A boys' game, played with buttons, marbles, and halfpence. Peacock's _Manley and Corringham Glossary_; also mentioned in Brogden's _Provincial Words (Lincolnshire)_. Mr. Patterson says (_Antrim and Down Glossary_)--A boy shuts up a few small objects, such as marbles, in one hand, and asks his opponent to guess if the number is odd or even. He then either pays or receives one, according as the guess is right or wrong. Strutt describes this game in the same way, and says it was played in ancient Greece and Rome. Newell (_Games_, p. 147) also mentions it.
A game played with coins. Brogden's _Provincial Words, Lincolnshire_.
I. I'll away to t'beck to wash my neck, When I get there, I'll ask t'ould dame what o'clock it is? It's one, and you'll be hanged at two.
I'll away to t'beck to wash my neck, When I get there, I'll ask t'ould dame what o'clock it is? It's two, and you'll be hanged at three.
[This is repeated until the old woman says, "It's eleven, and you'll be hanged at twelve."]
II. To Beccles, to Beccles, To buy a bunch of nettles, Pray, old dame, what's o'clock? One, going for two.
To Beccles, to Beccles, To buy a bunch of nettles, Pray, old dame, what's o'clock? Two, going for three, &c.
[And so on until "eleven going for twelve" is said, then the following:--]
Where have you been? To the wood. What for? To pick up sticks. What for? To light my fire. What for? To boil my kettle. What for? To cook some of your chickens.
(_b_) One child sits upon a little stool. The others march round her in single file, taking hold of each other's frocks. They say in a sing-song manner the first two lines, and the old woman answers by telling them the hour. The questions and answers are repeated until the old woman says, "It's eleven, and you'll be hanged at twelve." Then the children all run off in different directions and the old woman runs after them. Whoever she catches becomes old woman, and the game is continued.--Yorkshire (Miss E. Cadman). In the version given from Halliwell there is a further dialogue, it will be seen, before the old woman chases.
(_c_) The use of the Yorkshire word "beck" ("stream") in the first variant suggests that this may be the original version from which the "Beccles" version has been adapted, a particular place being substituted for the general. The game somewhat resembles "Fox and Goose."