Volume Ii Part 23 (1/2)
(_c_) Versions of this game, identical with the Winterton one, have been sent me by Miss Winfield, Nottingham; others, almost identical with the second Norfolk version, from Monton, Lancas.h.i.+re (Miss Dendy), North Staffs. Potteries, Norbury, Staffs., (Miss A. Keary), Earls Heaton, Yorks. (H. Hardy). Addy, _Sheffield Glossary_, gives a version almost identical with the last Sporle version.
Addy, _Sheffield Glossary_, compares the old stories about rose-laughing in Grimm's _Teut. Myth._ iii. 1101. ”Gifted children of fortune have the power to laugh roses, as Treyja wept gold. Probably in the first instance they were Pagan beings of light, who spread their brightness in the sky over the earth-'rose children,' 'sun children.'” This seems to me to be a very apposite explanation of the game, the rhymes of which are fairly well preserved, though showing in some of the variants that decay towards a practical interpretation which will soon abolish all traces of the mythical origin of game-rhyme. It may, however, simply be the making, or ”ringing,” a ring or circle of roses or other flowers and bowing to this. Mr. Addy's suggestion does not account for the imitation of sneezing, evidently an important incident, which runs through all versions. Sneezing has always been regarded as an important or supernatural event in every-day life, and many superst.i.tious beliefs and practices are connected with it both in savage and civilised life.
Newell (_Games and Songs of American Children_, p. 127) describes ”Ring around the Rosie,” apparently this game, but the imitation of sneezing has been lost.
Ring by Ring
Here we go round by ring, by ring, As ladies do in Yorks.h.i.+re; A curtsey here, a curtsey there, A curtsey to the ground, sir.
-Hersham, Surrey (_Folk-lore Record_, v. 86).
There is no description of the way this game is played, but it is evidently a similar game to ”Ring-a-Ring o' Roses.”
Ringie, Ringie, Red Belt
Take a small splint of wood, kindle it, and when it is burning turn it rapidly round in a circle, repeating the words-
Ringie, ringie, Red Belt, rides wi' the king, Nae a penny in's purse t'buy a gold ring.
Bow-ow-ow, fat dog art thou, Tam Tinker's dog, bow-ow-ow.
-Corgarff (Rev. W. Gregor).
This goes by the name of ”Willie Wogie” at Keith, but no words are repeated as the splint is whirled.
See ”Jack's Alive.”
Ring-me-rary
I. Ring me (1), ring me (2), ring me rary (3), As I go round (4) ring by ring (5), A virgin (6) goes a-maying (7); Here's a flower (8), and there's a flower (9), Growing in my lady's garden (10).
If you set your foot awry (11), Gentle John will make you cry (12); If you set your foot amiss (13), Gentle John (14) will give you a kiss.
This [lady or gentleman] is none of ours, Has put [him or her] self in [child's name] power; So clap all hands and ring all bells, and make the wedding o'er.
-Halliwell's _Nursery Rhymes_, p. 67.
II. As I go round ring by ring, A maiden goes a-maying; And here's a flower, and there's a flower, As red as any daisy.
If you set your foot amiss, Gentle John will give you a kiss.
-Halliwell's _Nursery Rhymes_, p. 125.
(_b_) A number of boys and girls stand round one in the middle, who repeats the lines, counting the children until one is counted out by the end of the verse. The child upon whom (14) falls is then taken out and forced to select one of the other s.e.x. The middle child then proceeds to say the three last lines. All the children clap hands during the saying (or singing) of the last line. If the child taken by lot joins in the clapping, the selected child is rejected, and, I believe, takes the middle place. Otherwise, I think there is a salute.-Halliwell.
(_c_) This game is recorded by no authority except Halliwell, and no version has reached me, so that I suppose it is now obsolete. It is a very good example of the oldest kind of game, choosing partners or lovers by the ”lot,” and may be a relic of the May-day festival, when the wors.h.i.+p of Flora was accompanied by rites of marriage not in accord with later ideas.
Ring-taw