—Penzance, Cornwall (Mrs. Mabbott).
II.
Come all ye young men, with your wicked ways,
Sow all your wild oats in your youthful days,
That we may live happy, that we may live happy,
That we may live happy when we grow old.
The day is far spent, the night’s coming on,
Give us your arm, and we’ll joggle along,
That we may live happy, &c., &c.
—Cornwall (Folk-lore Journal, v. 57).
(b) There must be an odd number of players at this game. They form into couples, each standing behind the other, making a ring, the girls inside, one boy standing alone in the middle. As they go round they sing the verse. At the end each boy leaves hold of his partner’s arm and catches the arm of the girl in front, the one who is standing in the centre trying in the confusion to get into a place. If he succeeds, the child left out has to be the one in the centre the next time.
(c) Mr. Newell (Games, p. 101) says this game was called the “Baptist Game” in Virginia, where it is said to be enjoyed by pious people who will not dance. The American game is played in the same way as the English one. Mr. Newell gives the tune to which the game was sung. The words are almost identical. This game is played in the same way as “[Jolly Miller],” which see.
Johnny Rover
One boy is chosen to be Johnny Rover. The other players stand near him. Rover cries out—
A [I] warn ye ance, A warn you twice;
A warn ye three times over;
A warn ye a’ t’ be witty an’ wise
An flee fae Johnny Rover.
While the words are being repeated all the players are putting themselves on the alert, and when they are finished they run off in all directions, with Rover in full pursuit. If a player is hard pressed he has the privilege of running to “Parley,” the place from which the players started, and which in all games is an asylum. If he is caught before he reaches it, he becomes Johnny Rover for the next game. The one first captured becomes Rover.—Keith (Rev. W. Gregor).