Holy Alice,
Dah mell fire.
Did their parents or teachers but know what the youngsters were really saying, they would be no little shocked.
[73] Staggerum buck, or Staggerer Staggera bobtail, is the name of a boys’ game, very commonly played. ‘Philson,’ ‘Valson,’ and ‘Dickson’ are examples of the elision of the possessive case, i.e. Phil’s son, Val’s son, and Dick’s son.
[74] ‘Knave-a’ became general during the War of Independence—we were a bit out of favour then.
[75] Vide Grimm’s Household Tales.
[76] As the children tell the story, they pronounce crooked, ‘crook-ed.’
[77] The story in its original form was a prophetic hymn sung by the Jews at the Passover, the animals and elements representing their enemies and deliverers.
[78] Henderson’s Folklore.
[79] Knotted hair.