(c) Mr. Ballantyne writes: “This game was a great favourite in my father’s house. This was a forfeit game, forfeits being called ‘wadds.’” Chambers, Popular Rhymes, p. 124, gives a version of this game. It is practically the same as [Mr. Ballantyne’s version], with only a few verbal differences. Mactaggart says, “The chief drift of this singular game seemed to be to discover the sweethearts of one another,” and such discoveries are thought valuable, but not so much as they were anciently. In any case, it appears to me that the game is an early one, or, at all events, a reflection of early custom.
Hickety, Bickety
Hickety, bickety, pease-scone,
Where shall this poor Scotchman gang?
Will he gang east, or will he gang west,
Or will he gang to the craw’s nest?
—Chambers (Popular Rhymes, p. 122).
One boy stands with his eyes bandaged and his hands against a wall, with his head resting on them. Another stands beside him repeating the rhyme, whilst the others come one by one and lay their hands upon his back, or jump upon it. When he has sent them all to different places he turns round and calls, “Hickety, bickety!” till they have all rushed back to the place, the last in returning being obliged to take his place, when the game goes on as before.
Chambers adds, “The ‘craw’s nest’ is close beside the eye-bandaged boy, and is therefore an envied position.” Newell, Games, p. 165, refers to this game.
See “[Hot Cockles].”
Hickety-hackety
The game of [Hop-scotch], played with a piece of tile, which has to be kicked by the player with the foot on which he hops over lines into various squares marked on the ground.—Somersetshire (Elworthy’s Dialect).