"CODICIL" CHILDHOOD GAMES

While the little boy of Broome Co. with growing aspirations for manhood wants his lines, his whip and his express wagon, the shepherds’ children played sheep, represented usually with small potatoes spread out in a miniature idea of how they ought to appear feeding. The dog was represented by, say, a piece of old hoop eight inches long and it had to come in play if any of them were straying over the march (line) and was sent away with all the usual directions given by the shepherd in field work and then they had to be gathered and all brought in the boughts (coral pens.)

Perhaps it is shearing, or weaning the lambs. In this case the smaller potatoes represent the lambs, and all being returned to the hill in two flocks, it took the most unceasing care and attention to keep them from getting together; so you see the tender care, the assumed responsibility at all the characteristics of the shepherd make-up commences with his life.

The foot-ball was common on the school green the ball touched with nothing but the feet. There was always more or less pushing but the game had no resemblance to the football of to-day.

The hand ball required more room as the ball was propelled to the goal by being thrown or carried in hand if not touched by an opponent. This game was sometimes played by one Parish against another. Round the coasts the play was boats; every boy would rig a sloop and set it afloat on a little piece of water, and the larger ones could steer a skiff over a wave like an old fisherman.

In Arran, the school game was shin-?y (Golf) and sometime illicit distilleries was played, two or three representing the revenue officers, and when they found a still, those engaged were run down, captured, tried and put in prison, but frequently escaped by strategy of their friends.*

ROBERT HOGG