One player commences first by winning the toss. The pick (a small flat stone) is pitched into No. 1 bed. It is then moved out of this first place, backward across the front line, and not otherwise by touching or forcing it with one foot, the other foot being kept up; that is, the player must hop and use the foot on the ground to strike “pick.” No line must be touched. If this happens, or if the pick, when being driven towards the pitching line, gets away otherwise than across the front line, the player is “out,” and the next boy goes in. All the beds are done likewise, and all must be then done in a reverse way, beginning with No. 10. The first player who completes the game wins.—Waterville, Co. Kerry (Mrs. B. B. Green).
Poor Widow.
Here’s a poor widow from Babylon,
All her sons and daughters are gone.
Come choose to the east, come choose to the west,
Come choose you the very one that you like best.
Now they are married I wish them joy,
Every year a girl and boy.
Loving each other like sister and brother,
A happy new couple may kiss together.
—Laurieston School, Kircudbrightshire (J. Lawson).
A circle is formed, two children in the centre, one of whom kneels, the other walks round singing—
I am a poor widow go walking around,
Go walking around, go walking around, my own.
And all of my children are married but one,
Are married but one, are married but one, my own.
I put on a nightcap to keep her head warm,
To keep her head warm, to keep her head warm, my own.
Then rise up my daughter and choose whom you please,
And choose whom you please, and choose whom you please, my own.
The mother then joins the circle, and the daughter becomes poor widow. On the mention of the nightcap a white handkerchief is spread over the head, the circle walking around slowly, and chanting the words slowly and dismally.