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CONTRARY, RULES OF |
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(c) For information on various forms of this game, see Notes and Queries, 1878. See also Elworthy's West Somerset Words. The boy who first said the rhyme has first stroke at Oswestry. The game is elsewhere called " Cobbet" (Meole Brace) and u Cobbleticuts " (Burne's Shropshire Folklore, p. 531). In " Conquer-nuts" "obbly" was probably "nobbly" or " knobbly," expressing the appearance of the string of nuts; and " onkers" was probably invented as a rhyme to "conquers" (Upton-on-Severn Words and Phrases, by R. Lawson).
Contrary, Rules of
I. Here I go round the rules of contrary, Hopping about like a little canary. When I say " Hold fast," leave go; When I say " Leave go," hold fast.
—Cornwall (Folk-lore Journal, v. 52).
II. Here we go round the rules of contrary,
When I say " Hold fast!" let go, and when I say 11 Let go ! " hold fast. —London (A. B. Gomme).
(p) A ring is formed by each child holding one end of a handkerchief. One child stands in the centre and acts as leader. The ring moves round slowly. The leader says the words as above while the ring is moving round, and then suddenly calls out whichever he chooses of the two sayings. If he says " Hold fast! " every one must immediately let go the corner of the handkerchief he holds. They should all fall to the ground at once. When he says " Let go !" every one should retain their hold of the handkerchief. Forfeits are demanded for every mistake.
This game, called " Hawld Hard," is commonly played about Christmas-time, where a number hold a piece of a handkerchief. One then moves his hand round the handkerchief, saying, " Here we go round by the rule of Contrairy; when I say ' Hawld hard/ let go, and when I say ' Let go/ hawld hard." Forfeits are paid by those not complying with the order.— Lowsley's Berkshire Glossary. |
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