Nivvie, nivvie-neek-nack,
Filk (which) (or filk han’) ’ill ye tack?
Tack the richt, tack the left,
An’ a’ll deceave ye gehn (if) I can.
The other player chooses. If he chooses the hand having the stake, he gains it. If he does not, he forfeits the stake. Another form of words is—
Nivvie, nivvie-neek-nack
Filk (which) will ye tick-tack?
Tack ane, tack twa,
Tack the best amo’ them a’.
And—
Nivvie, nivvie-nick-nack,
Which han’ will ye tack?
Tack ane, tack twa,
Tack the best amo’ them a’.
Dickinson’s Cumberland Glossary describes this as a boyish mode of casting lots. The boy says—
Neevy, neevy-nack,
Whether hand will ta tack,
T’topmer or t’lowmer?
Mr. W. H. Patterson (Antrim and Down Glossary) gives the rhyme as—
Nievy, navy, nick nack,
Which han’ will ye tak’,
The right or the wrang?
I’ll beguile ye if I can.
Chambers (Popular Rhymes, p. 117) gives the rhyme the same as that given by Mr. Patterson. In Notes and Queries, 6th Series, vii. 235, a North Yorkshire version is given as—