No. 156 Tom Tidler’s Ground
A boundary line marks out “Tom Tidler’s Ground,” on which stands a player. The rest intrude on the forbidden precinct, but if touched must take his place. The words of the challenge are—
I’m on Tommy Tidler’s ground,
Picking up gold and silver.
Or, dialectically, “Tickler’s not at home.”
This Eldorado has many different local names—Van Diemen’s land in Connecticut; Dixie’s land in New York, an expression which antedates the war; Judge Jeffrey’s land, in Devonshire, England; Golden Pavement, in Philadelphia.
In the Southern States, “Tommy Tidler’s Ground” is the name of the spot where the rainbow rests, and where it is supposed by children that a pot of gold is buried. A highly intelligent Georgian assures us that as a boy he has often searched for the treasure, but could never find the spot where the rainbow touched the ground.
“Tommy Tidler” represents the jealous fairy or dwarf who attacks any who approach his treasure.