The Traditional Games of England, Scotland, and Ireland Volume I Part 78

-Stixwold, Lines. (Miss M. Peac.o.c.k).

See "Who goes round my Stone Wall?"

Level-coil

Nares, in his _Glossary_, says this is "a game of which we seem to know no more than that the loser in it was to give up his place to be occupied by another." Minshew gives it thus: "To play at _levell coil_, G. jouer a cul leve: _i.e._, to play and lift up your taile when you have lost the game, and let another sit down in your place." Coles, in his _English Dictionary_, seems to derive it from the Italian _leva il culo_, and calls it also "Pitch-b.u.t.tock." In his _Latin Dictionary_ he has "_level-coil_, alternation, cession;" and "to play at _level coil_, vices ludendi praebere." Skinner is a little more particular and says, "Vox tesseris globulosis ludentium propria:" an expression belonging to a game played with little round tesserae. He also derives it from French and Italian. It is mentioned by Jonson, _Tale of a Tub_, iii. 2:-

"Young Justice Bramble has kept _level-coyl_ Here in our quarters, stole away our daughter."

Gifford says that, in our old dramatists, it implies riot and disturbance. The same sport is mentioned by Sylvester, _Dubartas_, IV.

iv. 2, under the name of _level-sice_:-

"By tragick death's device Ambitious hearts do play at _level-sice_."

In the margin we have this explanation: "A kinde of Christmas play, wherein each hunteth the other from his seat. The name seems derived from the French _levez sus_, in English, arise up." Halliwell's _Dictionary_ says that Skelton, ii. 31, spells it _levell suse_.

Libbety, Libbety, Libbety-lat

A child stands before a ha.s.sock, and as if he were going up stairs, he puts on it first his right and then his left foot, gradually quickening his steps, keeping time to the words-

Libbety, libbety, libbety-lat, Who can do this? and who can do that?

And who can do anything better than that?

-Cornwall (_Folk-lore Journal_, v. 59).

Limpy Coley

A boy's game undescribed.-Patterson's _Antrim and Down Glossary_.

Little Dog I call you

A number of girls stand in a line with their backs to a wall. One of their number is sent away to a distance, but remains within call.

Another girl, who stands in front of the line, asks the girls one by one what they would like if they could obtain their desires. After she has asked every one, she tells them to turn their faces to the wall, and calls after the girl who was sent away, saying, "Little Dog, I call you." The girl replies, "I shan't come to please you." "I'll get a stick and make you," is the rejoinder. "I don't care for that." "I've got a rice pudding for you." "I shan't come for that." "I've got a dish of bones." "I'll come for that." The Dog then comes. The girls have been previously told not to laugh whilst the one who stands out is talking to the Dog. Then the girl says to the Dog-

All the birds in the air, All the fishes in the sea, Come and pick me out (for example) The girl with the golden ball.

If the girl who desired the golden ball laughs, the Dog picks her out.

If n.o.body laughs, he guesses who the girl is that has wished for the golden ball. If the Dog guesses correctly, she goes and stands behind him, and if he guesses incorrectly she goes and stands behind the one who has been asking the questions. They continue this until they get to the last girl or girl at the end of the row, who _must_ have desired to be-

A brewer or a baker, Or a candlestick maker, Or a penknife maker.

Then the questioner says-

All the birds in the air, All the fishes in the sea, Come pick me out A brewer or a baker, Or a candlestick maker, Or penknife maker.

If the Dog guesses the right one, he takes that girl on his side, she standing behind him. Then they draw a line and each side tries to pull the other over it.-Sheffield (S. O. Addy). The game, it will be seen, differs in several ways from the other games of "Fool, Fool, come to School" type. The "fool" becomes a definite Dog, and the players _wish_ for any thing they choose; the Dog has apparently to find out their wishes.

See "All the Birds," "Fool, Fool."

Lobber

There are three or more players on each side, two stones or holes as stations, and one Lobber. The Lobber lobs either a stick about three inches long or a ball-(the ball seems to be a new inst.i.tution, as a stick was always formerly used)-while the batsman defends the stone or hole with either a short stick or his hand. Every time the stick or ball is. .h.i.t, the boys defending the stones or holes must change places. Each one is out if the stick or ball lodges in the hole or hits the stone; or if the ball or stone is caught; or if it can be put in the hole or hits the stone while the boys are changing places. This game is also played with two Lobbers, that lob alternately from each end. The game is won by a certain number of runs.-Ireland (_Folk-lore Journal_, ii. 264).

See "Cat," "Cudgel," "Kit-Cat," "Rounders."

Loggats

An old game, forbidden by statute in Henry VIII.'s time. It is thus played, according to Stevens. A stake is fixed in the ground; those who play throw Loggats at it, and he that is nearest the stake wins.

Loggats, or loggets, are also small pieces or logs of wood, such as the country people throw at fruit that cannot otherwise be reached.

"Loggats, little logs or wooden pins, a play the same with ninepins, in which the boys, however, often made use of bones instead of wooden pins"

(Dean Miles' MS.; Halliwell's _Dictionary_). Strutt refers to this game (_Sports_, p. 272).

London

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 gla.s.s 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 gla.s.s or china, it is _nicked_ with the _fingers_. The first player blows the paper, and in whichever s.p.a.ce 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 s.p.a.ce where the paper stops. This is continued until all the s.p.a.ces are occupied. If the paper goes a second time into a s.p.a.ce 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 s.p.a.ce can be gained, the player makes "arms;" that is, two lines are drawn from the figures across the s.p.a.ce to the opposite side of the plan. This occupies that s.p.a.ce, and prevents the other player from putting any "men" in it, or adding to any already there. When all the s.p.a.ces 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 ent.i.tled to make a "head" in every s.p.a.ce, 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.