- There was a crooked (jump to Fig. 1 to
the word) man,
He went a crooked (jump to Fig. 2 to word) mile,
He found a crooked (Fig. 3) sixpence
Against a crooked (Fig. 4) stile;
He bought a crooked (Fig. 5) cat
That caught a crooked (Fig. 6, and pause) mouse.
And they all lived together in a little crooked (Fig. 7) house. - There (jump to Fig. 1) was a crooked
(2nd jump on Fig. 1) man,
He (to Fig. 2) went a crooked (2nd Fig. 2) mile,
He (Fig. 3) found a crooked (2nd time Fig. 3) sixpence
A- (to Fig. 4) -gainst a crooked (2nd Fig. 4) stile;
He (Fig. 5) bought a crooked (Fig. 5) cat
That (Fig. 6) caught a crooked (Fig. 6) mouse,
(Step to Fig. 7, left foot) And they (right to Fig. 1 to word) all (left to Fig. 2) lived (right to Fig. 3 to) together (left to Fig. 4 to) in a (right behind left to Fig. 5) little (left to Fig. 6) crooked (both feet to Fig. 7) house.
II.—KNUCKLE BONES.
By Captain A. S. Harrison.
The game is played with five bones, and the stages are as follows:—
1. Beginnings.—The five bones are gathered in the palm of the hand and thrown up, any number being caught on the back of the hand; they are then tossed up again, and caught in the palm. One is selected, thrown into the air, and one at a time the remainder picked up, while the one thrown is in the air. This must be caught and again thrown for the next bone. The bone thrown up is called the ‘dab,’ and must be caught clear, without touching any part of the person but the right hand under all circumstances of the game.
2. Ones.—The five bones are thrown on to the table, and the dab selected is thrown up, and the remainder are taken up, one by one, without touching any other bone.
3. Twos.—The same again, but two taken up for each throw of the dab.
4. Threes.—Three picked up, and then one.
5. Fours.—Four picked up.
In twos, threes, and fours, it is permitted by consent of the adversary to push the selected bones together while the dab is in the air. The touching of any other than the selected bones, or the failure to pick up the proper number, forfeits the turn.
6. Short Spans.—Two bones are placed on the table, each side of the left hand, one pair close to the thumb, the other pair at the tip of the little finger. Each pair must be taken up separately, without any pushing together.