At the commencement of the game the children stand in a large ring, and the girl who is to be 'Lame lassie' stands in the centre. The children then say:—
Now Lame lassie give us chase,
Get one quick to fill your place.
They all run off, and 'Lame lassie' follows until she manages to touch some other child. Wherever the latter is touched, she must place her hand on that particular spot and run after the others until she is successful in reaching some one else. Sometimes a child will be holding its shoulder or elbow, or it may have to hold up one leg and hop on the other. This is a game which causes much fun and merriment.
40. POLLY FLINDERS
The children form a ring, joining hands, and one child sits in the middle. Those who form the ring walk round singing to the tune of 'The Keel Bow.'
Here's Polly Flinders,
She sits on the cinders,
Waits for a fairy to come and bring her news.
Stand upon your feet, dear,
Take a look around here,
Kiss the one you love best, the one you like to choose.
At the word 'stand' the child in the centre rises to her feet, and when the rhyme is ended she chooses a child to take her place in the centre and returns to the ring. All the children stand still while the choice is being made.
41. DROP, DROP, DROP
The children stand eighteen inches apart in a ring, not joining hands.
One child walks round the ring, holding a handkerchief in her hand, and repeating the words:—