MUMBLY-PEG, ROOT!! ROOT!!

By: Joe Mayfield

When thinking back, about days gone by, we can recall the different games we played as young’uns; it may have been marbles, played with “Cat-eyes and logrollers, dodge ball, or the more manly game of “Mumbly-Peg.”

During the 1950’s this was a very important game for eight to ten year old boys, for several reasons. One reason, most boys were not allowed to have a pocket knife until they were seven or eight years old, and once they had entered the manly world, naturally it became important to prove their proficiency and skill.

Another reason, hand and eye co-ordination, coupled with the ability to show off your knifeman ship, or bragging rights. During this time we were careful to take care of our cherished cutting instruments, we also used them to whittle, but did not have the vision or forethought to consider that throwing our precious knife blades into the ground could harm the point, which did occasionally take place, should the blade point hit a rock just beneath the surface of the earth.

While in Mrs. Cagle’s third grade class, (See picture, 1955-56) once the bell rang, indicating PE, my friends Gary Nails, “Nailsie,” Allen Dillard, Louis Evens, and Paul Ray Owens and I, ran for “Our” part of the playground, where the ground was soft. Mrs. Cagle would always walk by to check on us, as we went through the different steps of the game, she’d smile, as though she was sharing in our competition. Mumbly-Peg is a game of skill, played by boys of all ages, even as a soldier, we played the game using our combat knifes, when we had some free time.

Although the rules may vary, the basic rules are as follows: The first player attempts to go through all the steps without making a mistake. Should the first player fail to have a good stick, then the second person takes their turn, then the same with the third player, and so forth. In order to have a good “Stick” the blade of the knife must be in the ground, with the handle standing upright enough that two fingers, one on top of the other, can be placed between the ground and the handle. First player, while standing, (Special note: rules may be changed so the players perform all moves while on their knees) makes a fist with the right hand, with the back of the hand downward, lay the knife across the fingers, with the blade pointing out, (to the right) then in a semicircle motion, bring the right hand over to the left so that the point of the blade goes downward into the ground. The second play is the same move, only with the left hand.

Third play: while standing, take the point of the blade between the thumb and first finger of the right hand, and then flip it with a jerk so the knife turns once, in a circle, in the air, landing with the point going into the ground. The next move is performed the same way, but with the left hand.

Fifth play: hold the knife blade between the thumb and first finger, of the right hand, as with the previous play, then cross the right arm so the handle of the knife touches the left earlobe, crossing the left arm and hold the right earlobe with the thumb and first finger of the left hand, then with the right hand flip the knife, so that it makes one or two turns in the air, before striking the ground, point down. The next move is performed the same, except with the left hand.

Seventh play: while holding the knife blade by the point as with the other moves, using the right hand, bring the handle up to the nose, then using the right hand; flip the blade in a downward motion, so that the knife blade lands point down into the ground. Next move is the same, except with the other hand.

Eighth play: while holding the blade between the thumb and first finger of the right hand, bring the handle of the knife up to the right eye, then in a downward motion; flip the blade so that the point lands in a downward position sticking up in the ground. Next move is the same, except with the left hand.

Tenth play: place the left knee onto the ground, leaving the right knee sticking upward, place the point of the blade onto the right knee while using the first finger of the right hand to hold the handle in place. Then, using the right hand, flip the knife in a rotating motion, so that the blade lands in a downward position, sticking up in the ground. Next move is the same, except with the left hand.

There are other moves that may be added, however, these are the more common and most used plays, and as stated above, once a player misses, then the next player takes their turn. Once a player completes each of these plays, he wins, and the looser is whichever player has the least plays completed. The rules call for the winner to use a “kitchen type match,” which is to be hammered into the ground using the handle of the knife. While holding the knife blade, the winner uses the handle to hit the match three times, then the winner must close his eyes and attempts to hit the match three more times. Winners always try to drive the match as far into the ground as possible, once this has been completed, the looser must then place his mouth over the match, and while using his teeth, chew away any grass, or dirt if necessary, and continue until he pulls the match from the ground with his teeth. As the looser works to pull the “PEG” out of the ground, the other two players are chanting, “ROOT, ROOT, ROOT, ROOT.” While the looser mumbles.

By: Joe Mayfield

Published U.S. Legacies April 2005

Good Ole Days