It is difficult, with the scanty evidence at command, to do more than make the simple suggestions above. The game is evidently in a process of very rapid decadence, and we have probably only poor specimens of what was originally the form of verses sung in the two versions from Halliwell and Chambers. The London version, No. III., is only recognisable as belonging to this game from the fact that it was known as playing at the "twelve days," was always played on Twelfth Day, and it was not considered proper nor polite for the guests to depart until this had been played. This fact has induced me to add the fourth version from Halliwell, because it appears to me that it may belong to the final form which this game is taking, or has taken, namely, a mere collection of alliterative nursery words, or rhymes, to puzzle the speaker under a rapid repetition, and to exact forfeits for the mistakes made.
A game similar to "Nine Holes," mentioned in Florio ed., 1611, p. 20.--Halliwell's _Dictionary_.
I. Uncle John is ill in bed, What shall I send him? Three good wishes, and three good kisses, And a race of ginger. Who shall I send it by? By the carrier's daughter; Catch her by the lily-white hand And carry her over the water. _Sally_ goes a-courting night and day, Histal, whistal, by her side, _Johnny Everall_ by her side.
--Shrewsbury, Chirbury (Burne's _Shropshire Folk-lore_, p. 511).
II. Uncle Tom is very sick, What shall we send him? A piece of cake, a piece of bread, A piece of apple dumpling. Who shall we send it with? Mrs. So and So's daughter. She is neither without, She is neither within, She is up in the parlour romping about. She came downstairs dressed in silk, A rose in her breast as white as milk. She pulled off her glove, She showed me her ring, To-morrow, to-morrow the wedding shall begin.
(_b_) The Shropshire version is played by the children forming a ring by joining hands. After the eighth line is sung all the children stoop down--the last to do so has to tell her sweetheart's name. In the Scotch version the players stand in a row. They sing the first five lines, then one player is chosen (who chooses another); the other lines are sung, and the two shake hands. Another version from Scotland (Laurieston School, Kirkcudbright, Mr. J. Lawson), is very similar to the one from Nairn.