Page:Cornish feasts and folk-lore.djvu/198

 1 86 Cornish Gaines. the cheese." The first repeats with " Weigh the old woman ; " and it ends by the second, with " Down to her knees." LiBBETY, LIBBETY, LIBBETY-LAT. A game of a very different character, which pleases young children. The child stands before a hassock, and as if he were going up-stairs puts on it first his right and then his left foot, gradually quickening his steps, keeping time to the words : — "Libbety, libbety, libbety-lat, Who can do this ? and who can do that ? And who can do anything better than that?" This ends the games in which children of both sexes join. I must next give those exclusively for boys. I will begin by a very old one : Ship Sail is a game usually played with marbles ; one boy puts his hand into his trousers pocket and takes out as many marbles as he feels inclined ; he closes his fingers over them, and holds out his hand with the palm down to the opposite player, saying, " Ship sail, sail fast. How many men on board } " A guess is made by his opponent ; if less, he has to give as many marbles as will make up the true number; if more, as many as he said over. But should the guess be correct he takes them, and then in his turn says " Ship sail," etc. Buck shee, buck, is another game of chance, and is generally played by three boys in the following way. One stands with his back to a wall, the second stoops down with his head against the stomach of the first boy, " forming a back," the third jumps on it, and holds up his hand with the fingers distended, saying — "Buck shee, buck, shee buck, How many fingers do I hold up ? " Should the stooper guess correctly, they all change places and the jumper forms the back. Another and not such a rough way