The record-union., 1891-12-12

once having dropped the rlght foot. Inc
little fellows become very expert in this
difficult feat.
"Cob-nutting'' is an all-the-year-roun
sport. Much of its zest comes from the
dangers in securing the nuts necessary
for the years supply. Common hazel
nuts are used. These are got at great
risks from the demesne copses and forest
edges. The prizes, with the 'shucks"
still on, are stored away in the attic and
dried with the greatest care, SO that the
nut fiber becomes hard and horny. The
hazel nuts are allowed to literally fall out
of their sheaths. All the round, smooth,
ripe, shiny nuts are sacredly preserved
for 'cob-nutting." It is often Cornish
boys entire winter employment and di-
version to prepare the cob nuts for the
rest of the years battle for superiority
with his fellows. The sport takes it's
name from the tcob'' or shell Of the nut.
The cob nuts are prepared by boring q
hole through each side of the nut, remov-
ing the kernel, and filling the hollow shell
with lead or shoemaker's wax, the latter
being preferred. The shoemaker OF the
village is consequently an almost reyered
parsonage with all Cornish boys. A
'waxed-end' drawn through the loaded
''cob" or shell, and held by strong
knot, completes the cob-nut; and you
cannot find boy in all Cornwall who
has not one ready strung for contest, and
a pocketful ready for stringing for reserve
contingencies.
Then there is always the "cob-nutter'
champion to Yanquish, which is the con-
slant effort of all other boys of the village.
A lad envious of his nonors will sidle up
to this champion with:
Less ha' ago aw cob-nuts.'
50 es, thee's mind to- is the rejoin
der; and at it they go, squatting wherever
the spirit of battle overcomes them. Ties
are drawn for first crack" The looser
throws his hat upOn the ground, and lays
Then the ''cobber," or striker, holding
his cob between the ends of the fingers of
his left hand and the end of the attached
waxed-end in his right, after many
feints, motions and ''sfghts, brings his
cob with almost the force of bullet upon
his opponents. One or the other is
''scated' or broken. 1t is turn and turn
about. Generally one of the lads has his
entire stock of reserve cobs destroyed.
The victor drily remarks:
'WaSs think of un now?"
Here, my son, arten't through. Wait
minute, wuSt ee ?''
He rushes to friend for another sup
ply with:
Here, Jack, lend us one o. tha cob
nuts, wust ee?''
"Wass matter witha ?"
"Ees smocken all items. Eff thees give
me thine, rll scat ee.,''
And so this Cornish game of cob-nuts
has gone on since good King Arthur's
time.
Another game of pastime of Cornish
boys is the Long Hunt distinct from
but bearing some resemblance to the
Hare and Hounds chase so famous
with English boys at Rugby and else
where. Moonlight nights are selected
for this sturdy and often grewsome sport.
A leader is chosen by the following
contingent rhyme, heard everywhere
among Cornish boys and girls
Ire, ore, igery, chen,
Eat bone, crack a bone, ten or eleven:
Spin, span, must be done,
Three times seven are tWenty-one-o-u-t-
out
He is given start of 100. counted
abound. He leads the followers into every
weird and ghostly lane, by deserted
mines. through graveyards and every
where his daring and ingenuity can take
his own strong legs. He is ''leader' every
night until he succeeds in evading capt
ure, when the same contingent process
is repeated.
''Kook Day. is one of the happiest days
of the year for Cornish boys. Lords of
manors throw open their forests and
parks one day of each year. in the au-
tumn, for the wholesale slaughter of
rocks. Aside from their participation in
this battle with the rocks, they enjoy
these grand English forests as only bows
can, and succeed in carrying away great
quantities of beechnutS for winter fire.
side cheer. Besides. the young rocks
make capital pies, and the boys go home
from this days glorious outing to what is
to them one of the grandest feasts of the
year.
Among the forbidden, dangerous, and
therefore most priced delights of Cornish
OF shIlcl Il ~,
ling hunt" The former is mild form of
poachlng among the copse woods and fir
forests of the demesnes. Great coats,
lanterns and clubs are the only outfit re-
quired, Blackbirds and gray birds, both
OF which make famous pies, are taken
They are knocked from their perches by
Well-directed blows, and the more expert
bush-beater will take bird from its
perch with his hand, killing it before it
can make an outcry.
The startling hunt" has its grewsome
and doleful features. During the winter
storms thousands of starlings will repair
at night to the shelter OF the old Norman
tower OF each parish church. The boys
know this. Some one Of them is a mem
ber of the change-ringers, is choir-boy.
or is in some way situated so that he can
secure the church key. 1t is perilous and
ghoStly business, climbing UP there
among the bells. But they do it, taking
along with them sacks and baskets for
their game, and any material with which
they can cover the stone shutters against
the exit of the birds. Then the slaughter
begins. The starlings shrek and clamor
even above the bowling Of the storm, fire.
quently tearing the marauders' hands and
faces frightfully in their mad efforts to
escape. But not one is left alive, and |
have known of six bushels of these hap
less starlings being thus taken in one
night.
There are many other ways and occa-
sions whereby Cornish boys find rude
and hearty pastime. Christmas is a FEAST
day pure and simple. The Christmas
bun is then their acme Of delight. Each
parish also has its annual parish feast
day, when friends from other parishes
come, and all the Cornish games are
played with wondrous zest. In Whitsun'
week come the 'yagrom men" with their
wild beast shows from London, and from
ar immemorial custom all the lads 90
out for miles with cudgels and horns to
escort the "yagroms' into the village.
Then there are Taking Sunday'' at
Clowance Park, and Mazard Fair at
PraZe, and Furry Day at Helston. and
the great fires of ST. Johns Dav. when
the old pagan blood asserts itself and
leaps in their veins as they Jump through
the blazing rings or dance with lighted
torches flaring and flaming above their
heads.
But in time the working days begin.
The boys are at once installed as fathers
''labbots," or helpers, in the mines. Thew
bring swab-sticks and water for swab-
bing the drill-holes; take the dulled
drills above ground to the blacksmith
shops for sharpening and return them:
bring the "croust" or lunch to their
fathers when the "touch-pipe" or rest
and bit of food are taken; help shovel
and wheel ore to the ''sl1ip;' learn to
twist the drip and then to strike the
drill" and finally have become full
fiedged miners that "knaw. TIM Dnr-
inc. tlci. ..I, I.Lc... d.. =