ur gates and let me through, etc.

_Answer._--Not without a beck and a boo.

_Reply._--There's a beck and there's a boo,
Open your gates and let me through.

A struggle ensues to break through each other's lines, and reach a fixed
goal on either side--the first to arrive being the victors.

* * * * *

"~Glasgow Ships~" is a simple but pretty game. All join hands, forming a
ring, and, moving round, sing:--

Glasgow ships come sailing in,
Come sailing in, come sailing in;
Glasgow ships come sailing in
On a fine summer morning.

You daurna set your fit upon,
Your fit upon, your fit upon;
You daurna set your fit upon,
Or Gentle John will kiss you.

Three times will kiss you;
Four times will bless you;
Five times butter and bread
Upon a silver salver.

Who shall we send it to?
Send it to, send it to;
Who shall we send it to?
To Mrs. [Thomson's] daughter.

Take her by the lily-white hand,
Lead her o'er the water;
Give her kisses, one, two, three,
She's the favourite daughter.

Braw news is come to town,
Braw news is carried;
Braw news is come to town,
[Maggie Thomson's] married.

First she got the kail-pot,
Syne she got the ladle;
Syne she got a dainty wean,
And syne she got a cradle.

The girl named turns her back to the centre of the ring, and the game is
resumed. When all in like manner have been named and have turned, the
"soo's race" ensues: a hurry-scurry round--which continues until some
one falls, and the game ends by all tumbling in a confused heap.

* * * * *

"~Airlie's Green~," played by boys and girls alike, has perhaps had its
greatest vogue in Strathmore. A space is set apart for the "green," upon
which he, or she, who is "Airlie" takes his, or her, stand. The play
begins by the crowd encroaching on the "green," when all but "Airlie"
sing:--

I set my fit on Airlie's green,
And Airlie canna tak' me:
I canna get time to steer my brose
For Airlie trying to catch me.

"Airlie's" object is to "tig" one within the boundary. The player
touched takes his, or her, place, and the game may proceed thus as long
as desired.

* * * * *

"~Het Rowes and Butter Cakes~," in some places called "Hickety,
Bickety," is a purely boy's game. One stands with his eyes bandaged, and
his hands aga