Three small holes are made in the ground, triangularly about twenty feet apart, to mark the position of as many boys, each of whom holds a small stick, about two feet long. Three other boys of the adverse side pitch successively a piece of stick, a little bigger than one s thumb, called Cat, to be struck by those holding the sticks. On its being struck, the boys run from hole to hole, dipping the ends of their sticks in as they pass, and counting one, two, three, &c., as they do so, up to thirty-one, which is game. Or the greater number of holes gained in the innings may indicate the winners, as at cricket. If the Cat be struck and caught, the striking party is out, and another of his sidesmen takes his place, if the set be strong enough to admit of it. If there be only six players, it may be previously agreed that three _put outs_ shall end the innings. Another mode of putting out is to throw the Cat home, after being struck, and placing or pitching it into an unoccupied hole, while the in-party are running. A certain number of misses (not striking the Cat) may be agreed on to be equivalent to a put out. The game may be played by two, placed as at cricket, or by four, or I believe more.
What shall we dress her in? Dress her in, dress her in? What shall we dress her in? Shall it be red? Red s for the soldiers, The soldiers, the soldiers, Red s for the soldiers, And that will not do. [Various other colours are suggested in the same way, but are found unsuitable--black because black s for the mourners, green because green s for the croppies, and so on till at last white is named.] White s for the dead people, Dead people, the dead people, White s for the dead people, And that will just do. --Belfast (_Notes and Queries_, 7th series, xii. 492, W. H. Patterson). IV. I came to see Jenny jo, Jenny jo, Jenny jo, I came to see Jenny jo, is she within? Jenny jo s washing clothes, washing clothes, washing clothes, Jenny jo s washing clothes, and ye can t see her to-day. Oh but I m sorry, I m sorry, I m sorry, Oh but I m sorry, I can t see her to-day.
If any of the three, A, B or D can beat C they divide the pool, B getting his third, although he did not contribute to the call. This game is a pure gamble; except that a bold player may occasionally bluff the field off. _=METHODS OF CHEATING.=_ Poker and its congeners have received more attention from the greeks than any other family of card games. In fact it is generally believed that the term greek, as applied to a card sharper, had its origin in the Adam of the poker family, which was a gambling game introduced by the Greeks in Italy. So numerous and so varied are the methods of cheating at Poker that it is an axiom among gamblers that if a pigeon will not stand one thing he will another. The best informed make it a rule never to play Poker with strangers, because they realize that it is impossible for any but a professional gambler to know half the tricks employed by the poker sharp. It is a notorious fact that even the shrewdest gamblers are continually being taken in by others more expert than themselves. What chance then has the honest card player? There are black sheep in all flocks, and it may be well to give a few hints to those who are in the habit of playing in mixed companies. Never play with a man who looks attentively at the faces of the cards as he gathers them for his deal; or who stands the pack on edge, with the faces of the cards towards him, and evens up the bunch by picking out certain cards, apparently because they are sticking up.
Pairs have no value. _=Sequence Flushes=_; the ace being allowed to rank as the top or the bottom; Q K A, or A 2 3. _=The Point=_; the greatest number of pips on two or three cards of the same suit in one hand, counting the ace for eleven, and the other court-cards for ten each. A single card of a suit does not count for the point. In case of ties, a point made with three cards will beat one made with two cards. If the number of cards is also a tie, the dealer, or the player nearest him on his left wins. If no triplet is shown, the best straight flush wins. If there is no straight flush, the best point wins. The deal passes to the left, and a misdeal loses the deal, as the deal is an advantage, owing to the trade for ready money. If the dealer does not win the pool, he must pay one white counter to the player who does.
(Herbert Hardy). VIII. Here we come gathering nuts in May, Nuts in May, nuts in May, Here we come gathering nuts in May, This cold frosty morning. Who will you have for your nuts in May, Nuts in May, nuts in May? Who will you have for your nuts in May, This cold frosty morning? We will have ---- for our nuts in May, Nuts in May, nuts in May, We will have ---- for our nuts in May, This cold frosty morning. Who will you have to pull her away, Pull her away, pull her away? Who will you have to pull her away, This cold frosty morning? We will have ---- to pull her away, Pull her away, pull her away, We will have ---- to pull her away, This cold frosty morning. --Settle, Yorks. (Rev. W. S. Sykes).
II. I wrote a letter to my love, and on the way I lost it. Some one has picked it up. Not you, not you (&c.), but you! --Much Wenlock (_Shropshire Folk-lore_, p. 512). III. I lost my supper last night, and the night before, And if I lose it this night, I shall never have it no more. --Berrington (_Shropshire Folk-lore_, p. 512).
In Scotland the game is called Hospy, and is played by boys only, and it can be played only in a village or hamlet in which there is the means of hiding. A Spy is chosen, and a spot, called Parley, is fixed upon at which the Spy stands till all the other players are hid, and to which he can run when pursued. When the players are hid, the cry, Hospy, _i.e._, Ho! spy! is raised by them. The Spy then sets out to find them. The moment he detects one he turns and runs with all his might to the Parley, pursued by the one he has discovered. If he is overtaken, he must carry on his back the pursuer to the Parley. The same thing is gone through till all the players are discovered.--Keith (Rev.