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STAG |
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reached the den. The great aim of those "out" was to get into the den unseen and untouched. If all the players got in, then the catcher had to try again; but when all were caught (which was seldom or ever), the last one caught was catcher for the next game. When one player was touched by the catcher he or she had to remain in the den till the rest were all in.—Biggar (Wm. Ballantyne).
Mr. Ballantyne says, " This game usually ended in a promiscuous ' catching' and l touching' game, each lad trying to catch the lass he liked best, and some lads, for the fun of the thing, would try and get a particular girl first, her wishes and will not being considered in the matter ; and it seemed to be an unwritten law among them for the lass to ' gang wi' the lad that catched her first,' yet I have known lassies take this opportunity to favour the lad they preferred. It was the correct thing for the people to visit each other's farms in rotation to play ' the stacks.'" This game was played when all the crops of grain were in the stackyard under thack and rape (?nape). Then it was customary for the servant lads and lasses of neighbours' "ferm toons" to gather together and play at this game. Mr. Ballantyne considers it was the third of three festivals formerly held at the ingathering of the crops.
See " Barley Break."
Stag
A boys' game. One boy issues forth and tries to " tig" another, previously saying this nominy, or the first two lines—
Stag, stag arony,
Ma' dog's bony,
Them 'at Aw catch
'111 ha' to go wi' me. When one boy is tigged (or " tug") the two issue forth hand in hand, and when more, all hand in hand. The other players have the privilege of breaking the chain, and if they succeed the parties forming it are liable to be ridden back to the den. At Lepton, where the game was publicly pla) ed, the boundaries wrere " Billy tour end, Penny Haas end, and I' Horsin step." So played in 1810, and is still.—Easther's Almondbury Glossary. In the Sheffield district it is called " Rag Stag," and is |
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