The Traditional Games of England, Scotland, and Ireland (Vol 1 of 2): With Tunes, Singing-Rhymes and Methods of Playing etc.Gomme, Alice Bertha
History
The Traditional Games of England, Scotland, and Ireland (Vol 1 of 2): With Tunes, Singing-Rhymes and Methods of Playing etc.
Gomme, Alice Bertha
Folklore -- Great Britain; Games -- Great Britain
A diagram (similar to Fig. 9 in “Hopscotch”) is drawn on a slate, and
two children play. A piece of paper or small piece of glass or china,
called a “chipper,” is used to play with. This is placed at the bottom
of the plan, and if of _paper_, is _blown_ gently towards the top; if of
glass or china, it is _nicked_ with the _fingers_. The first player
blows the paper, and in whichever space the paper stops makes a small
round [o] with a slate pencil, to represent a man’s head. The paper or
chipper is then put into the starting-place again, and the same player
blows, and makes another “man’s head” in the space where the paper
stops. This is continued until all the spaces are occupied. If the paper
goes a second time into a space already occupied by a “head,” the player
adds a larger round to the “head,” to represent a “body;” if a third
time, a stroke is drawn for a leg, and if a fourth time, another is
added for the second leg; this completes a “man.” If three complete men
in one space can be gained, the player makes “arms;” that is, two lines
are drawn from the figures across the space to the opposite side of the
plan. This occupies that space, and prevents the other player from
putting any “men” in it, or adding to any already there. When all the
spaces are thus occupied by one player, the game is won. Should the
paper be blown on to a line or _outside_ the plan, the player is out;
the other player then begins, and makes as many “men” in her turn, until
she goes on a line or outside. Should the paper go into “London,” the
player is entitled to make a “head” in every space, or to add another
mark to those already there.—Westminster (A. B. Gomme). This game
resembles one described by F. H. Low in _Strand Mag._, ii. 516.
London Bridge
[Music]
—Wrotham, Kent (Miss D. Kimball)
[Music]
—Rimbault’s _Nursery Rhymes_, p. 34.
[Music]
—Enborne School, Berks. (Miss M. Kimber).
I. London Bridge is broken down,
Grant said the little bee,[4]
London Bridge is broken down,
Where I’d be.
Stones and lime will build it up,
Grant said the little bee,
Stones and lime will build it up,
Where I’d be.
Get a man to watch all night,
Grant said the little bee,
Get a man to watch all night,
Where I’d be.
Perhaps that man might fall asleep,
Grant said the little bee,
Perhaps that man might fall asleep,
Where I’d be.
Get a dog to watch all night,
Grant said the little bee,
Get a dog to watch all night,
Where I’d be.
If that dog should run away,
Grant said the little bee,
If that dog should run away,
Where I’d be.
Give that dog a bone to pick,
Grant said the little bee,
Give that dog a bone to pick,
Where I’d be.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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