LXXII. THE GOLDEN BALL
Taken down in Yorkshire. See Henderson's 'Folklore of the Northern Counties of England,' first edition, 1866. It has since been appropriated by Mr. Jacobs for his 'More English Fairy Tales,' together with the folk-story I obtained along with it in Yorkshire. Since then I have gathered the same in Cornwall.
GAME RHYMES
For variants of these rhymes, and for their airs, I must refer to Mrs. Gomme's 'Traditional Games' (London, Nutt, 1884). The first volume has, so far, alone appeared.
IV. PRETTY LITTLE GIRL
Played by the children at Black Torrington, North Devon. Having chosen one for the centre, they join hands, singing as they slowly walk round. At the words 'On the carpet,' the child in the centre kneels; at 'Stand upright,' she rises and chooses a little companion, and they continue singing and walking round. At the words 'Rock the cradle,' all clap hands four times, once at each word. The first child then joins the ring, leaving one in the centre, and the game continues as before. The tune is a variant of the Sicilian Mariners.
NURSERY JINGLES
XXIX. This is a rhyme to explain the spots in the moon. Jack and Jill are Hjuki and Bil of Norse mythology. In the 'Elder Edda' we are told that Mani, the Moon, once took up two children of these names to him, as they were on their way returning from a well with a bucket of water between them.
XXXIX. Little Jack Horner is a hero of a chap-book tale consisting of many adventures, some not over choice.
