The Traditional Games of England, Scotland, and Ireland Volume Ii Part 17

Huzza! for the young men, the fair maids did say, May heaven protect you to conquer this day, Now, my brave boys, you're not to blame, Take courage, my lads, nine and eight is the game.

Now behold the Breeches makers, master and man, Saddlers, Slaters, and Joiners, do all they can; The Tailor so nimble, he brings up the rear, Cheer up, my brave boys, you need not to fear.

Alas! poor old Jacob, thy hopes are in vain, d.i.c.k Chidley is artful, and spoils all thy schemes.

The Barber is taken, the Currier is down, The Sawyer is tired, and so is the Clown."

The moor referred to in the last line of the second verse was the Pitchmoor. The Clown was a nickname for one of the players, who, on hearing the song repeated in the presence of the author, became so exasperated, that, to appease him, the words "the game is our'n" were subst.i.tuted for the words "so is the Clown "in the last line of the concluding verse.

Puff-the-Dart

A game played with a long needle inserted in some worsted, and blown at a target through a tin tube.-Halliwell's _Dictionary_. This game is also mentioned in Baker's _Northamptons.h.i.+re Glossary_.

Pun o' mair Weight

A rough play among boys, adding their weight one upon another, and all upon the one at the bottom.-d.i.c.kinson's _c.u.mberland Glossary_.

Punch Bowl

I. Round about the punch bowl,- One, two, three; If anybody wants a bonnie la.s.sie, Just take me.

Another form of words is-

The fillan o' the punch bowl, That wearies me; The fillan o't up, an' the drinkan' o't doon, An' the kissan o' a bonnie la.s.s, That cheeries me.

-Fochabers (Rev. W. Gregor).

II. Round about the punch bowl, Punch bowl, punch bowl; Round about the punch bowl, one, two, three.

First time never to fall, Never to fall, never to fall; First time never to fall, one, two, three.

Second time, the catching time, Catching time, catching time; Second time, the catching time, one, two, three.

Third time, the kissing time, Kissing time, kissing time, Third time, the kissing time, one, two, three.

-Belfast (W. H. Patterson).

III. Round about the punch bowl,-one, two, three; Open the gates and let the bride through.

Half-a-crown to know his name, to know his name, to know his name, Half-a-crown to know his name, On a cold and frosty morning.

Ah! (Michael Matthews) is his name, is his name, is his name; (Michael Matthews) is his name, On a cold and frosty morning.

Half-a-crown to know her name, to know her name, to know her name, Half-a-crown to know her name, On a cold and frosty morning.

(Annie Keenan) is her name, is her name, is her name, (Annie Keenan) is her name, On a cold and frosty morning.

They'll be married in the morning, Round about the punch bowl, I [? Hi!].

-Annaverna, Ravensdale, Co. Louth, Ireland (Miss R. Stephen).

(_b_) The Fochabers' game is played by girls only. The players join hands and form a ring. They dance briskly round, singing the verse. The last word, "me," is p.r.o.nounced with strong emphasis, and all the girls jump, and if one falls she has to leave the ring. The game is carried on until all the players fall. In the Belfast game, at the words "one, two, three," the players drop down in a crouching position for a few seconds.

In the Louth (Ireland) game the players all curtsey after the first line, and the one who rises last is the bride. She is led outside the ring by another, and asked to whom she is engaged. She tells without letting those in the ring hear, and the two return to the ring saying the second line. Then all the ring sing the next three lines, and then the girl who has been told the name tells it to the ring, who thereupon sing or say the remaining lines of the verse.

(_c_) The Louth version has more detail in its movements, and probably represents the oldest form. At all events, it supplies the reason for the words and movements, which are not quite so obvious in the other versions. Many ancient monoliths are known as "Punch Bowls," and it may be that this game is the relic of an old marriage ceremony, "at the stones."

Purposes

A kind of game. "The prettie game which we call purposes" (Cotgrave in _v._ "Opinion").-Halliwell's _Dictionary_.

Push in the Wash Tub

A ring of girls is formed. Two go in opposite directions outside the ring, and try to get back first to the starting-point; the one succeeding stops there, rejoining the ring, the other girl _pushes_ another girl into the ring, or _wash tub_, with whom the race is renewed.-Crockham Hill, Kent (Miss Chase).

Push-pin, or Put-pin

A child's play, in which pins are pushed with an endeavour to cross them. So explained by Ash, but it would seem, from Beaumont and Fletcher, vii. 25, that the game was played by aiming pins at some object.-Halliwell's _Dictionary_.

"To see the sonne you would admire, Goe play at push-pin with his sire."

-_Men's Miracles_, 1656, p. 15.

"Love and myselfe, beleeve me on a day, At childish push-pin for our sport did play."

-Herrick's _Works_, i. 22.

There is an allusion to it under the name of put-pin in Nash's _Apologie_, 1593-

"That can lay down maidens bedds, And that can hold ther sickly heds; That can play at put-pin, Blow poynte and near lin."

Two pins are laid upon a table, and the object of each player is to push his pin across his opponent's pin.-Addy's _Sheffield Glossary_.

See "Hattie," "Pop the Bonnet."

Push the Business On

I. I hired a horse and borrowed a gig, And all the world shall have a jig; And I'll do all 'at ever I can To push the business on.

To push the business on, To push the business on; And I'll do all 'at ever I can To push the business on.

-North Kelsey, Anderby, and near the Trent, Nottinghams.h.i.+re (Miss M.

Peac.o.c.k).