Children's Rhymes, Children's Games, Children's Songs, Children's Stories Part 13

In Chambers's _Popular Rhymes of Scotland_ there is a description of "~Hink.u.mb.o.o.by~," which I have never seen played. It is, however, only an extended version of "Looby-Looby." The party form a circle (says the writer), taking hold of each other's hands. One sings, and the rest join, to the tune of _Lullibero_:

Fal de ral la, fal de ral la;

while doing so they move a little sideways and back again, beating the time (which is slow) with their feet. As soon as the line is concluded, each claps his hands and wheels grotesquely round, singing at the same time the second line of the verse:--

Hink.u.mb.o.o.by, round about,

Then they sing, with the appropriate gesture--that is, throwing their right hand into the circle and the left out:--

Right hands in, and left hands out,

still beating the time; then add as before, while wheeling round, with a clap of the hands:--

Hink.u.mb.o.o.by, round about, Fal de ral la, fal de ral la; [_Moving sideways as before, hand in hand._]

Hink.u.mb.o.o.by, round about, [_Wheeling round as before, with a clap of the hands._]

Left hands in and right hands out, Hink.u.mb.o.o.by, round about, Fal de ral la, fal de ral la, Hink.u.mb.o.o.by, round about.

Right foot in, and left foot out, [_Right feet set into the centre._]

Hink.u.mb.o.o.by, round about, Fal de ral la, fal de ral la, Hink.u.mb.o.o.by, round about.

Left foot in, and right foot out, Hink.u.mb.o.o.by, round about, Fal de ral la, fal de ral la, etc.

Heads in, and backs out, Hink.u.mb.o.o.by, round about, Fal de ral la, etc.

Backs in, and heads out, Hink.u.mb.o.o.by, round about, Fal de ral la, etc.

A' feet in, and nae feet out, [_On this occasion all sit down, with their feet stretched into the centre of the ring; and it is a great point to rise up promptly enough to be ready for the wheel round_.]

Hink.u.mb.o.o.by, round about, Fal de ral la, etc.

Shake hands a', shake hands a', Hink.u.mb.o.o.by, round about, Fal de ral la, etc.

Good-night a', good-night a', [_The boys bowing and the misses curtseying in an affected formal manner_.]

Hink.u.mb.o.o.by, round about, Fal de ral la, fal de ral la, Hink.u.mb.o.o.by, round about.

More generally played--and not in Scotland only--is "~Three Brethren come from Spain~." The players stand in two lines, slightly apart, facing each other--the boys on one side, the girls on the other. The boys advance dancing, and singing the first verse. The girls remain motionless, and only she who represents the mother speaks.

We are three brethren come from Spain, All in French garlands; We are come to court your daughter, Jane, And adieu to you, my darlings.

As they recede, the mother replies:--

My daughter Jane she is too young, All in French garlands; She cannot bide your flattering tongue, And adieu to you, my darlings.

The boys advance again, singing:--

Be she young, or be she old, All in French garlands, It's for a bride she must be sold, And adieu to you, my darlings.

Answer:--

A bride, a bride, she shall not be, All in French garlands, Till she go through the world with me, And adieu to you, my darlings.

Address:--

Then fare ye well, my lady gay, All in French garlands; We'll come again some other day, And adieu to you, my darlings.

Answer:--

Come back, come back, you scornful knight, All in French garlands; Clear up your spurs, and make them bright, And adieu to you, my darlings.

Address:--

Of my spurs take you no thought, All in French garlands; For in this town they were not bought, And adieu to you, my darlings.

Answer:--

Smell my lilies, smell my roses, All in French garlands: Which of my daughters do you choose?

And adieu to you, my darlings.

Address:--

Are all your daughters safe and sound?

All in French garlands: Are all your daughters safe and sound?

And adieu to you, my darlings.

Answer:--

In every pocket a thousand pounds, All in French garlands; On every finger a gay, gold ring, And adieu to you, my darlings.

The formula is repeated as above until every boy has chosen a lady-mate, when all march round arm-in-arm in pairs, and the game is ended.

"~Here Comes a Poor Sailor from Botany Bay~." This is played as a preliminary game to decide who shall join, and which side they will take, in a coming tug-of-war. The chief delight derived is in putting and answering questions. Two princ.i.p.als, standing as rival chiefs, and acting together as catechists, begin the play; and all are warned before replying:--

You must say neither "Yes," "No," nor "Nay,"

"Black," "White," nor "Grey."

Then, as each child approaches, the formula proceeds:--

Here comes a poor sailor from Botany Bay; Pray, what are you going to give him to-day?

A pair of boots [may be the answer].

What colour are they?

Brown.

Have you anything else to give him?

I think so.

What colour is it?

Red.