The Traditional Children's Games of England Scotland
& Ireland In Dictionary Form - Volume 2

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

	298 TODS AND LAMBS—TOM TIDDLER'S GROUND
	system. The places when taken by one player not being avail­able for another, and the fact of it being known as played on the ground, and not on slates, are both significant indications of the suggested origin. The method of allotting lands by lottery is described in Gomme's Village Community. Mr. Newell, Games, p. 140, records a similar game called "Wheel of Fortune." Tods and Lambs A game played on a perforated board with wooden pins.— Jamieson. The Editor adds that the game is materially the same as the English " Fox and Geese." See " Fox and Geese " (2). Tom Tiddler's Ground A line is drawn on the ground, one player stands behind it. The piece so protected is " Tom Tiddler's ground." The other players stand in a row on the other side. The row breaks and the children run over, calling out, " Here we are on Tom Tiddler's ground, picking up gold and silver." Tom Tiddler catches them, and as they are caught they stand on one side. The last out becomes Tom Tiddler.—Monton, Lancashire (Miss Dendy). Tom Tiddler's Ground is played at Chirbury under the name of" Boney " = Bonaparte ! one boy taking possession of a certain area, and the others trespassing on it, saying, " I am on Boney's ground." If they are caught there, they are put " in prison " till released by a touch from a comrade.—Chirbury {Shropshire Folk-lore, p. 523-524). I'm on Tom Tinker's ground, I'm on Tom Tinker's ground, I'm on Tom Tinker's ground, Picking up gold and silver. —Derbyshire (Folk-lore Journal, i. 386). Northall {Folk Rhymes) gives the following lines, and describes it as played as above, except that Tom Tinder is