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FOX IN THE HOLE |
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brought back. The game begins anew with another boy as Tod.—Keith (Rev. W. Gregor).
See "Bull in the Park," " Frog in the Middle."
Fox in the Hole
All the players are armed with handkerchiefs. One of the players is chosen for Fox, who has his den marked out. The Fox hops out on one leg, with his handkerchief ready to strike. The players gather round him and attack him. If he can strike one of his assailants without putting his foot to the ground from his hopping position, the player so struck is chased by the others into the den, and he then becomes the Fox for another round of the game.—Cork (Miss Keane).
Halliwell (Nursery Rhymes, p. 228) describes the game in practically the same manner, but adds that when the Fox is coming out he says—
The Fox gives warning It's a cold and frosty morning, after which he is at liberty to hop out and use his handkerchief.
(b) This game is alluded to in Soliman and Perseda, 1599; Florio, p. 480; Herrick, i. 176. See Halliwell's Dictionary. Professor Mayor communicated to the Gentleman1 s Magazine of 1848 (ii.), p. 147, the following early allusions to the game from old dictionaries :—
Gouldman, London, MDCLXIV. —"Ascoiiasmus, Empusae ludus: a kind of play wherein boys lift up one leg and hop with the other, where they beat one another with bladders tied to the end of strings. Fox to thy hole."
Holyoke, MDCLXXVII. —" Empusa. irapa to hi irohi^uvf quod uno incedat pede. Hence empusam agere is used for a play, hopping on one leg; with us, Fox to his hole."
Id. "Ascoiiasmus. A kind of play that children use when they hop on one leg, called Fox to thy hole."
Cambridge Diet. MDCXCIII. — "Ascot. A kind of play wherein boys hopping on one leg beat one another with gloves or pieces of leather, and is called Fox to thy hole."
Coles, 7th ed. 1711.—"Ascot. The play called Fox to the |
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