“Pepper, salt, mustard, cider, vinegar.”—Two girls turn the rope slowly at first, repeating the above words, then they turn it as quickly as possible until the skipper is tired out, or trips. “Rock the Cradle.”—In this the holders of the rope do not throw it completely over, but swing it from side to side with an even motion like the swinging of the pendulum of a clock. “Chase the Fox.”—One girl is chosen as a leader, or fox. The first runs through the rope, as it is turned towards her, without skipping; the others all follow her; then she runs through from the other side as the rope is turned from her, and the others follow. Then she runs in and jumps or skips once, and the others follow suit; then she skips twice and runs out, then three times, the others all following in turn until one trips or fails. The first one to do this takes the place of one of the turners, the turner taking her place as one of the skippers. “Visiting.”—One girl turns the rope over herself, and another jumps in and faces her, while skipping in time with the girl she visits. She then runs out again without stopping the rope, and another girl runs in. “Begging.”—Two girls turn, and two others run and skip together side by side. While still skipping they change places; one says, as she passes, “Give me some bread and butter;” the other answering, “Try my next door neighbour.” This is continued until one trips. “Winding the Clock.”—Two turn the rope, and the skipper counts one, two, three, up to twelve, turning round each time she jumps or skips. “Baking Bread.”—Two girls turn, and another runs in with a stone in her hand, which she puts down on the ground, and picks up again while skipping. “The Ladder.”—The girls run in to skip, first on one foot and then the other, with a stepping motion. Two other games are as follows:—(1.) Two ropes are used, and a girl holds either end in each hand, turning them alternately; the skipper has to jump or skip over each in turn. When the rope is turned inwards, it is called “double dutch,” when turned outwards, “French dutch.” (2.) The skipper has a short rope which she turns over herself, while two other girls turn a longer rope over her head. The second class of games consists of those cases where the skipping is accompanied by rhymes, and is used for the purpose of foretelling the future destiny of the skipper. These rhymes are as follows (all collected by Miss Chase):— Ipsey, Pipsey, tell me true Who shall I be married to? A, B, C, &c. Letters—initial of one to whom you’ll be married.—Hurstmonceux, Sussex. Half pound tuppeny rice, Half a pound of treacle, Penny ’orth of spice To make it nice, Pop goes the weazle. —Crockham Hill, Kent. When I was young and able, I sat upon the table; The table broke, And gave me a poke, When I was young and able. [The children now add that when singing Pass the baker,[8] Cook the tater, is the full couplet.]—Deptford.