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"I Dree l Droppit It "
calls for a mixture of the sexes, and when the numbers are even—or as
nearly as chance affords--the players are ranged in a ring, a boy and
girl alternately facing inwards with a space between each. The one who
is "chapped out"—say it is a girl—goes tripping round the others' backs,
with a handkerchief dangling in her hand, singing the while:—
I sent a letter to my
love,
And by the way I droppit it,
I dree, I dree, I droppit it,
I dree, I dree, I droppit it
I sent a letter to my love,
And by the way I droppit it.
There's a wee, wee doggie
in our cot-neuk,
He'll no bite you, he'll no bite you
There's a wee, wee dogie in our cot-neuk,
He'll no bite you—nor you—nor you—nor you.
and so forth, until at
length she drops the handkerchief stealthily at the heel of one of the
little boys, saving "but you," and bolts round this player, round that
one, in here, out there, and away! And the boy, who has first to pick up
the handkerchief, gives chase, pursuing her exactly in the course which
she may choose to take. If he makes a wrong turn, by that fact he is
"out," and must take her place; but if he pursues her correctly and
overtakes her, he may claim a kiss for his pains, for which heroism he
will receive the applause of the crowd; and the girl—suffused with
blushes, as it may be—must try and try again—indeed, try until she
proves herself more agile than her pursuer, whose, of course, she is
always free to choose. When at length—as come it will some time —her
effort is successful, she takes her victim's place in the ring. and he
takes hers on the outside of it. And thus the play may go on—boy and
girl about—as long; as time and energy will permit. |
