The Folk-Lore Journal/Volume 4/Children's Amusements
CHILDREN'S AMUSEMENTS.
By the Rev. Walter Gregor.
THE following amusements for infants have, with their rhymes, been gathered, with few exceptions, from the north-east of Scotland.
Some of the forms of the rhymes differ but little from each other, so little that it may be deemed useless to have collected, and printed them. My only excuse for doing so is, that the smallest scrap of folk-lore has to me a sacredness that makes it worthy of preservation.
So far as my limited means have allowed, I have made reference to the games and their formulæ as found in other countries. Without doubt Holland, Germany, Denmark, and the Scandinavian Peninsula would afford much closer resemblances in the formulæ than the Neo-Latin nations. My distance from libraries containing the necessary books of reference has prevented me from entering to any extent on this interesting point. Some one else may take up the subject.
The amusements, which at first sight appear confused, and of no purpose almost but to make the child laugh, fall into groups, and are, it may be unconsciously to the mother or the nurse, suited for the bodily and mental growth of the child. They are, accordingly, with the exception of the first, arranged as—I. Amusements of touch, subdivided into (A) those of the face, beginning with the chin, naming each part by its own proper name; (B) the face, beginning with the brow, and using fanciful names; (C) the face, with other parts of the body, under figurative names, indicating the character of the part touched; (D) of the whole body, beginning with the toe, and ending with the head. II. Amusements with the fingers and hand; III. amusements with the feet and legs; IV. an amusement with the belly; V. Amusements of riding.
As for the rhymes, they seem to fall into versions; and it is a curious problem how these different forms have arisen, and how the same version, with slight variations, is sometimes found in places widely apart.
As the dialect may have difficulties to some, a glossary has been given. One of its peculiarities is the use of diminutives—not in one degree but in several—thus, foot becomes fit, fittie, fittick, bit fittickie, wee bit fittickie, wee wee bit fittickie (see "Clap, clap handies"). Not only are nouns diminutivised but adjectives and verbs, as—"shinie sharpy," and one would say, "rinie (run) or rinckie t'yir bonny beddie ba, my bonny wee dooickie." Two other peculiarities may be noticed, viz. wh is pronounced f, as—fah, who; fahr, where; fahn when—when used as an interrogative; fin, when used to denote a point of time; and w before r, is pronounced v, as—wright, vricht (ch guttural); vratch, wretch; vrang, wrong.
"Teet, or Teet-bo."
This is a very simple amusement for infants. When the infant is sitting on the mother's, or nurse's knee, or in her arms, another touches the child's head or back to awaken attention. When the child looks round the one that touched it withdraws a little, or goes to the other side, and says, "teet!" or "teet-bo!" The child turns to that side, but the player is off to the opposite side, and repeats the same words, and so on, from one side to the other, to the great delight of the child.
Another form is, when the infant is old enough to stand and walk, it gets behind a chair or table, or any other piece of furniture suitable, and looks from behind it, or through a hole in it, or round a corner of it, when the one that wishes to create amusement for it cries out, "teet!" or "teet-bo!" or "bo!" and sometimes adds: "Fah (who, whom) divv (do) I see?" The child withdraws and looks, it may be, a second or two after, from the same place or from another, when the same words are spoken. This goes on as long as the child chooses.
This game corresponds with the Spanish game "Cú? ... trás!"[1]
I.
(A)—"Chin Cherry."
This amusement consists in the mother or the nurse placing the infant on her knee face to face with herself, and then touching with her forefinger the different parts of the face, mentioning the part touched:—
(a)—"Chin cherry;
Moo merry;
Niz nappy,
Ee winky
Broo brinky
Ower head an awa', Jock." (Rosehearty.)
(b)—"Chin cherry
Moo merry
Nose nappy
Ee winky,
O'er the hill an awa' tae Robbie Linkie." (Pitsligo.)
(c)—"Chin cheery,
Mooie merry
Nosie nappy,
Eenie winky,
Brooie brinky,
Ower the hill, an awa', braid face." (Mrs. Moir, Kinnethmont.)
(d)—"Chin cherry,
Moo merry,
Nose nappy
Ee winky,
Broo brinky,
Ower the hill, an far awa'." (Mrs. Gardiner, Banff.)
(e)— "Chin cherry.
Moo merry,
Nose nappy,
Ee winky,
Broo brinky.
Cock up, jenky." (Mrs. Fraser, New Byth.)
(f)—"Chin cherry.
Moo merry,
Nose nappy,
Ee winky,
Broo brinky.
Up, Jeck, an awa' wi't." (Mrs. Gardiner, Banff.)
(g)—"Chin cherry.
Moo merry.
Nose nappy,
Ee winky,
Broo brinky.
Up cock's tailie, an awa' wi't.'" (Mrs. Chrystie, Elgin.)
(h)—"Chin cherry,
Moo merry.
Nose nappy,
Cheek chappy,
Eee winky,,
Broo brinky,
Ower a cock's tail, an awa' wi't." (Fochabers.)
(i)—"Chin cherry.
Moo merry,
Cheek rosey,
Nose nappy,
Ee winky,
Broo brinky,
Ower the hill, an awa'," (Mrs. Nicol, Tyrie.)
(j)—"Broo brenty,
Ee winky,
Niz nappy,
Cheek cherry,
Moo merry,
Chin chappy."[2] (Pitsligo.)
Compare with this the Dutch rhyme beginning "Kintje";[3] "Formulettes du visage" (b, c, d, e, f );[4] and the Sicilian Varvarutteddu.[5]
(B)—"Knock at the Doorie."
In this amusement each part of the head is touched in a manner imitative of the action indicated by the words, and the line repeated. There are several variants[6] of the formula:—
(a)—"Knock at the doorie, (the brow)
Peep in, (the eye)
Lift the latch, (the nose)
Walk in, (the mouth)" (Mr. Moir, Keith.)
(b)—"Knock at the doorie,
Peep in,
Lift the sneckie,
Clean yir feeties.
An walk in." (Mrs. Moir, Kinnethmont.)
(c)—"Knock at the door,
Peep in.
Lift the sneck,
Jump in.
And shut the door behind you." (Mrs. Watson, Fraserburgh.)
(C)—"The Broo o' Knowledge."
In this amusement each part is touched as the words are repeated:
"This is the broo o' knowledge (k sounded),
This is the ee o' life,
This is the biblie ganger,
This is the pen-knife (k sounded),
This is the shoother o' mutton,
This is the milk-pots,
This is the belly fat."[7] (Banff.)
A variant of the third line is :—
"This is the biblie office-hoose." (Macduff.)
(D)—"Tae Titly."
In this amusement the mother or nurse begins with the toe, and finishes with the brow. The third formula is defective :—
(a)—"Tae titly,
Little fitty,
Shin sharpy,
Knee knapy,
Hinchie pinchy,
Wymie bulgy,
Breast berry,
Chin cherry,
Moo merry,
Nose nappy,
Ee winky,
Broo brinky,
Ower the croon,
And awa' wi't." (Mrs. Simpson, Monquhitter.)
(b)—"Toe, tip and go,
Heelie i' the hankie,
Shinnie sharpy,
Knee, knip, knapy,
Wymie thick and fat,
Chin cherry,
Moo merry,
Niz nappy
Ee winky,
Broo brinky,
An ower the hill, and tack pinky." (Pitsligo.)
(c)—"Tae titlum,
Fit fitlum,
Knee knaps,
Hinch haps." (Strichen.)
II.
1.—"Brack the Barn."
The nurse or mother takes the child's hand, and touches the thumb and fingers, one by one, and, modulating the voice to suit the conduct of each, repeats the following words, laying a particularly mournful stress on the words referring to the little finger to call forth sympathy for the weak: [8] —
(a)—"This is the man it brack the barn,
This is the man it stealt the corn,
This is the man it eat it a',
This is the man it ran awa',
Peer little cranie paid for't a'."
(b)—"This is the man it brack the barn,
This is the man it stealt the corn,
This is the man it taul' a',
This is the man it ran awa',
Peer cranie dot paid for't a'."
(c)—"This is the man it brack the barn,
This is the man it stealt the corn,
This is the man it ran awa',
This is the man it tellt a',
Peer little cranie paid for a',
An got naething." (Mrs. Moir, Kinnethmont.)
(d)—"This is the man it brack the barn,
This is the man it sta' the corn,
This is the man it ran awa',
This is the man it taul' a',
This is peer little cranie dodie,
It steed at the back o' the door, an paid for a'."
(Mrs. Gardiner, Banff.)
(e)—"This is the ane it brack the barn,
This is the ane it stealt the corn,
This is the ane it ran awa',
This is the ane it taul' a'.
An peerie weerie cranie doshie,
Steed at the back o' the door, suppit's
Milk an breed (bread), an paid for a'."
(A. Paterson, fisherman, Macduff.)
(f)—"This is the man it brack the barn,
This is the man it stealt the corn,
This is the man it ran awa',
This is the man it tellt a',
Peer little cranie wanie,
It fell ower the dyke,
An brack its neck,
An paid for a'." (Mr. Moir, Keith.)
(g)—"This is the man it broke the barn,
This is the man it sta' the corn,
This is the man it ran awa',
This is the man it taul' a',
Peerie weeickie steed ahin' the barn door.
An hid t' pay for a'." (Buckie.)
(h)—"Brack the barn,
Steel the corn,
Rin awa'
Tell a',
Little cranie pays for a'."
(i)—"Brack the barn,
Steel the corn,
Rin awa',
Tell a',
Little cranie pays a'." (Mrs. Scott, Aberdour.)
(j)—"Brack the barn,
Steel the corn,
Rin awa',
Taul' a'.
Peer little cranie wiz forct t' bide,
An pay for a'." (Mrs. Fraser, New Byth.)
(k)—"Brak the barn,
Steal the corn,
Loup the dyke,
Rin awa'.
Peer cranie wanie pays for them a'."
(Mrs. Duguid, Kincardineshire.)
(l)—"Brack the barn,
Steal the corn,
Rin awa',
Telia',
Little moosie ran in o' a hole i' the wa'."
Some touch only the fingers as the following formula shows:—
(m)—"Brack the barn,
Stehl the com,
Rin awa',
Cranie wanie.
Pays for a'."
Holland has several formulæ on the fingers.[9]
Compare with this amusement the Spanish one of El Huevo, [10] the Portuguese one Nomes dos ded,[11] and the Sicilian one of Chistu havi fami.[12]
Compare also Formulettes des Doigts.[13]
2.—"This Little Piggie."
The following is applied to either the fingers or toes:—
"This little piggie went t' the market,
This one stayed at home,
This one got some supper,
This one got none,
This one cried 'Weeick, weeick, weeick.'"[14]
3.—"John Prott and his Man."
In this amusement the mother or nurse opens the child's hand, and holds it in her own, and makes as if counting money into the child's hand, repeating the words. When the last line is reached the hand is closed, and at times some little thing put into it:—
(a)—"John Prott an's man
T' the market they ran,
They bocht, they saul',
Doon the money they taul'." (Mrs. Scott, Aberdour.)
(b)—"John Prott an's man
Doon the gate they ran,
They bocht, they saul',
The money they doon taul',
Till they came till a groat." (Mrs. Nicol, Tyrie.)
(c)—"John Prott an's man
Doon the gate they cam',
They bocht, they saul',
Mony a penny doon taul',
Till they cam' till a groat."(Mrs. Walker, Aberdeen.)
(d)—"John Prott an's man
Doon the gate they cam',
They bocht, they saul',
Doon the money they taul',
Till they cam' till a plack.
'Steek ye yir nivv on that.'" (Strichen.)
(e)—"John Prott an his man
Tae the market they ran,
They bocht, they saul',
A' the money doon taul',
Till they cam' till a plack.
'Steek ye yir nivv on that.'"(Pitsligo.)
(f)—"John Prott an's man
T' the market they ran,
They bocht, they saul',
Mony a penny doon taul',
Till 't cam' till a plack.
John Prott said till's man,
'Steek ye yir nivv upon that.'" (Pitsligo.)
(g)—"John Prott an's man
T' the market they ran,
They bocht, they saul',
They got money untaul'.
'Gehn ye be an honest man,
Content yirsel wi' that,' says John." (Buckie.)
(h)—"John Prott an his man
Doon the gate they cam',
They bocht, they saul',
Paid the money doon taul'.
'Gehn ye be an honest man,
Haud faht I pit in your han'.'"
(i)—"John Prott an' his man
T' the market they ran,
They bocht, they saul',
Aye till they cam' till a plack.
'John Prott, if ye be an honest man,
Keep ye that till I come back.'" (Mrs. Forbes, Banff.)
(j)—"John Prott an's man
T' the market they ran,
They bocht, they saul',
They money doon taul'.
'An hey' quo' Prott, 'An how' quo' Prott,
'Gehn ye be an honest man.
Keep faht ye've got.'" (Mrs. Gardiner, Banff.)
The Spanish game of El pon, pon [15] has some resemblance to this one.
4.—"Clap Handies."
In this amusement the nurse or mother takes the infant's hands, and, clapping them, repeats the following pretty words:—
"Clap, clap handies,
Mamie's wee, wee ain,
Clap, clap handies,
Dadie's comin hame,
Hame till his wee bonnie wee bit ladie;
Clap, clap handies.
My wee, wee ain." (Miss Watson, Fraserburgh.)
5.—"Catch a Wee Moose."
Take the child's hand, open it, and, with the forefinger, trace on its palm as it were circles, repeating the words:—
"Roon aboot, roon aboot,
Catch a wee moose."
Then slide the forefinger along the arm, saying: —
"Up a bit, up a bit."
At the arm-top a sudden jerk is made with the finger below the arm-pit, with the words:—
"In a wee hoose." (Mrs. Mirrlees, Kenton, Dumbartonshire.)
6.—"The Corbie's Hole."
In this game the player joins his thumb and forefinger together in such a way as to leave an opening, closing the other fingers on the palm of the hand. He then, unseen, introduces the thumb of the other hand between the closed fingers, and repeats the words to the child on whom the game is to be played:—
"Pit yir finger in o' the corbie's hole,
Th' corbie's nae at hame,
Th' corbie's at th' back o' the barn
Pyckin an aul' horse bane."
Variant of the last two lines—
"Th' corbie sits on the corbie stane,
An is t' a' unseen."
As soon as the child's finger is introduced, the hidden thumb closes upon it, and holds it fast, whilst the captor cries out:—
"Th' corbie's at hame,
Th' corbie's at hame."
III.
1. "Fittiekins."
In this amusement the nurse or mother takes hold of the child's feet, and imitates the motion of walking, at the same time repeating the words:—
"'Fittiekins, fittiekins,
Fan will ye gyang?'
'Fin the nicht turns short,
An the day turns lang,
An than my fittiekins seen will gyang.'"[16]
(Mrs. Forbes, Portsoy.)
2.—"Shoe a Horse."
To please the child when the shoes are being put on, the following formula in various forms is repeated, and the action of the smith in shoeing a horse is imitated as closely as possible:[17]—
(a)—"John Smith, a fellow fine,
Cam' t' shee a horse o' mine;
Shee a horsie, ca a nailie,
Hit a horsie on the tailie." (Auchterless.)
(b)—"John Smith, a fellow fine,
Cam' t' shee a horse o' mine;
Shee a horse, ca a nail,
Strick the foalie o' the tail." (Pitsligo.)
(c)—"John Smith, a fellow fine,
Cam' t' shee a horse o' mine;
He sheet a horse, he caed a nail,
An strack the foalie o' the tail." (Aberdour.)
(d)—"John Smith, a follow fine,
Cam' t' shee a horse o' mine;
Shee a horse, ca a nail,
Hit the foalie o' the tail." (Mrs. Nicol, Tyrie.)
(e)—"Johnnie Smith, a follow fine,
Cam' t' shoe a horse o' mine;
Shee a horsie, ca a nail,
Hit the horsie o' the tail,
If ye shee 'im, shee 'im weel,
Hit the horsie o' the heel." (Strichen.)
(f)—"John Smith, a fellow fine,
Cam' t' shee a horse o' mine;
Shee a horse, ca a nail,
Hit the fillie o' the tail,
An gar 'im tack the brae." (Portsoy.)
(g)—"John Smith, a fellow fine,
Cam' t' shoe a mare o' mine;
Shoe a horsie, ca a nail,
Hit the horsie o' the tail.
"Ca a bittie on the tae,
T' gar the horsie clim' the brae;
Ca a bittie on the heel,
T' gar the horse pace weel." (Pitsligo.)
(h)—"John Smith, a fellow fine,
Cam' t' shee a horse o' mine;
Shoed the horse, and caed the nail,
Ruggit the rumple fae the tail." (Mrs. Walker, Aberdeen.)
(i)—"Johnie Smith, a fellow fine,
Cam' t' shee a horse o' mine;
Shee a horse, ca a nail;
Knock a tackit in's tail." (Peterhead.)
(j)—"Johnnie Smith, a follow fine,
Cam' t' shea a horse o' mine,
Shee a horsie, ca a nailie,
Ca a tacket in's tailie,
T' gar the horsie clim' the brae.
Horsie, are ye weel shod, weel shod, weel shod?
Horsie, are ye weel shod? (Macduff.)
(k)—"John Smith, a fellow fine,
Cam' t' shee a horse o' mine,
Shee a horse, ca a brod.
Foalie, are ye weel shod,
Weel shod, weel shod?" (Rhynie.)
(l)—"John Smith, a fallow fine,
Cam' t' shee a horse o' mine;
Pit a bittie on the tae,
T' gar the shiltie clim' the brae;
Pit a bittie on the heel,
T' gar the shiltie trot weel." (Kinnethmont.)
(m)—"John Smith, a fellow fine,
Came t' shee a horse o' mine;
Hand 'im sicker, hand 'im sehr,
Hand 'im by the grey hair;
Ca a tacket in's tae,
T' gar the horsie clim' the brae;
Ca a tacket in's heel,
T' gar the horsie, trot weel, trot weel." (Mrs. Gardiner.)
(n)—"John Smith, a fellow fine,
Cam' t' shee a horse o' mine;
Shee 'im sicker, shee 'im sehr;
Hand 'im by the head o' hair;
Ca a nail in's tae,
An that 'll gar clim' the brae;
Ca anither in's heel,
An that 'ill gar 'im trot weel." (Mrs. Pirrie, Pitsligo.)
(o)—"'John Smith, a fellow fine,
Can't ye shee this horse o' mine?'
'Yes, indeed, an that I can,
As good as any man.
Shee a horsie, ca' a nail,
Ca a tacket in's tail,
Ane in's fore fit, an twa in's heel.
An that's the wye t' shee a horsie wed.'" (Buckie.)
(p)—"'John Smith, a fallow fine,
Can ye shee a horse o' mine?'
'Ay, sir, that I can,
As well's ony man.
Here's a hammer, here's nails,
Here's a cat wi' ten tails,
Up Jack, doon Tam,
Blaw the bellows, aul' man.'" (Miss Watson.
(q)—"'Johnie Smith, ma fellow fine,
Can ye shee this horse o' mine?'
'Weel I wat, an that I can,
Jist as weel as ony man.
Ca a bittie on his tae,
Gars a horsie spur a brae;
Ca a bittie on his heel.
Gars a horse trot richt weel.'" (Elgin.)
(r)—"'Johnie Smith, a fellow fine,
Can ye shee this horse o' mine?'
'Yes, indeed, an that I can.
As weel as ony man;
Pit a bit upon the tae,
T' gar the horsie clim' the brae;
Pit a bit upon the heel,
T' gar the horsie pace weel.'" (Mrs. Adam.)
(s)—"'John Smith, a fallow fine.
Can you shoe a horse o' mine?'
'Yes, indeed, and that I can,
Just as weel as ony man;
Pit a bit upon the tae,
To gar the powney speel the brae;
Pit a bit upon the heel,
To gar the powney speel weel,
Ca't on, ca't on, ca't on.'" (Renton, Dumbartonshire.)
(t)—"'John Smith, a fellow fine,
Can ye shoe this horse o' mine?'
'Yes, indeed, and that I can,
As weel as ony man;
Pit a bit upo' the tae,
T' gar the horsie clim' the brae;
Pit a bit upo' the sole,
T' gar the horsie pay the toll;
Pit a bit upo' the heel,
T' gar the horsie pace weel.
Pace weel, pace weel, pace weel.'" (Kincardineshire.)
(u)—"'John Smith, a fellow fine,
Can ye shee a horse o' mine ?'
'Yes, an that I can,
As weel as ony man ;
We'll ca a bit upon the tae
T' gar the horsie clim' the brae ;
An we'll pit a bit upo' the heel
T' gar the horsie trot weel ;
An we'll pit a bit upo' the sole
T' gar the horsie hae a foal.'" (Banff.)
3.—"The Twa Dogies."
The child is placed on the knee of the mother or nurse, with the back to her, and the legs hanging over her knees. She then takes a leg in each hand, and moves them across and across each other, first to one side and then to another, as if going a journey. Then she holds them as licking meal, and, after that, as drinking water. On the return journey she crosses them over each other with great rapidity. All the time she keeps repeating the words that correspond to each action of running, licking, and drinking:[18]—
(a)—"There wiz twa dogies geed awa' t' the mill,
An they took a lick oot o' this wifie's pyock,
An a lick oot o' the next wifie's pyock,
An a drinkie oot o' the dam,
An geed awa' hame, loupie for spang, loupie for spang." (Pitsligo.)
(b)—"Twa little doggies geed tae the mull,
They took a lick oot o' this wife's pyock,
An doon t' the lade,
An a drink oot o' the dam,
An geed hame again, hame again, loupie for spang."
(c)—"Twa dogies geed t' the mill,
They took a lick oot o' this wife's pyock,
An a lick oot o' the next wife's pyock,
An a bite oot o' the bank,
An a leb oot o' the dam,
An they geed hame loupie for spang." (Strichen.)
(d)—"Twa dogies geed loupin loupin t' the mill,
Took a lick oot o' ae wife's bag,
Took a lick oot o' anither wife's bag,
An a lab oot o' the mill-dam,
Stoupie for loupie, hame again even." (Mrs. Chrystie, Elgin.)
(e)—"Twa little dogies ran t' the mill.
This road an that road,
They took a lick oot o' this wife's pyock.
An a lick oot o' that wife's pyock,
An went hame loupie for spang." (Mrs. Adam.)
(f)—"Twa dogies geed t' the mill,
This wye an that wye, this wye an that wye,
Took a laip oot this wife's pyock,
An a laip oot that wife's pyock,
An a laip oot o' the dam,
An a bite oot o' the bank,
An cam' hame loupie for spang." (Mrs. Moir.)
(g)—"Twa dogies geed t' the mill,
This way an that way, that way an this way,
They took a lick oot o' this wife's pyock,
An a lick oot o' that wife's pyock,
An a laip oot o' the dam,
An they cam' hame loupie for spang, loupie for spang."
(Mrs. Walker, Aberdeen.)
(h)—"Twa dogies geed t' the mill,
Loupie for spang, loupie for spang;
An they got a lick oot o' this wife's pyock,
An a lick oot o' that wife's pyock,
An a slab oot o' the dam,
An hame they cam' loupie for spang." (Mrs. Scott, Aberdour.)
(i)—"The dogies geed t' the mill,
Needle-noddle, needle-noddle, needle-noddle;
Tack a lick oot o' this wifie's pyock,
A lick oot o' that wifie's pyock,
A bite o' the bank,
A slab i' the dub,
A drink o' the lade,
An hame spangie for spangie,
Spangie for spangie, spangie for spangie." (Auchterless.)
The two last lines have a variant:—
"An hame loupie for spangie,
Loupie for spang, loupie for spangie."
(j)—"Ca the dogies t' the mill,
Ca the dogies t' the mill,
They took a lick oot o' the happer,
An a laib oot o' the dam,
An they went hame loupie for spang." (Mrs. Adam.)
(k)—"Tak' a leb oot o' this mull dam,
An a leb oot o' that mull dam,
An a lick oot o' this meel pyock,
An a lick oot o' that meel pyock,
An she ower him, an he ower her,
An they baith hame,
Loupie for spang, loupie for spang." (Pitsligo.)
(l)—"Dogies t' the mill, dogies t' the mill,
A lick oot o' this wife's pyock,
An a lick oot o' that wife's pyock,
An a leb oot o' the dam,'
An they geed hame loupie for spang." (Mrs. Pirrie, Pitsligo.)
(m)—"Dogies t' the mill, dogies t' the mill;
A lick oot o' this wife's pyock,
A lick oot o' that wife's pyock,
An a leb oot o' the dam,
An hame they go, hame they go,
Loupie for loup an spang." (Mrs. Gardiner.)
(n)—"Pit your doggies to the mull,
Pit he ower him, pit he ower him,
Loupie for spang, loupie for spang.
A lick oot o' this wifie's pyock,
An a lick oot o' the next wifie's pyock;
A lick fae the miller,
An a lick fae his man;
A lickie oot o' the trough,
An a leb oot o' the dam.
Haimie gin even, haimie gin (before) even,
He ower him, an he ower him.
That's Willie Wandie,
An that pauls him." (Macduff.)
The following variant is from a fisherwoman in Rosehearty. It is interesting, as the last line no doubt refers to the mode of barter carried on by the fisher-folks in the disposal of their fish over the country, when each woman returned with her "pyockies foo":—
(o)—"This is the wye the dogies gang t' the mill,
This wye an that wye;
Took a leb oot o' the lade,
An anither oot o' the dam,
An this wiz the wye it they cam' back again,
Loupie for spang, loupie for spang,
An their pyokies foo."
With this may be compared the Dutch formulæ given by Van Vloten.[19]
4.—"Dance t' yir Daddie."
This amusement consists in placing the child on the knee in a standing posture, and dandling it with an upward and downward motion to the rhythm of the words;[20]—
(a)—"Dance t' yir daddie,
My bonnie laddie,
An ye 'll get a fishie,
An a little dishie.
Dance t' yir daddie,
My bonnie doo." (Mr. Thurburn, Keith.)
Or
(b)—"Dance to yir daidie.
My bonnie baibie,
Dance to yir daidie.
My sweet lam',
An ye sall get a fishie
In a little dishie,
An ye'll get a fishie
When the boatie comes in."
(Mrs. Duguid, Kincardineshire.)
IV.
"Heat a Womle."
The one that wishes to amuse goes up to the fire with the child, holds the forefinger to the fire for a little as if heating it, and repeats the first line, then puts it to the child's belly and makes as if boring a hole, repeating the second line at first slowly, then more rapidly:—
(a)—"Heat a womle, heat a womle,
Bore a holie, bore, bore, bore." (Keith.)
Other forms are:—
(b)—"Heat a womle, heat a womle,
Bore a holie, bore a holie." (Mrs. Scott, Aberdour.)
(c)—"Heat a womlie, heat a womlie,
Bore a holie, bore a holie." (Mrs. Fraser, New Byth.)
(d)—"Heat a womle, heat a womle,
Bore a bagie, bore a bagie." (Mrs. Gardiner, Banff.)
And—
(e)—"Heat a womle, heat a womle,
Bore a hole in 's belly."
(The child's name is repeated.)
(Mrs. Mirrlees, Renton, Dumbarton.)
V.
1.—"The Lady's Ride."
This is done by placing the child astride on one knee laid over the other, and suiting the upward and downward motion of the legs to the words, making the motion at first quite gentle, but increasing it by degrees in roughness till the child is tossed quite up from the knee; or the child may be placed on the ankle of the one leg resting on the knee of the other. The child is kept in its place by the amuser taking hold of its hands. The formulæ are various: [21]—
(a)—"This is the way that the ladies ride,
Jumpin sma', jumpin sma';
This is the way that the gentlemen ride,
Wheep awa', wheep awa';
This is the way that the cadgers ride,
Creels an a', creels an a'." (Pitsligo.)
(b)—"This is the wye the lady rides,
Jumpin sma', jumpin sma'.
This is the wye the gentleman rides,
Trot awa', trot awa'.
Hobble, cadger, creels an a', hobble, cadger, creels an a."
(c)—"This is the way the ladies ride,
Jumpin sma' jumpin sma';
This is the way the gentlemen ride,
Trippin awa', trippin awa';
This is the way the cadgers ride,
Creels an a', creels an a'." (Fochabers.)
(d)—"This is the way the ladies rides,
Jumpin sma', jumpin sma';
Hobble, cadgers, creels an a';
The boats is in, an the fish is awa',
Hobble, cadger, creels an a'." (Mrs. Paterson, Pennan.)
(e)—"Here's the way the ladies rides,
Jumpin sma', jumpin sma';
Here's the way the gentlemen rides,
Boots an a', boots an a';
Here's the way the cadgers rides,
Creels an a', creels an a';
The boats is up, an all's awa." (Mr. Fraser, New Byth.)
(f)—"This is the way the ladies ride,
Jumpin sma', jumpin sma';
The gentlemen they gae bold and braw, bold and braw,
The cadgers they gae creels an a', creels an a',
The boatie's in, an the fish is awa'."
(g)—"This is the wye the ladies rides,
Jumpin sma', jumpin sma',
For fear it they sud fa'.
This is the wye the gentlemen rides,
Trottin awa', trottin awa'.
This is the wye the cadgers rides,
Creels an a', creels an a';
Up, cadger, creels an a',
The boats is in, an the fish is awa'." (Strichen.)
(h)—"There's the way the ladies rides,
Jimp an sma', jimp an sma';
There's the way the gentlemen rides,
Boots an spurs, boots an spurs;
There's the way the cadgers rides,
Creels an a', creels an a'." (Mrs. Nicol, Tyrie.)
(i)—" Here's the way the ladies rides,
Jimp an sma', jimp an sma';
There's the way the gentlemen rides,
Brisk an braw, brisk an braw;
There's the way the cadgers rides,
Creels an a', creels an a'." (Mrs. Walker, Aberdeen.)
(j)—"This is the way the ladies rides,
Jimp an sma', jimp an sma';
This is the way the laird rides,
Saidle an spurs an a';
This is the way the cadger rides,
Creels an a', creels an a'." (Mrs. Scott, Aberdour.)
(k)—"This is the wye it the ladye rides,
Jimp an sma', jimp an sma';
This is the wye it the gentleman rides,
Trottin awa', trottin awa';
This is the wye it the fairmer rides,
Hardy ca, hardy ca;
This is the wye it the cadger rides,
Creels an a', creels an a'." (Mrs. Moir, Fyvie.)
(l)—"The ladies, they ride, jimp an sma',
Jimp an sma', jimp an sma';
The gentleman, he rides trottin awa',
Trottin awa', trottin awa';
Bit the cadger, he rides creels an a'.
Creels an a', creels an a'.
(m)—"This is the way the ladies ride,
The ladies ride, the ladies ride,
This is the way the ladies ride,
When they go to see the gentlemen.
This is the way the gentlemen ride,
The gentlemen ride, the gentlemen ride,
When they go to see the ladies.
This is the way the cadger rides,
The cadger rides, the cadger rides,
This is the way the cadger rides,
When he goes to sell his butter and eggs."
(Renton, Dumbartonshire.
2.—"Hobble Cadger."
This game consists in the mother or nurse, or whoever wishes to amuse, placing the child on the knee, and then lifting the legs in imitation of rough-riding, repeating the words:—
"Hobble, cadger, creels an a',
The boats is in, an the fish is awa';
Hobble, cadger, creels an a', creels an a'."
This is continued to the great delight of the child as long as the amuser has strength.
3.—"Ride Awa'."
This amusement may be made for the child by the mother or nurse dandling the child on her knee in imitation of riding, or, if the child is old enough, it receives a staff or piece of stick, which it puts between its legs, and then moves about as if riding, and repeats the words itself:[27]—
(a)—"'Ride awa', ride awa',
Ride awa' t' Aiberdeen,
An buy fite breed;'
Bit lang or he cam' back again
The cyarlin wiz deed.
He up wi's club, an said,
'Rise ye up, cyarlin',
An eat fite breed.'" (Mrs. Moir, Kinnethmont.)
(b)—"'Ride awa' t' Aiberdeen
T' buy fite breed;'
Bit lang or he cam' back again
The cyarlin wiz deed.
Sae he up wee's club
An gyah 'ir o' the lug,
Said, 'Rise, rise, aul' cyarlin.
An eet yir fite breed.'" (Mrs. Moir.)
4.—"Cam' Ye by the Stack ?"
"Cam' ye by the stack, man?
Or cam' ye by the stable?
Saw ye Sandy Suppleman
Riding on a laidle?
Ca awa', Sandy, man,
Can ye buy a saidle?
Ye've torn a' yir blue claes
Ridin on a laidle." (Mrs. Adams.)
5.—"The Catie Rade t' Paisley."
"The catie rade t' Paisley, the catie rade to Paisley,
Upon a harrow tyne.
It wiz on a weeny Wednesday, it wiz on a weeny Wednesday;
I mynt aye sin syne." [28] (Mrs. Gardiner, Banff.)
GLOSSARY.
A', all
Ae, one
Again, before
Ain, own
An, and
Ane, one
Anither, another
An's, and his
Aul, old
Awa', away
Bagie, little belly
Baith, both
Bane, bone
Biblie, having mucus at the nose, dirty, untidy about the face
Bit, but
Bittie, a small piece
Blaw, blow
Bocht, bought
Brack, broke
Brae, a slope
Braid, broad
Breed, bread
Brod, a nail
Broo, brow
Brooie, little brow
Brook, broke
Ca, drive
Caed, drove
Cam', came
Claes, clothes
Clim', climb
Comin, coming
Corbie, raven
Cranie, cranie doshie, cranie dot, cranie dottie, cranie wanie, the little finger
Croon, crown
Cyarlin, ugly old woman
Deed, dead
Doo, dove
Dooickie, small dove
Doon, down
Dyke, a wall
Ee, eye
Eenie, little eye
Even, evening
Fae, from
Faht, what
Fan, when
Fillie, a young horse
Fin, when
Fit, foot
Fite, white
Fite breed, wheaten bread
Fittiekin, a very little foot
Foo, full
Gae, go
Gar, force
Gate, road
Gauger, excise-officer
Geed, went
Gehn, if
Gin, before
Gyang, go
Haimie, home
Hame, home
Han', hand
Happer, hopper
Haud, hold
Heelie, little heel
Hid, had
Hinch, thigh
Hinchie, little thigh
Hoose, house
Jist, just
Lab, lap
Lade, mill-race
Ladie, little lad or boy
Laip, lap
Lam', lamb
Lang, long
Leb, lap
Loup, jump
Ma, my
Man, servant
Meel, meal
Mony, many
Moo, mouth
Mooie, little mouth
Mull, mill
Mynt, remembered
Nae, not
Naething, nothing
Nappy, a little hillock
Needle-noddle, a word expressive of the steady motion of the dogs
Nivv, hand
Niz, nose
Nozie, little nose
O', of
Ony, any
Ower, over
Pauls, puzzles
Peer, poor
Peerie, little
Pit, put
Powney, pony
Pyckin, picking
Pyock, bag
Quo, quoth, said
Raide, rode
Richt, right
Rin, rinie, rinickie, run
Road, way, manner
Roon about, round about
Ruggit, pulled
Rumple, back-bone
Saidle, saddle
Saul', sold
Seen, soon
Sehr, very
Sharpy, sharp, a diminutive form
Shee, shoe
Sheet, shoed
Shiltie, pony
Shoother, shoulder
Sicker, firm
Sin, since
Slab, lap
Sma', small
Sneckie, small latch
Speel, mount, climb
Sta, stole
Stack, the fuel or peat stored for the year
Stealt, stole
Steed, stood
Steek, close, shut
Stehl, steal
Strack, struck
Strick, strike
Sud, should
Syne, then
Tack, take
Tacket, a short, broad-headed nail, commonly used for driving into the soles of boots or shoes
Tae, toe
Tae, to
Tailie, little tail
Taul', told, paid
Telt, told
Than, then, at that time
Tyne, prong
Untaul', untold, not to be counted
Wa', wall
Wat, know
Wee, little
Weel, well
Weeny, windy
Wheep, whip
Weerie, small
Wi', with
Wiz, was
Womle, auger
Wye, way, manner
Wymie, little belly
Yirsel, yourself
Yir, your
- ↑ Ravista de España, t. cv. pp. 95-98. Biblioteca de las Tradiciones populares Españolas t. ii. pp. 119, 120.
- ↑ Popular Rhymes of Scotland, by R. Chambers, p. 20, Nursery Rhymes and Nursery Tales of England, by Halliwell, pp. 207-208.
- ↑ Nederlandsche Baker-en Kinderrijmen verzameld en meegedeeld door Dr. J. van Vloten, pp. 2-3, and p. 167 for additional references.
- ↑ Rimes et Jeux de l'Enfance, by E. Rolland, pp. 17-19.
- ↑ Giuochi fanciulleschi Siciliani, raccolti e descritti da Giuseppe Pitré, pp. 45-46.
- ↑ Compare this with (a) of "Formulettes du visage" in Rimes et Jeux de l'Enfance, by E. Rolland, p. 17.
- ↑ This formula has some resemblance to (g) of "Formulettes du visage," in Rimes et Jeux de l'Enfance, by E. Rolland, p. 19.
- ↑ Popular Rhymes of Scotland, by R. Chambers, p. 20. Nursery Rhymes and Nursery Tales of England, by Halliwell, cccxxxix. and cccxlii. p. 72, and p. 207.
- ↑ Nederlandsche Baker-en Kinderrijmen, verzameld en meegedeeld door Dr. J. van Vloten, pp. 10-12, and p. 167 for additional references.
- ↑ Biblioteca de las Tradiciones populares Españolas, vol. ii. pp. 126, 127. See also vol. iv. pp. 156, 157.
- ↑ Jogos e Rimas Infantis, by F. Adolpho Coelho, pp, 13, 14.
- ↑ Giuochi fanciulleschi Siciliani, by Pitré, pp. 55-57.
- ↑ Rimes et Jeux de l'Enfance, by E. Rolland, pp. 21-27.
- ↑ Nursery Rhymes and Nursery Tales of England, by Halliwell, p. 68.
- ↑ Biblioteca de las Tradiciones populares Españolas, vol. ii. p. 122. Compare 7, pp. 35, 36, Rimes et Jeux de l'Enfance.
- ↑ Popular Rhymes of Scotland, by E. Chambers, p. 17.
- ↑ Popular Rhymes of Scotland, by R. Chambers, p. 18. Compare Nursery Rhymes and Nursery Tales of England, by Halliwell, dxxii. p. 102, and pp. 204, 205.
- ↑ Popular Rhymes of Scotland, by R. Chambers, p. 17. Compare "The Dog of the Kill," Nursery Rhymea and Nursery Tales of England, by Halliwell, p. 205.
- ↑ Nederlandsche Baker-en Kinderrijmen, p. 3.
- ↑ Nursery Rhymes and Nursery Tales of England, by Halliwell, ccclxxxiii. p. 81, Popular Rhymes of Scotland, by R. Chambers, p. 18.
- ↑ Nursery Tales and Nursery Rhymes of England, by Halliwell, cccxlix. p. 74; see p. 209, Popular Rhymes of Scotland, by R. Chambers, p, 20.
- ↑ Giuochi fanciulleschi Siciliani, pp. 51-55.
- ↑ Biblioteca de las Tradiciones Espanolas, t. ii. p. 120.
- ↑ Jogos e Rimas infantis, by F. Adolpho Coelho, pp. 7, 8.
- ↑ Rimes et Jeux de l'Enfance, by E. Holland, p. 27, 4 (a).
- ↑ Nederlandsche Baker-en Kinderrijmen, pp. 12-16, and pp. 167, 168.
- ↑ Popular Rhymes of Scotland, by R. Chambers, p. 19, Ravista de España, vol. cv, pp. 100, 101.
- ↑ Popular Rhymes of Scotland, by R. Chambers, p. 19.