The Traditional Children's Games of England Scotland
& Ireland In Dictionary Form - Volume 1

With Tunes(sheet music), Singing-rhymes(lyrics), Methods Of Playing with diagrams and illustrations.

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	BALL IN THE DECKER—BALL OF PRIMROSE 15 the ball tries to strike one of the other boys (fig. 2). If he does so, a small stone is put into the cap of the boy struck. If he misses, a stone is put into his own cap. If the boy who is to pitch the ball into the cap misses, a stone is put into his own cap, and he makes another trial. The game goes on till six stones are put into one cap. The boy in whose cap are the six stones has to place his hand against a wall, when he receives a certain number of blows with the ball thrown with force by one of the players. The blows go by the name of M buns." The game may go on in the same way till each player gets his "buns."—Nairn (Rev. W. Gregor). See "Eggatt." Ball in the Decker A row of boys' caps is set by a wall. One boy throws a ball into one of the caps. The owner of the cap runs away, and is chased by all the others till caught. He then throws the ball. —Dublin (Mrs. Lincoln).
	Ball of Primrose
	We'll wear yellow ribbons, yellow ribbons, yellow ribbons, We'll wear yellow ribbons at the Ball of Primrose; We'll all go a-waltzing, a-waltzing, a-waltzing, We'll all go a-waltzing at the Ball of Primrose. —Epworth, Doncaster ; and Lossiemouth, Yorkshire (Charles C. Bell). (J?) The children form a ring, joining hands, and dance round singing the two first lines. Then loosing hands, they waltz in couples, singing as a refrain the last line. The game is con­tinued, different coloured ribbons being named each time. (c) This game was played in 1869, so cannot have arisen from the political movement.