Daily Yellowstone journal., 1891-12-16

being preferred. The shoemaker of the
village is consequently an almost revered
parsonage with all Cornish boys. a
"waxed end" drawn through the loaded
cob" or shell and held by "A strong knot
completes the cob nut, and you cannot find
a boy in all Cornwall who has not one
ready strung for contest and a pocketful
ready for s%tringing for reserve contln-
gencies.
Then there is always the "cob nutter
champion, To %vanquish, which Is the con
staht effort OF all other boys OF the village.
A lad e%nvious of his honors will sidle up 10
this champion with:
LESS ha' a 20 aw cob nuts
Yes. thee's a mind to- is the rejolnder,
and at il they 20, squatting wherever the
spirit Of battle Overcomes them. Ties Hre
drawn for first crack" The loser throws
his hat upon the ground aud lays his cob
nut in a little hollow on its top. Then tine
''cobber,' or striker, holding his cob Ice
tween the ends of the fingers Of his left
hand and the end of the attached waNel
end ia his right, after many feiuts, motions
and sights brings hi, cob with almost
the force of "a bullet upon his opponent.
one OF the other is seated or broken. IT.
is turn and turn bout. Generally one Cd.
the lads mas hl- entire stock of reserve cuu-
destroyed. The victor dryly remarks:
"Wa~- him uu now
"Here, my son, artcu't through. Wait q
minute. wu-t D,..
He rushe- TO % friend for another supply
with:
"Hsre, Jack. lend us One o. tina cob nuts
wu-t ee."
''Wa-- q matter vitaH."
E- -moraeu al . .em-. III thee- give
me thine IIl seat &C.,"
And -1 this Cornish game Of c.h us.-
has gone 90 since good King Arthur
time.
Another game ur rl-fim- Of C.ru.-.
boys I~ the "Lur- U.lt. al--.a.. from
but bearing some r.-.uu.tuHy rl t..
"Hlre aud Hounds e..-. -. famous v.r.
English boys ar Rugby and e.--varr.
Moonlight nights are selected for this
sturdy and often -reN-1me sport. .
leader j. chosen hy t4r following caur
in- ont rhyme, heard every where au.u-
Cornish boys and girls:
I-rc. ore. i-sry. chen.
Eat a bone, Cr..s Cd bone, ten or eleven;
spin, span, must .a done.
Three times seven are tHslty-alg-p-l-t-ou-
He i- given s --t-- of -ur. counted aloud.
He Lead -.. overs into every weir.
and -nu-r.. . .E deserted mIus-.
throu-l r rl eytryw here i
daring a cam take his owu
srrUu- ..-- .. .Iier" every night
until Del. -".. s.lI.ug capture
when Pie ..as ouc process Is
repeated
"Kaos day 'He happ.e-t days
of the yea. ..- Lords of the
msuHr- tH-HF. "a parks
one dar off .. H... Pop
WuUIt-f.. .H..- ..H.
their parIJ. 'tls a.tA
rooS-, tines r. .-h .
ests as only lsE- r... %. Do
In away great q. a,.,.y- q .evcn nuts ia.
winter freside cheer. Be-.d-- ,.. youu-
rocks make capital pies. an. p boz
home from the days glorious oulIuG ,o
what l. 10 them one Of the grandest feast.
of the year.
Among the forbidden. dangerous and
therefore most priced delights Of Cornish
boys are blush beating" aud the starting
hunt The former Is "a mild form Of pOaCh-
ing amougth copse woods and fir forests ~
the demesnes. Greatcoats, lanterns ami
clubs are the only outfit required. Black
birds and craybirds-bOth Of which make
famous pies-are taken. They are knocked
from their perches 10y well directed blows.
and the more expert bush beaters will take
"A bird from its perch with his hand, Kill
ing 10 before IL can make an cutlery.
The Startling hunt has its grewSome
and dOleful features. During the winter
storms thousands Of starliugs Will repair
az night 20 the shelter of the old Norman
tower Of each parish church. The boys
know this. some one Of them Is "a mem
Der Of the change ringers, is q choir boy,
or j. 100 some way situated so be can secure
the church key. IL i- perIluu- and gh0-'.y
business, climbing mp there among the
bells. But they DO DO, taking along with
them sacks and baskets for their game
and any material with which they can
cover the stone shutters against the exit o.
the birds. Then the slaughter begins
The starliugs shrek and clamor even
above the bowling of the storm, frequently
tearing the m~arauder.' hands and faces
fr.ghtfu.ly in their mad efforts 10 escape.
But not one j. left alive, and / have known
Of six bushels Of these hapless starling-
being thus taken in one night.
There arr. many other ways and occasions
whereby Cornish boys lind rude and hearty
pastime. Christmas is a feast day pure
aud 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 won
drOu. zest. In Whitsun' week come the
"vagrom men" with their wild beast shows
from London, and from an immemoriGI
custom an the lads go out for miles with
cudgels and horns to escort the "vagrOms'
into the village. Then there are Taking
sunday 40 Clowance park, and Mazard
fair at Praze, and Furry day az Hel.ton,
and the great fires Of st. johns day, when
the old pagan blood asserts itself and leaps
in their veins as they jump through the
blazing rings OF dance with lighted torches
harisg and flaming above their heads.
But in time the working days begin.
The boys are at once installed rs fathers
labbots, =" or helpers, in the mines. They
bring swabsticks and water for swabbing
the drill holes; take the dulled drills above
ground to the blacksmith shops for sharp
ening, and return them; bring the
"croust' or lunch to their fathers when
the touch nipe" or rest and bit Of food