Volume I Part 46 (1/2)

A game called ”The Beds,” mentioned by a writer in _Blackwood's Magazine_, August 1821, p. 36, as played in Edinburgh when he was a boy by girls only, is described as a game where a pitcher is kicked into chalked divisions of the pavement, the performer being on one leg and hopping.

See ”Hop-scotch.”

Hard b.u.t.tons

Several boys place one b.u.t.ton each close together on a line. The game consists in hitting a particular b.u.t.ton out of this line with the nicker without touching the others. This is generally played in London streets, and is mentioned in the _Strand Magazine_, ii. 515.

See ”Banger,” ”b.u.t.tons.”

Hare and Hounds

A boys' game. One boy is chosen as the Hare. He carries with him a bag filled with strips of paper. The rest of the boys are the Hounds. The Hare has a certain time (say fifteen minutes) allowed him for a start, and he goes across country, scattering some paper on his way in order to indicate his track. He may employ any manuvre in order to deceive his pursuers, but must keep up the continuity of his paper track-signs. The Hounds follow him and try to catch him before he gets home, which is a place agreed upon beforehand.-London (G. L. Gomme).

In Cornwall the leader, when at fault, says-

Uppa, uppa, holye! If you don't speak My dogs shan't folly.

-Courtney (_Folk-lore Journal_, v. 73).

Other versions of this holloa are-

Whoop, whoop, and hollow!

Good dogs won't follow Without the hare cries, Peewit.

-Halliwell's _Nursery Rhymes_, p. 66.

Sound your holler, Or my little dog shan't foller.

-Northall's _English Folk Rhymes_, p. 357.

This game is played in Wales under the name of ”Hunt the Fox.” The Fox has a certain time given him for a start, the other players then go after him.-Beddgelert (Mrs. Williams).

Harie Hutcheon

A game among children, in which they hop round in a ring, sitting on their hams.-Jamieson.

See ”Curcuddie,” ”Cutch-a-cutchoo,” ”Hirtschin Hairy.”

Hark the Robbers

[Music]

-Tong, Shrops.h.i.+re (Miss R. Harley).

I. Hark the robbers coming through, Coming through, Hark the robbers coming through, My fair lady.

What have the robbers done to you, Done to you, What have the robbers done to you, My fair lady?