Page:Fitzgerald - Pickwickian manners and customs (1897).djvu/32

 commoner kind. "Knuckle down," according to our recollections, was the laying the knuckle on the ground for a shot. "Odd and even" was also spoken of by the Serjeant. Another game alluded to, is mysteriously called "Tip-cheese"—of which the latest editor speculates "probably Tip-cat was meant: the game at which Bunyan was distinguishing himself when he had a call." The "cat" was a plain piece of wood, sharpened at both ends. I suppose made to jump, like a cat. But unde "cheese," unless it was a piece of rind that was struck.

"Flying the garter" is another of the Pickwickian boy games. Talking with a very old gentleman, lately, I thought of asking him concerning "Flying the garter:" he at once enlightened me. It was a familiar thing he remembered well "when a boy." It was a sort of "Leap Frog," exercise—only with a greater and longer spring: he