Page:Cornish feasts and folk-lore.djvu/191

 Cornish Games. i79 How Many Miles to Babylon? To this game, known elsewhere as "Thread the Needle," the following lines are chanted : — " How many miles to Babylon? Three score and ten. Can I get there by candle-light ? Yes ! if your legs are long and straight. Then open your gates as high as the sky, And let King George and all his troops pass by." Rules of Contrary. Four children hold a handkerchief by the four corners, one moves a finger over it saying, as fast as possible — " Her« I go round the rules of contrary. Hopping about like a little canary. When I say ' Hold fast ' leave go ; When I say ' Leave go ' hold fast." Any player making a mistake pays a forfeit. Lady Queen Anne. A very pretty version of this old English game is often played at juvenile parties in Cornwall. One child is chosen to remain in the room, whilst the others go outside and consult together as to whom shall hold the ball (some small thing). They then troop in, with their hands either hidden under the skirts of their dresses, or clasped in such a way that Lady Queen Anne, by looking at them, cannot tell which has it ; all repeating — " Here come we to Lady Queen Anne, With a pair of white gloves to cover our hand; As white as a lily, as fair as the rose, But not so fair as you may suppose. " L. Q. A. " Turn, ladies, turn ! " (Whirl round.) " The more we turn the more we may. Queen Anne was born on Midsummer day. " L. Q. A. " The king sent me three letters, I never read them all. So pray, Miss — —, deliver the ball."