[DROP-CAP.]
In the game where the following lines are used, one person goes round inside a ring of children, clapping a cap between his hands. When he drops it at the foot of any one, that one leaves his position and gives chase, and is obliged to thread the very same course among the children till the first is caught. The first then stands with his back towards the centre of the ring, the one called out takes his place, and thus they continue till nearly all are "turned."
My hand burns hot, hot, hot,
And whoever I love best, I'll drop this at his foot!
[MY SOW HAS PIGGED.]
A game at cards, played now only by children. It is alluded to by Taylor the Water-poet, in his Motto, 12mo. Lond. 1622, and it is also mentioned in Poor Robin's Almanac for 1734. The following distich is used in this game:
Higgory, diggory, digg'd,
My sow has pigg'd.
[NIDDY-NODDY.]
A simple but very amusing game at cards, at which any number can play. The cards are dealt round, and one person commences the game by placing down a card, and the persons next in succession who hold the same card in the various suits place them down upon it, the holder of the last winning the trick. The four persons who hold the cards say, when they put them down,—
1. There's a good card for thee.
2. There's a still better than he!
3. There's the best of all three.
4. And there is Niddy-noddee!
The person who is first out, receives a fish for each card unplayed.