Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 4 1886.djvu/133

 AND ** FEASTEN " CUSTOMS. 125

after the rush that lasted longest outlived the other. This settled, one ivy-leaf was thrown on the fire; the number of cracks it made was the number of years before the wedding would take place. Then two were placed on the hot ashes ; the cracks they gave this time showed how many children the two would have. We then drew ivy-leaves named after present or absent friends through a wedding ring, and put them into a basin of water which we left until the next morning. Those persons whose leaves had shrivelled or turned black in the night were to die before the next Twelfth-tide, and those who were so unfortunate as to find their leaves spotted with red, by some violent death, unless a *pellar' (wise man) could by his skill and incanta- tions grant protection. These prophecies through superstition some- times unluckily fulfilled themselves."

During the twelve days of Christmas card-playing was a very favourite amusement with all classes. Whilst the old people enjoyed their game of whist with swabbers, the young ones had their round games. I will append the rules of two or three for those who would like to try them.

Whist (or whisk, as I have heard an old lady call it and maintain that that was its proper name) with *' swabbers."

This game, which was played as recently as 1880, nightly, by four maiden ladies at Falmouth, is like ordinary whist ; but each player before beginning to play puts into the pool a fixed sum for " swabs." The " swab-cards " are — ace and deuce of trumps, ace of hearts and knave of clubs. The four cards are of equal value ; but should hearts be trumps the ace would count double.

" Board-'em," a round game that can be played by any number of players, from two to eight ; it is played for fish, and there must never be less than six fish in the pool. Six cards are dealt to each person ; and the thirteenth, if two are playing, the nineteenth if three, and so on, is turned up for trumps. The forehand plays ; the next j^layer, if he has one, must follow suit, if not, he may play another suit, or trump. The highest card of the original suit, if not trumped, takes the trick and one or more fish, according to the number staked. If you have neither card in your hand that you think will make a trick you may decline to play, in which case you only lose your stake ; but