Monday, Tuesday
A game played with a ball. There are seven players, who each take a name from one of the days of the week. One (Sunday) begins by throwing the ball against a wall, calling out at the same time the name of one of the days, who has to run and catch it before it falls. If this one fails to catch the ball, the first player picks up the ball and tries to hit one of the six with it, who all endeavour to escape being hit. If the player succeeds, he again throws the ball against the wall, calling out another day of the week to catch it. If a player gets hit three times, he is out. The winner is he who has either not been hit at all or the fewest times, or who has been able to stay in the longest. The same game is played with twelve children, who are named after the twelve months of the year.—London and Barnes (A. B. Gomme); Strand Magazine, ii. 519 (F. H. Low).
This game belongs apparently to the ball games used for purposes of divination. Mr. Newell (Games, p. 181) describes a similar game to this, in which the player whose name is called drops the ball; he must pick it up as quickly as possible while the rest scatter. He then calls “Stand!” upon which the players halt, and he flings it at whom he pleases. If he misses his aim, he must place himself in a bent position with his hands against a wall until every player has taken a shot at him. The idea of naming children after the days of the week occurs also in the games of “[Gipsy],” “[Witch],” and “[Mother, Mother, the Pot boils over].”
See “[Ball],” “[Burly Whush],” “[Keppy Ball].”[Addendum]
Moolie Pudding
The game of “[Deadelie];” one has to run with the hands locked and “taen” the others.—Mactaggart’s Gallovidian Encyclopædia.
See “[Chickidy Hand],” “[Deadelie],” “[Hunt the Staigie],” “[Whiddy].”
More Sacks to the Mill
A very rough game, mentioned in Dean Miles’ MS., p. 180 (Halliwell’s Dictionary). Lowsley (Berkshire Glossary) says this is “a favourite game with children at Christmas-time, when wishing for one of a romping character,” but he does not describe it further. Northall (English Folk Rhymes, p. 354) says that in Warwickshire and Staffordshire boys torture an unfortunate victim by throwing him on the ground and falling atop of him, yelling out the formula, “Bags to [on] the mill.” This summons calls up other lads, and they add their weight.[Addendum]