The Traditional Games of England, Scotland, and Ireland Volume Ii Part 64

Tip, tip, toe, leerie, lo!

Turn the s.h.i.+p and away you go; A penny to you, and a penny to me, And a penny to turn the basket.

-Fochabers (Rev. W. Gregor).

Turn the Trencher, or, My Lady's Toilet

An indoor game played at Christmas time by children and adults. All the players in the room must be seated. They are then asked by the leader of the game to choose some article of a lady's toilet, which article they will personally represent, such as diamond ring, bracelet, comb, brush, jug, basin, powder, hair-dye, dress, mantle, &c.-any article, in fact, belonging to the toilet.

The leader then goes to the centre of the room with a small trencher, round card tray, plate, or saucer in her hand. She spins this (the trencher) round as quickly as possible, saying, "My lady's going out and needs her 'dress,'" or any other article she chooses to name. The player who has taken the name of "dress" must get up from her seat and catch the trencher before it falls. If successful this player then spins the trencher, calling out the name of another article of the toilet. If the player fails to catch it, a forfeit is demanded by the leader.

Occasionally the spinner will say, "My lady's going to a ball (or elsewhere), and needs the whole of her toilet." When this is said, every player has to get up and take another place before the trencher falls; the last one to get a place has to take the trencher, and if it is down, to pay a forfeit. At the end of the game the forfeits are "cried" in the usual way.-(A. B. Gomme.)

This (called "Truckle the Trencher") used to be a standard game for winter evenings. A circle was formed, and each one was seated on the floor, every player taking the name of a flower. This game was entered into with the greatest vivacity by staid and portly individuals as well as by their juniors.-Dorsets.h.i.+re (_Folk-lore Journal_, vii. 238).

A trencher, saucer, or plate is used. The players sit in a circle, and one twirls the trencher, at the same time calling out the name of one of the players. He or she jumps up and tries to catch the whirling trencher before it falls. If it falls or is knocked over, a forfeit is lodged, and the player who lodged the forfeit now becomes the twirler. If the trencher is caught, it is handed back and twirled again, and another name called out. The game continues till all or, at least, most of the players have lodged forfeits. It is called "Turn the Plettie."-Macduff (Rev. W. Gregor).

This game is played in the same way in Ireland. It is called "Twirl the Trencher," and the players take names of towns or beasts.-(Miss Keane.)

Brogden (_Provincial Words, Lincolns.h.i.+re_) and Halliwell (_Dictionary_) mention it as "Turn Trencher," a game played at Christmas time. Moor (_Suffolk Words and Phrases_) calls it "Move all."

Turvey

Turvey, turvey, clothed in black, With silver b.u.t.tons upon your back; One by one, and two by two, Turn about, and that will do.

-Haverfordwest (_Notes and Queries_, 3rd series, v. 394).

The children marched two and two, in a measured step to a given distance, then turned and marched back again.

See "Alligoshee."

Tutt-ball

"Tut-ball,"[12] as played at a young ladies' school at s.h.i.+ffnal fifty years ago. The players stood together in their "den," behind a line marked on the ground, all except one, who was "out," and who stood at a distance and threw the ball to them. One of the players in the den then hit back the ball with the palm of the hand, and immediately ran to one of three brickbats, called "tuts," which were set up at equal distances on the ground, in such positions that a player running past them all would describe a complete circle by the time she returned to the den.

The player who was "out" tried to catch the ball, and to hit the runner with it while pa.s.sing from one "tut" to another. If she succeeded in doing so, she took her place in the den, and the other went "out" in her stead. This game is very nearly identical with "rounders."-_Shrops.h.i.+re Folk-lore_, p. 524.

A game at ball, now only played by boys, but half a century ago by adults on Ash Wednesday, believing that unless they did so they would fall sick in harvest time. This is a very ancient game, and was elsewhere called "Stool-ball," indulged in by the clergy as well as laity to avert misfortune.-Ross and Stead's _Holderness Glossary_. The game is not described.

Addy (_Sheffield Glossary_) says this game is the same as "Pize-ball."

Halliwell (_Dictionary_) says it is a sort of "Stob-ball Play."

See "Cat and Dog," "Rounders," "Stool Ball."

[12] _Tut_, a prominence, from A. S. _totian_, whence also E. _tout_, q.v.-W. W. S.

Twelve Days of Christmas

[Music]

-Rimbault's _Nursery Rhymes_.

I. The first day of Christmas, my true love sent to me A partridge in a pear-tree.

The second day of Xmas, my true love sent to me Two turtle doves and a partridge in a pear-tree.

The third day of Xmas, my true love sent to me Three French hens and two turtle doves and A partridge in a pear-tree.

The fourth day of Xmas, my true love sent to me Four colly birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and A partridge in a pear-tree.

The fifth day of Xmas, my true love sent to me Five gold rings, four colly birds, three French hens, Two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear-tree.

The sixth day of Xmas, my true love sent to me Six geese a-laying, five gold rings, Four colly birds, three French hens, Two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear-tree.

The seventh day of Xmas, my true love sent to me Seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, five gold rings, Four colly birds, three French hens, Two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear-tree.

The eighth day of Xmas, my true love sent to me Eight maids a-milking, seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, five gold rings, Four colly birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and A partridge in a pear-tree.

The ninth day of Xmas, my true love sent to me Nine drummers drumming, eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying, Five gold rings, four colly birds, three French hens, Two turtle doves, and A partridge in a pear-tree.

The tenth day of Xmas, my true love sent to me Ten pipers piping, nine drummers drumming, Eight maids a-milking, seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, five gold rings, Four colly birds, three French hens, Two turtle doves, and A partridge in a pear-tree.

The eleventh day of Xmas, my true love sent to me Eleven ladies dancing, ten pipers piping, Nine drummers drumming, eight maids a-milking, Seven swans a-swimming, six geese a-laying, Five gold rings, four colly birds, Three French hens, two turtle doves, and A partridge in a pear-tree.

The twelfth day of Xmas, my true love sent to me Twelve lords a-leaping, eleven ladies dancing, Ten pipers piping, nine drummers drumming, Eight maids a-milking, seven swans a-swimming, Six geese a-laying, five gold rings, Four colly birds, three French hens, Two turtle doves, and A partridge in a pear-tree.

-Halliwell's _Nursery Rhymes_, cccxlvi.

II. The king sent his lady on the first Yule day, A papingo-aye [a peac.o.c.k]; Wha learns my carol and carries it away?

The king sent his lady on the second Yule day, Three partridges, a papingo-aye; Wha learns my carol and carries it away?

The king sent his lady on the third Yule day, Three plovers, three partridges, a papingo-aye; Wha learns my carol and carries it away?

The king sent his lady on the fourth Yule day, A goose that was grey, Three plovers, three partridges, a papingo-aye; Wha learns my carol and carries it away?

The king sent his lady on the fifth Yule day, Three starlings, a goose that was grey, Three plovers, three partridges, and a papingo-aye; Wha learns my carol and carries it away?

The king sent his lady on the sixth Yule day, Three goldspinks, three starlings, a goose that was grey, Three plovers, three partridges, and a papingo-aye; Wha learns my carol and carries it away?

The king sent his lady on the seventh Yule day, A bull that was brown, three goldspinks, three starlings, A goose that was grey, Three plovers, three partridges, and a papingo-aye; Wha learns my carol and carries it away?

The king sent his lady on the eighth Yule day, Three ducks a-merry laying, a bull that was brown- [The rest to follow as before.]

The king sent his lady on the ninth Yule day, Three swans a-merry swimming- [As before.]

The king sent his lady on the tenth Yule day, An Arabian baboon- [As before.]