens," and the "Hawk and Chickens" of Mr. Newell's _Games and Songs of American Children_, pp. 155-56. By referring to these games it will be seen that the whole group are mimic representatives of farmyard episodes, though the animal characters are giving way to more domestic affairs, as shown in the Pins and Needles version of "Hen and Chickens." It is possible that the different animals which are victims to the Fox appearing in the different games may arise from local circumstances, and that in this case a real distinction exists between the various names by which this game is known. A game called "Wolf and Deer," similar to "Fox and Geese," is given in _Winter Evening Amusements_, by R. Revel. The last one at the end of the tail may, if she has no other chance of escape, try and place herself before the Deer or Hen. She is then no longer to be hunted; all the others must then follow her example until the deer becomes the last of the line. The game then terminates by exacting a forfeit for each lady whom the Wolf has suffered to escape his clutches (pp. 64, 65).

See "Gled Wylie," "Hen and Chickens," "Old Dame."

Fox and Geese (2)

A game known by this name is played with marbles or pegs on a board on which are thirty-three holes, or on the pavement, with holes scraped out of the stones. To play this game there are seventeen pieces called Geese, and another one either larger or distinguished from the Geese by its colour, which is called the Fox. The Fox occupies the centre hole, and the Geese occupy nine holes in front, and four on each side of him. The vacant holes behind are for the Geese and Fox to move in. The game is for the Geese to shut up the Fox so that he cannot move. All the pieces can be moved from one spot to another in the direction of the lines, but cannot pass over two holes at once. The Geese are not permitted to take the Fox. The Fox's business is to take all, or as many of the Geese as will prevent him from being blockaded. The Fox can take the Geese whenever there is a vacant space behind them, which he passes to, then occupies.

This game has been very popular among schoolboys in all ages. Mr. Micklethwaite, in a paper on the Indoor Games of School Boys in the Middle Ages (_Arch. Journ._ xlix. 322), gives instances of finding figures of this game cut "in the cloister benches of Gloucester Cathedral and elsewhere, and there are several on the twelfth century tomb at Salisbury, miscalled Lord Stourton's," and also at Norwich Castle. For the date of these boards, Mr. Micklethwaite says for the last three centuries and a half cloisters everywhere in England have been open passages, and there have generally been schoolboys about. It is therefore not unlikely that they should have left behind them such traces as these play-boards. But if they are of later date they would not be found to be distributed in monastic cloisters with respect to the monastic arrangement, and we do find them so. Strutt describes the game (_Sports_, p. 319).

See "Nine Men's Morris," "Noughts and Crosses."

Fox in the Fold

"The Tod (Fox) i' the Faul (Fold)." This game is commonly played by boys. Any number of boys join hands and stand in a circle to form the Faul. The boy that represents the Tod is placed within the circle. His aim is to escape. To effect this he rushes with all his force, increased by a run, against the joint hands of any two of the players. If the rush does not unloose the grasp, he hangs on the two arms with all his weight, pressing and wriggling. If he fails he makes a rush at another two, always selecting those players he thinks weakest. When he does break through he rushes off at the top of his speed, with all the players in full cry, till he is caught and brought back. The game begins anew with another boy as Tod.--Keith (Rev. W. Gregor).

See "Bull in the Park," "Frog in the Middle."

Fox in the Hole

All the players are armed with handkerchiefs. One of the players is chosen for Fox, who has his den marked out. The Fox hops out on one leg, with his handkerchief ready to strike. The players gather round him and attack him. If he can strike one of his assailants without putting his foot to the ground from his hopping position, the player so struck is chased by the others into the den, and he then becomes the Fox for another round of the game.--Cork (Miss Keane).

Halliwell (_Nursery Rhymes_, p. 228) describes the game in practically the same manner, but adds that when the Fox is coming out he says--

The Fox gives warning
It's a cold and frosty morning,

after which he is at liberty to hop out and use his handkerchief.

_(b)_ This game is alluded to in _Soliman and Perseda_, 1599; _Florio_, p. 480; _Herrick_, i. 176. See Halliwell's _Dictionary_. Professor Mayor communicated to the _Gentleman's Magazine_ of 1848 (ii.), p. 147, the following early allusions to the game from old dictionaries:--

Gouldman, London, MDCLXIV.--"_Ascoliasmus_, Empusæ ludus: a kind of play wherein boys lift up one leg and hop with the other, where they beat one another with bladders tied to the end of strings. Fox to thy hole."

Holyoke, MDCLXXVII.--"_Empusa_. [Greek: para to heni podizein], quòd uno incedat pede. Hence _empusam agere_ is used for a play, hopping on one leg; with us, Fox to his hole."

Id. "_Ascoliasmus._ A kind of play that children use when they hop on one leg, called Fox to thy hole."

Cambridge Dict. MDCXCIII.--"_Ascol._ A kind of play wherein boys hopping on one leg beat one another with gloves or pieces of leather, and is called Fox to thy hole."

Coles, 7th ed. 1711.--"_Ascol._ The play called Fox to the hole.--_Empus._ Ludus Empusæ. Scotch hoppers, or Fox in the hole."

A similar game to this is played at Earls Heaton, Yorkshire (Mr. Hardy), and called "Goose and Gander." Two players, the Goose and the Gander, stand in a ring, each on one leg. They hop out in turn, and try to catch one of the other players without letting their other leg touch the ground. If they fail in this they get "strapped" back to the ring. When either are successful, the player who is caught takes the place of either Goose or Gander in turn. The game is also mentioned in _Useful Transactions in Philosophy_, 1708-9.

French Jackie

This game is played either by boys or girls or by both together. One is chosen to stand alone; the other players join hands and form a circle. The one outside the circle goes round it and touches on the back one of the circle. He then runs off round the circle, and the one who was touched runs off in the opposite direction round the circle. The aim of each player is to reach the vacant place in the circle first. The one left out has to repeat the same action. The game may go on for any length of time.--Keith (Rev. W. Gregor).

At Barnes this game is called "Gap." It is known as "French Tag" in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire (Miss Matthews), and "Tap-back" at Bitterne, Hants (Mrs. Adam).

French and English

The children choose sides under a leader, and a boundary line is made in the middle of the ground dividing the French and English territory. A handkerchief is then placed in the back part of each territory to represent a flag. The object is to obtain as many flags from the opposite side as possible. If a person is captured before having seized a flag, he is taken prisoner, and must be rescued by one of his own side. Thus, for instance, an Englishman enters the French territory and tries to reach the flag. If he is seen by the French before he reaches the flag, he is taken prisoner and is placed near the flags, and the next Englishman rescues him instead of taking a flag. As soon as the flag is taken, one of the party must put another handkerchief in its place. A player cannot be taken prisoner after having obtained the handkerchief or flag. The winning side is decided by counting the flags and prisoners.--Bitterne, Hants (Mrs. Byford).

This is a very general game, and is known as "Scotch and English" in the north, where some interesting details occur, for which see "Scotch and English."

French Blindman's Buff

The children kneel in a circle, one standing blindfolded in the middle. The kneeling children shout, "Come point to me with your pointer."--Monton, Lancashire (Miss Dendy).

See "Buff," "Dinah," "Muffin Man."

Friar-rush

A Christmas game, mentioned in the _Declaration of Popish Impostures_, 1603.

Frincy-francy

A game played between the dances at balls in farm-houses. A chair was placed in the middle of the barn or room; the master of the ceremonies led to the chair a young woman, who sat down and named the young man whom she was willing should kiss her. This he did, and then took the seat which the lady vacated. He then called out the name of some favourite girl, who was led up to him; there was another kiss. The girl then took the seat, and so on (county of Down). The same game is called "Frimsey-framsey" in parts of the county of Antrim.--Patterson's _Antrim and Down Glossary_.

Compare "Cushion Dance."

Frog-lope

Name for "Leap-frog."--Addy's _Sheffield Glossary_.

Frog in the Middle

One child is seated on the ground with his legs under him; the other players form a ring round. They then pull or buffet the centre child or Frog, who tries to catch one of them without rising from the floor. The child who is caught takes the place of the centre child. Another method of playing the game is similar to "Bull in the Park." The child in the centre tries to break out of the ring, those forming it keeping the Frog in the ring by any means in their power, while still keeping their hands clasped. They sometimes sing or say--

Hey! hey! hi! Frog in the middle and there shall lie;
He can't get out and he shan't get out--hey! hey! hi!

They dance round when saying this, all keeping a watch on the Frog, who suddenly makes a rush, and tries to break through the ring.--London (A. B. Gomme).

Strutt describes this game, and gives an illustration from a fourteenth century MS. which is here reproduced from the original (_Sports_, p. 303). Newell (_Games of American Children_, p. 171) also mentions it, and gives the rhyme as--

Frog in the sea, can't catch me!

Gap

The same as "French Jackie." This game is called "Tap-back" or "Tat-back" at Bitterne, Hants.

Garden Gate

Children join hands and form a ring. One child stands inside the ring; this child walks round and asks one of the circle, called the Keeper--

Have you the key of the garden gate?
Open and let me go through.

The Keeper replies--

My next-door neighbour's got the key;
Ask him and he'll give it to you.

This is repeated by each one in the circle. Then the inside child comes again to the Keeper and says--

None of the neighbours have got the key,
So you must let me go through.

The Keeper answers--

I've lost the key of the garden gate,
And cannot let you through.

Then all the ring say--

You must stop all night within the gate,
Unless you have strength to break through.

The child inside then attempts to break through, and if he succeeds in breaking any of the clasped hands the one who first gives way has to take the place in the centre.--Roxton, St. Neots (Miss Lumley).

See "Bull in the Park."

Gegg

"To smuggle the Gegg," a game played by boys in Glasgow, in which two parties are formed by lot, equal in number, the one being denominated the Outs, the other Ins. The Outs are those who go out from the den or goal, where those called the Ins remain for a time. The Outs get the Gegg, which is anything deposited, as a key, a penknife, &c. Having received this, they conceal themselves, and raise the cry, "Smugglers!" On this they are pursued by the Ins; and if the Gegg (for the name is transferred to the person who holds the deposit) be taken, they exchange situations--the Outs become Ins and the Ins Outs. This play is distinguished from "Hy-spy" only by the use of the Gegg. One of the Ins who is touched by one of the Outs is said to be taken, and henceforth loses his right to hold the Gegg. If he who holds the Gegg gets in the den, the Outs are winners, and have the privilege of getting out again. The Outs, before leaving the den, shuffle the Gegg, or smuggle it so between each other that the Ins do not know which person has it. He who is laid hold of, and put to the question, is supposed to deny that he has the Gegg: if he escapes with it, he gets out again.--Jamieson.

Genteel Lady

A player begins thus:--"I, a genteel lady (or gentleman) came from that genteel lady (or gentleman) to say that she (or he) owned a tree." The other players repeat the words in turn, and then the leader goes over them again, adding, "with bronze bark." The sentence goes round once more, and on the next repetition the leader continues, "with golden branches." He afterwards adds, "and silver leaves," "and purple fruit," "and on the top a milk-white dove," and, finally, "mourning for the loss of his lady-love."

If a player should fail in repeating the rigmarole, there is a fine to pay. A "pipe-lighter" is stuck in her hair, and she must say "one-horned lady" instead of "genteel lady." When a second horn is added, of course she says "two-horned," and so forth. Some players wear half-a-dozen before the conclusion of the game. The game is called "The Wonderful Tree."--Anderby, Lincolnshire (Miss M. Peacock).

In some parts of Yorkshire it is customary to say "no-horned lady" instead of "genteel lady" at the beginning of the game.

When we played this game we said "always genteel" after "genteel lady," and varied the formula. For instance, the first player would say, "I, a genteel lady, always genteel, come from a genteel lady, always genteel, to say she lives in a house with twelve windows," or words were used beginning with the letter A. Each player must repeat this, and add something else in keeping with a house; or sentences had to be made in which words beginning with the letter A must be said, the other players doing the same alphabetically.--London (A. B. Gomme).

Mr. Newell, in writing of this game, says that the "lamp-lighter" or "spill" was lighted when placed in the hair of the players who made mistakes. He does not mention forfeits being exacted.--_Games_, p. 139.

Ghost at the Well

One of the party is chosen for Ghost (if dressed in white so much the better); she hides in a corner; the other children are a mother and daughters. The eldest daughter says:--

"Mother, mother, please give me a piece of bread and butter."

M. "Let me (or 'leave me') look at your hands, child. Why, they are very dirty."

E. D. "I will go to the well and wash them."

She goes to the corner, the Ghost peeps up, and she rushes back, crying out--

"Mother! mother! I have seen a Ghost."

M. "Nonsense, child! it was only your father's nightshirt I have washed and hung out to dry. Go again."

The child goes, and the same thing happens. She returns, saying--

"Yes! mother! I have seen a ghost."

M. "Nonsense, child! we will take a candle, and all go together to search for it."

The mother picks up a twig for a candle, and they set off. When they come near to the Ghost, she appears from her hiding-place, mother and children rush away in different directions, the Ghost chases them until she has caught one, who in her turn becomes Ghost.--West Cornwall (Miss Courtney, _Folk-lore Journal_, v. 55).

This game was "Ghost in the Copper" in London. It was played in the same way as above. Chairs formed the copper, and the ghost crouched down behind. The "Mother" was "washing" at a tub, also formed with two chairs. The eldest daughter was told she could not go to school to-day; she must stop at home and help hang up the clothes. The other children go to play. The Mother said, "Here, Jane, take this (pretending to give her a garment out of the wash-tub) and put it in the copper, and push it down well with the stick." Jane goes to the copper and pretends to take off the lid. When she puts the washed garment in, and pokes down with the stick, the Ghost jumps up. She cries out as above, the Mother saying, "Nonsense, child! it's only some of the boiling clothes." The child goes again, and the game proceeds as above. It is generally played now as "Ghost."--A. B. Gomme. It is mentioned by Newell (_Games_, p. 223).

Giants

A Giant is chosen, and he must be provided with a cave. A summer-house will do, if there is no window for the Giant to see out of. The others then have to knock at the door with their knuckles separately. The Giant rushes when he thinks all the children have knocked, and if he succeeds in catching one before they reach a place of safety (appointed beforehand) the captured one becomes Giant.--Bitterne, Hants (Mrs. Byford). See "Wolf."

Giddy

Giddy, giddy, gander,
Who stands yonder?
Little Bessy Baker,
Pick her up and shake her;
Give her a bit of bread and cheese,
And throw her over the water.

--Warwickshire.

_(b)_ A girl being blindfolded, her companions join hands and form a ring round her. At the word "Yonder" the blindfolded girl points in any direction she pleases, and at line three names one of the girls. If the one pointed at and the one named be the same, she is the next to be blinded; but, curiously enough, if they be not the same, the one named is the one. Meanwhile, at line four, she is not "picked up," but is shaken by the shoulders by the still blindfolded girl; and at line five she is given by the same "bread and cheese," _i.e._, the buds or young leaves of what later is called "May" (_Cratægus oxyacantha_); and at line six she is taken up under the blinded girl's arm and swung round.--Warwickshire (_Notes and Queries_, 6th Ser., viii. 451).

Gilty-galty (or gaulty)

A boy's game. One boy is chosen, who says:--

Gilty-galty four-and-forty,
Two tens make twenty.

He then counts one, two, three, four, &c., up to forty, having his eyes covered by his hands, and the others hide while he is saying the "nominy." At the conclusion he uncovers his eyes, and if he sees any boys not yet hidden they have to stand still. He seeks the rest, but if he moves far away from his place, called the "stooil" (stool), one of the hidden boys may rush out and take it, provided he can get there first. Should he fail in this he also has to stand aside; but if any one succeeds, then all run out as before, and the same boy has to say the "nominy" again. On the other hand, if he finds all the boys without loosing his "stooil," the boy first caught has to take his place and say the "nominy." The game was thus played in 1810, and is so still, both here and at Lepton.--Easther's _Almondbury and Huddersfield Glossary_.

Gipsy

I charge my children, every one,
To keep good house while I am gone.
You, and you [points], but specially you
[or sometimes, but specially Sue],
Or else I'll beat you black and blue.

One child is selected for Gipsy, one for Mother, and one for Daughter Sue. The Mother says the lines, and points to several children to emphasise her words. During her absence the Gipsy comes in, entices a child away, and hides her. This process is repeated till all the children are hidden, when the mother has to find them.--Halliwell (_Nursery Rhymes_, p. 228).

See "Mother, Mother, the Pot Boils Over," "Witch."

Gled-wylie

The name of a singular game played at country schools. One of the largest of the boys steals away from his comrades, in an angry-like mood, to some dykeside or sequestered nook, and there begins to work as if putting a pot on a fire. The others seem alarmed at his manner, and gather round him, when the following dialogue takes place:--

They say first to him--

What are ye for wi' the pot, gudeman?
Say what are ye for wi' the pot?
We dinna like to see ye, gudeman,
Sae thrang about this spot.

We dinna like ye ava, gudeman,
We dinna like ye ava.
Are ye gaun to grow a gled, gudeman?
And our necks draw and thraw?

He answers--

Your minnie, burdies, ye maun lae;
Ten to my nocket I maun hae;
Ten to my e'enshanks, and or I gae lye,
In my wame I'll lay twa dizzen o' ye by.

The mother of them, as it were, returns--

Try't than, try't than, do what ye can,
Maybe ye maun toomer sleep the night, gudeman;
Try't than, try't than, Gled-wylie frae the heugh,
Am no sae saft, Gled-wylie, ye'll fin' me bauld and teugh.

After these rhymes are said the chickens cling to the mother all in a string. She fronts the flock, and does all she can to keep the kite from her brood, but often he breaks the row and catches his prey.--Mactaggart's _Gallovidian Encyclopædia_.

Evidently denominated from the common mode of designating the kite among the vulgar (Jamieson). "The Greedy Gled's seeking ye," is one of the lines of a rhyme used in "Hide and Seek" in Edinburgh. Glead, or Gled, is also a Yorkshire and Cheshire name for a kite. "As hungry as a Glead" (_Glossary_, by an Old Inhabitant).--Leigh (_Cheshire Glossary_).

See "Fox and Goose," "Hen and Chickens," "Hide and Seek."

Glim-glam

The play of "Blind Man's Buff."--Banffshire, Aberdeen (Jamieson).

Gobs

A London name for the game of "Hucklebones."

See "Fivestones."

Green Grass

[Music]

--Middlesex (Miss Collyer).

[Music]

--London (A. B. Gomme).

[Music]

--Congleton (Miss A. E. Twemlow).

I. A dis, a dis, a green grass,
A dis, a dis, a dis;
Come all you pretty fair maids
And dance along with us.

For we are going roving,
A roving in this land;
We'll take this pretty fair maid,
We'll take her by the hand.

Ye shall get a duke, my dear,
And ye shall get a drake;
And ye shall get a young prince,
A young prince for your sake.

And if this young prince chance to die,
Ye shall get another;
The bells will ring, and the birds will sing,
And we'll clap hands together.

--Chamber's _Popular Rhymes_, pp. 137-38.

II. A-diss, a-diss, a-green grass,
A-diss, a-diss, a-dass;
Come, my pretty fair maid,
And walk along with us.

For you shall have a dik-ma-day,
You shall have a dr[=a]gon;
You shall have a nice young man
With princes for his th[=e]gan (or s[=e]gan).

--Lanarkshire (W. G. Black).

III. A dish, a dish, a green grass,
A dish, a dish, a dish,
Come all you pretty maidens
And dance along wi' us.

For we are lads a roving,
A roving through the land,
We'll take this pretty fair maid
By her lily white hand.

Ye sall get a duke, my dear,
An ye sall get a drake,
An ye sall get a bonny prince
For your ain dear sake.

And if they all should die,
Ye sall get anither;
The bells will ring, the birds will sing,
And we'll clap our hands together.

--Biggar (W. Ballantyne).

IV. Dissy, dissy, green grass,
Dissy, dissy, duss,
Come all ye pretty fair maids
And dance along with us.

You shall have a duck, my dear,
And you shall have a drake,
And you shall have a nice young man
To love you for your sake.

If this young man should chance to die
And leave the girl a widow,
The birds shall sing, the bells shall ring,
Clap all your hands together.

--Yorkshire (Henderson's _Folk-lore, Northern Counties_, p. 27).

V. Dossy, dossy green grass,
Dossy, dossy, doss,
Come all ye pretty fair maids
And dance upon the grass.

I will give you pots and pans,
I will give you brass,
I will give you anything
For a pretty lass.

I will give you gold and silver,
I will give you pearl,
I will give you anything
For a pretty girl.

Take one, take one, the fairest you can see.

You shall have a duck, my dear,
You shall have a drake,
You shall have a young man
Apprentice for your sake.

If this young man shall wealthy grow
And give his wife a feather,
The bells shall ring and birds shall sing
And we'll all clap hands together.

--Roxton, St. Neots (Miss Lumley).

VI. Walking up the green grass,
A dust, a dust, a dust!
We want a pretty maiden
To walk along with us.

We'll take this pretty maiden,
We'll take her by the hand,
She shall go to Derby,
And Derby is the land!

She shall have a duck, my dear,
She shall have a drake,
She shall have a nice young man
A-fighting for her sake!

Suppose this young man was to die,
And leave the poor girl a widow;
The bells would ring and we should sing,
And all clap hands together!

--Berrington (_Shropshire Folk-lore_, p. 511).

VII. Tripping up the green grass,
Dusty, dusty, day,
Come all ye pretty fair maids,
Come and with me play.

You shall have a duck, my dear,
And you shall have a swan,
And you shall have a nice young man
A waiting for to come.

Suppose he were to die
And leave his wife a widow,
Come all ye pretty fair maids,
Come clap your hands together!

Will you come?
No!

Naughty man, he won't come out,
He won't come out, he won't come out,
Naughty man, he won't come out,
To help us in our dancing.

Will you come?
Yes!

Now we've got our bonny lad,
Our bonny lad, our bonny lad,
Now we've got our bonny lad,
To help us in our dancing.

--Middlesex (Miss Collyer).

VIII. Stepping on the green grass
Thus, and thus, and thus;
Please may we have a pretty lass
To come and play with us?
We will give you pots and pans,
We will give you brass,

No!

We will give you anything
For a bonny lass.

No!

We will give you gold and silver,
We will give you pearl,
We will give you anything
For a pretty girl.

Yes!

You shall have a goose for dinner,
You shall have a darling,
You shall have a nice young man
To take you up the garden.

But suppose this young man was to die
And leave this girl a widow?
The bells would ring, the cats would sing,
So we'll all clap together.

--Frodingham and Nottinghamshire (Miss M. Peacock).

IX. Stepping up the green grass,
Thus, and thus, and thus;
Will you let one of your fair maids
Come and play with us?
We will give you pots and pans,
We will give you brass,
We will give you anything
For a pretty lass.

No!

We won't take your pots and pans,
We won't take your brass,
We won't take your anything
For a pretty lass.

Stepping up the green grass,
Thus, and thus, and thus;
Will you let one of your fair maids
Come and play with us?
We will give you gold and silver,
We will give you pearl,
We will give you anything
For a pretty girl.

Yes!

Come, my dearest [Mary],
Come and play with us,
You shall have a young man
Born for your sake.
And the bells shall ring
And the cats shall sing,
And we'll all clap hands together.

--Addy's _Sheffield Glossary_.

X. Up and down the green grass,
This, and that, and thus;
Come all you fair maids
And walk along with us.

Some will give you silver,
Some will give you gold,
Some will give you anything
For a pretty lass.

Don't you think [_boy's name_]
Is a handsome young man?
Don't you think Miss [_child who has been choosing_]
Is as handsome as he?

Then off with the glove
And on with the ring;
You shall be married
When you can agree.

Take hold of my little finger,
Maycanameecan,
Pray tell me the name
Of your young man.

--Hurstmonceux, Sussex (Miss Chase).

XI. Here we come up the green grass,
Green grass, green grass,
Here we come up the green grass,
Dusty, dusty, day.

Fair maid, pretty maid,
Give your hand to me,
I'll show you a blackbird,
A blackbird on the tree.

We'll all go roving,
Roving side by side,
I'll take my fairest ----,
I'll take her for my bride.

Will you come?
No!

Naughty miss, she won't come out,
Won't come out, won't come out,
Naughty miss, she won't come out,
To help us with our dancing.

Will you come?
Yes!

Now we've got our bonny lass,
Bonny lass, bonny lass,
Now we've got our bonny lass,
To help us with our dancing.

--London (A. B. Gomme).

XII. Here we go up the green grass,
The green grass, the green grass;
Here we go up the green grass,
So early in the morning.

Fair maid, pretty maid;
Give your hand to me,
And you shall see a blackbird,
A blackbird on the tree;
All sorts of colours
Lying by his side,
Take me, dearest [----],
For to be my bride--

Will you come?
No!

Naughty old maid, she won't come out,
She won't come out,
To help us with our dancing--

Will you come?
Yes!

Now we've got the bonny lass,
Now we've got the bonny lass,
To help us with our dancing.

--Liphook, Hants (Miss Fowler).

XIII. Trip trap over the grass,
If you please, will you let one of your [eldest] daughters
come,
Come and dance with me?
I will give you pots and pans,
I will give you brass,
I will give you anything
For a pretty lass--

No!
I will give you gold and silver,
I will give you pearl,
I will give you anything
For a pretty girl.

Take one, take one, the fairest you may see.

The fairest one that I can see
Is pretty [Nancy], come to me;

You shall have a duck, my dear,
And you shall have a drake,
And you shall have a young man,
Apprentice for your sake.

If this young man should happen to die,
And leave this poor woman a widow,
The bells shall all ring and the birds shall all sing,
And we'll clap hands together.

--Halliwell's _Popular Nursery Rhymes_, cccxxxii.

XIV. Will you take gold and silver, or will you take brass,
Will you take anything for a pretty lass?

No! we'll not take gold and silver, no! we'll not take brass;
We'll not take anything for a pretty lass.

Will you take the keys of school, or will you take brass?
Will you take anything for a pretty lass?

Yes! we'll take the keys of school; yes! we will take brass;
We will take anything for a pretty lass.

Come, my dear [Mary Anne], and give me your right hand,

And you shall have a duck, my dear,
You shall have a drake;
You shall have a nice young man
To fiddle for your sake.

The birds will sing, the bells will ring,
And we'll all clap hands together.

--Congleton Workhouse School (Miss A. E. Tremlow).

(_c_) The popular version of this game is played by the greater number of the children forming a line on one side with joined hands, and one child (sometimes two or more) facing them, advancing and retiring while singing the verses. When he asks the question, "Will you come?" one girl on the opposite side answers "No!" and afterwards "Yes!" When this is said, she goes to the opposite side, and the two dance round together while singing the next verse. The game begins again by the two singing the verses, and thus getting a third child to join them, when the game proceeds for a fourth, and so on.

The Congleton and London versions are played by two lines of children of about equal numbers. In the Lincolnshire version the above description answers, except that when the last line is sung every one claps hands. In the Sussex version the child at the end of the line is taken over by the child who sings the verses, and they lock their little fingers together while singing the remainder.

Addy (_Sheffield Glossary_) says:--"Two children advance and retire on one side. When the opposite side says 'Yes!' the two take the first child in the row and dance round with her, singing the remaining verse. This is called 'the wedding.'"

The Lanarkshire version is quite a different one, and contains rather remarkable features. Mr. Black says that the game was played entirely by girls, never by boys, and generally in the months of May or June, about forty years ago. The children sang with rather mincing and refined voices, evidently making an effort in this direction. They walked, with their hands clasped behind their backs, up and down the road. Each child was crowned with rushes, and also had sashes or girdles of rushes.

Mr. Ballantyne says in his boyhood it was played by a row of boys on one side and another of girls opposite. The boys selected a girl when singing the third verse.

In the Roxton version, one child at the end of the line of children acts as "mother." One child advances as "suitor," and says the three first verses. The "mother" replies with the next line. The "suitor" chooses a girl and says the next verse, and then all the children sing the last verse. This is the same action as in Halliwell's version.

(_d_) The analysis of the game-rhymes is on pp. 164-67. This analysis presents us with a very good example of the changes caused by the game-rhymes being handed down by tradition among people who have forgotten the original meaning of the game. The first line in the Scotch version contains the word "dis," which is not known to the ordinary vocabulary. Another word, of similar import, is "dik-ma-day" in the Lanarkshire version. Two other words occur, namely, "thegan" in the Lanarkshire, and "maycanameecan" in the Sussex versions, which are also not to be found in ordinary vocabularies. The two last words appear only once, and cannot, therefore, be used for the purpose of tracing out an original form of the game-rhyme, because on the system of analysis adopted they may be arbitrary introductions and totally unconnected with the original rhymes. This, however, is not the case with the two first-mentioned words, and I am inclined to consider them as forming part of the earliest version. The word "dis" is carried through no less than ten out of the fourteen variants, the gradation in the forms being as follows:--

dis
dass
dish
diss[y]--duss
dossy
this--thus
--dust
--dust[y]

What the meaning of this word is it may be impossible to ascertain, though probably Mr. Newell may be correct in his suggestion that it represents the old English word "adist," the opposite of "ayont," meaning "this way," "come hither" (_Games of American Children_, p. 51). But the point really is, that the version which contains the oldest word-forms would probably be the purest in other respects. The analysis of the whole game confirms this view, as the Scottish and Yorkshire versions are nearly parallel, while the discrepancies begin to creep in with the Shropshire version, reaching their last stage in the versions recorded by Halliwell and from Congleton. Following this line of argument, "dik-ma-day" becomes first "duke, my dear," and then "duck, my dear." Turning next to the import of the rhymes, apart from special words used, it is curious to note that "dis" is only converted into "dusty," and hence into "dusty day," in two versions out of the fourteen. The Lincolnshire version agrees with Halliwell's version in making some curious offers for a pretty lass, but these rhymes are probably an innovation. In the same way the incidents numbered 39-40, occurring in the Sussex version, and 43-46 occurring in the London and Hants versions, are borrowings from other games, and not original portions of this. The Congleton version is evidently incomplete.

+----+----------------------+----------------------+----------------------+
| No.| Scotland (Chambers). | Lanarkshire. | Biggar. |
+----+----------------------+----------------------+----------------------+
| 1.|A-dis, a-dis, a green |A-dis, a-dis, a green |A dish, a dish, a |
| |grass. |grass. |green grass. |
| 2.| -- | -- | -- |
| 3.|A-dis, a-dis, a-das. |A-dis, a-dis, a-dass. |A dish, a dish, |
| | | |a dish. |
| 4.| -- | -- | -- |
| 5.| -- | -- | -- |
| 6.|Come all ye pretty |Come my pretty fair |Come all ye pretty |
| |maids. |maid. |maids. |
| 7.|And dance along with |And walk along with |And dance along with |
| |us. |us. |us. |
| 8.|For we are going a- | -- |For we are lads a |
| |roving. | |roving. |
| 9.|We'll take this maid | -- |We'll take this pretty|
| |by the hand. | | fair maid by the |
| | | |hand. |
| 10.| -- | -- | -- |
| 11.| -- | -- | -- |
| 12.|You shall have a duke,|You shall have a dik- |Ye sall get a duke. |
| |my dear. |ma-day. | |
| 13.| -- | -- | -- |
| 14.| -- | -- | -- |
| 15.| -- | -- | -- |
| 16.| -- | -- | -- |
| 17.| -- | -- | -- |
| 18.| -- | -- | -- |
| 19.| -- | -- | -- |
| 20.|You shall have a |You shall have a |Ye sall get a drake. |
| |drake. |dragon. | |
| 21.| -- | -- | -- |
| 22.| -- | -- | -- |
| 23.| -- | -- | -- |
|[8.]| -- | -- | -- |
| 24.|And ye shall get a |You shall have a nice |Ye sall get a bonny |
| |young prince. |young man. |prince. |
| 25.| -- | -- | -- |
| 26.| -- | -- | -- |
| 27.|A young prince for | -- |For your ain sake. |
| |your sake. | | |
| 28.| -- | -- | -- |
| 29.| -- | -- | -- |
| 30.|If this young prince | -- |If they all should |
| |should die. | |die. |
| 31.| -- | -- | -- |
| 32.|Ye shall get another. | -- |Ye sall get anither. |
| 33.| -- | -- | -- |
| 34.| -- | -- | -- |
| 35.|Bells will ring and | -- |The bells will ring, |
| |birds sing. | |birds will sing. |
| 36.| -- | -- | -- |
| 37.|We'll all clap hands | -- |We'll clap hands |
| |together. | |together. |
| 38.| -- |With princes for his | -- |
| | |thegan. | |
| 39.| -- | -- | -- |
| 40.| -- | -- | -- |
| 41.| -- | -- | -- |
| 42.| -- | -- | -- |
| 43.| -- | -- | -- |
| 44.| -- | -- | -- |
| 45.| -- | -- | -- |
| 46.| -- | -- | -- |
+----+----------------------+----------------------+----------------------+

+----+----------------------+----------------------+----------------------+
| No.| Yorkshire. | Roxton. | Shropshire. |
+----+----------------------+----------------------+----------------------+
| 1.|Dissy, dissy, green |Dossy, dossy, green | -- |
| |grass. |grass. | |
| 2.| -- | -- |Walking up the green |
| | | |grass. |
| 3.|Dissy, dissy, duss. |Dossy, dossy, doss. |A dust, a dust, a |
| | | |dust. |
| 4.| -- | -- | -- |
| 5.| -- | -- | -- |
| 6.|Come all ye pretty |Come all ye pretty |We want a pretty |
| |maids. |maids. |maiden. |
| 7.|And dance along with |Dance upon the grass. |To walk along with us.|
| |us. | | |
| 8.| -- | -- | -- |
| 9.| -- | -- |We'll take her by the |
| | | |hand. |
| 10.| -- | -- | -- |
| 11.| -- | -- |She shall go to Derby.|
| 12.|You shall have a duck.|You shall have a duck.|She shall have a duck,|
| | |(after No. 19) |my dear. |
| 13.| -- |I will give pots and | -- |
| | |pans. | |
| 14.| -- |..... brass. | -- |
| 15.| -- |..... gold and silver.| -- |
| 16.| -- |..... pearl. | -- |
| 17.| -- |..... anything. | -- |
| 18.| -- | -- | -- |
| 19.| -- |For a pretty lass. | -- |
| 20.|You shall have a |You shall have a |She shall have a |
| |drake. |drake. |drake. |
| 21.| -- | -- | -- |
| 22.| -- | -- | -- |
| 23.| -- | -- | -- |
|[8.]| -- | -- | -- |
| 24.|You shall have a nice |You shall have a young|She shall have a nice |
| |young man. |man. |young man. |
| 25.| -- | -- | -- |
| 26.| -- | -- | -- |
| 27.|To love you for your | -- |A fighting for her |
| |sake. | |sake. |
| 28.| -- |Apprentice for your | -- |
| | |sake. | |
| 29.| -- | -- | -- |
| 30.|If this young man | -- |Suppose this young man|
| |should chance to die. | |was to die. |
| 31.| -- |If this young man | -- |
| | |should wealthy grow. | |
| 32.| -- | -- | -- |
| 33.|And leave the girl a | -- |And leave the girl a |
| |widow. | |widow. |
| 34.| -- |And give his wife a | -- |
| | |feather. | |
| 35.|Birds shall sing and |Bells shall ring and |Bells ring and we |
| |bells ring. |birds sing. |shall sing. |
| 36.| -- | -- | -- |
| 37.|Clap all your hands |We'll all clap hands |And all clap hands |
| |together. |together. |together. |
| 38.| -- | -- | -- |
| 39.| -- | -- | -- |
| 40.| -- | -- | -- |
| 41.| -- | -- | -- |
| 42.| -- | -- | -- |
| 43.| -- | -- | -- |
| 44.| -- | -- | -- |
| 45.| -- | -- | -- |
| 46.| -- | -- | -- |
+----+----------------------+----------------------+----------------------+

+----+----------------------+----------------------+----------------------+
| No.| Lincolnshire, |Sussex, Hurstmonceux. | Middlesex. |
| | Frodingham. | | |
+----+----------------------+----------------------+----------------------+
| 1.| -- | -- | -- |
| 2.|Stepping up the green |Up and down the green |Tripping up the green |
| |grass. |grass. |grass. |
| 3.|Thus, and thus, and |This, and that, and | -- |
| |thus. |thus. | |
| 4.| -- | -- |Dusty, dusty day. |
| 5.| -- | -- | -- |
| 6.|Please may we have a |Come all ye fair |Come all ye pretty |
| |pretty lass. |maids. |maids. |
| 7.|To come and play with |And walk along with |Come and with us play.|
| |us. |us. | |
| 8.| -- | -- | -- |
| 9.| -- | -- | -- |
| 10.| -- | -- | -- |
| 11.| -- | -- | -- |
| 12.| -- | -- |You shall have a duck.|
| 13.|We will give you pots | -- | -- |
| |and pans. | | |
| 14.|..... brass. | -- | -- |
| 15.|..... gold and silver.|Some will give us | -- |
| | |silver ..... gold. | |
| 16.|..... pearl. | -- | -- |
| 17.|..... anything. | -- | -- |
| 18.| -- | -- | -- |
| 19.|For a pretty lass. | -- | -- |
| 20.|You shall have a goose| -- |You shall have a swan.|
| |for dinner. | | |
| 21.| -- |Take hold of my | -- |
| | |finger. | |
| 22.| -- |Maycanameecan. | -- |
| 23.| -- | -- | -- |
|[8.]| -- | -- | -- |
| 24.|You shall have a nice | -- |You shall have a nice |
| |young man. | |young man. |
| 25.| -- |Pray tell me the name | -- |
| | |of your young man. | |
| 26.| -- | -- | -- |
| 27.| -- | -- |A waiting for to come.|
| 28.| -- | -- | -- |
| 29.|To take you up the | -- | -- |
| |garden. | | |
| 30.|Suppose this young man| -- |Suppose he were to |
| |was to die. | |die. |
| 31.| -- | -- | -- |
| 32.| -- | -- | -- |
| 33.|And leave the girl a | -- |And leave his wife a |
| |widow. | |widow. |
| 34.| -- | -- | -- |
| 35.|Bells would ring, cats| -- | -- |
| |would sing. | | |
| 36.| -- | -- |Come all ye pretty |
| | | |fair maids. |
| 37.|So we'll all clap | -- |Come clap your hands |
| |hands together. | |together. |
| 38.| -- | -- | -- |
| 39.| -- |Don't you think [ ] | -- |
| | |a nice young man? | |
| 40.| -- |Don't you think [ ] | -- |
| | |as handsome as he? | |
| 41.| -- |Then off with the | -- |
| | |glove, on with the | |
| | |ring. | |
| 42.| -- |You shall be married | -- |
| | |when you can agree. | |
| 43.| -- | -- | -- |
| 44.| -- | -- | -- |
| 45.| -- | -- | -- |
| 46.| -- | -- | -- |
+----+----------------------+----------------------+----------------------+