Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 5 1887.djvu/64

56 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 doll's 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 (or. In the cat's belly). 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.

.

The children form a ring around one of the party, who sits in the middle, and says:

Then those in the circle dance round her, singing:

Or,

This is repeated three times with the refrain, "On a cold," &c., after which the dancing and singing cease, and the child is asked, "Sugar, sweet, or vinegar, sour?" Her answer is always taken in a contrary