Page:Cornish feasts and folk-lore.djvu/195

 Cornish Games. 183 M. Where, child ! where, child ! have you been all the day ? C. Up to granny's. M. What have you been doing there ? The answer to this is often "Washing dolls' clothes," but anything may be mentioned. M. What did she give you ? The reply is again left to the child's fancy. M. Where's my share .'' C. The cat ate it. What's in that box, mother? M. Twopence, my child. C. What for, mother } M. To buy a stick to beat you, and a rope to hang you, my child. The child at this tries to snatch at the box, the mother chases her until she has caught her (when there are several children, until she has caught one), she then pretends to beat her, and puts her hands around her neck as if she were going to hang her. Here I sit on a cold green Bank. The children form a ring around one of the party, who sits in the middle, and says : " Here I sit on a cold green bank, On a cold and frosty morning." Then those in the circle dance round her, singing : "We'll send a young man (or woman) to take you away. To take you away, to take you away ; We'll send a young man to take you away. On a cold and frosty morning." Child. "Pray tell me what his name shall be?" Or, "Pray, whom will you send to take me away?" Circle. "We'll send Mr. to take you away." This is repeated three times with the refrain, "On a cold," etc. after which the dancing and singing cease, and the child is asked.