inst a wall or post, with his head resting upon them. One
after another his fellows come up unnamed behind him, laying hands on
his back; and the rhyme is repeated by all in chorus:--

Launchman, launchman, lo,
Where shall this poor Scotchman go?
Will he gang east, or will he gang west,
Or will he gang to the hoodiecraw's nest?

The "hoodiecraw's nest" is the space between the blindfolded one's feet
and the wall. When all have been sent to different places around, he who
is "it" removes the bandage from his eyes; and when all are ready he
gives the call--"Het rowes and butter cakes!" when all rush back to the
spot whence despatched. The last to arrive is "it;" and the game goes on
as before. Where played as "Hickety, Bickety," the rhyme is:--

Hickety, bickety, pease scone,
Where shall this poor Scotchman gang?
Will he gang east, or will he gang west;
Or will he gang to the craw's nest?

* * * * *

"~Queen Mary.~" In this game the rhyme goes:--

Queen Mary, Queen Mary, my age is sixteen,
My father's a farmer on yonder green,
With plenty of money to dress me fu' braw,
But nae bonnie laddie will tak' me awa'.
One morning I rose, and I looked in the glass,
Says I to myself I'm a handsome young lass;
My hands by my side and I gave a ha! ha!
Yet there's nae bonnie laddie will tak' me awa'.

It is played by girls only, who stand in a row, with one in front alone
to begin with, who sings the verses, and chooses another from the line.
The two then join hands and advance and retire, repeating together the
verses, with suitable action, as the one had done before alone. At the
close they select a third from the line; and the game proceeds thus
until all are taken over.

* * * * *

"~Whuppity Scoorie~," though a game peculiar to Lanark, and to the boys
of Lanark, and played only once a year, is yet worth mentioning. Its
origin, like so many of the Lanark celebrations, is lost in the mists of
antiquity, nevertheless, it is still regularly played, and creates a
sensation on its annual recurrence, affecting the old scarcely less than
the young in the community. From the month of October till the month of
February, inclusive, the bells in the Parish Church steeple there cease
to ring at six o'clock in the evening, but resume on the first day of
March. At the first peal of the bell then the children start and march
three times ro