(xiii.)—An Old Woman from the Wood.[1]
This is also called “Dumb Motions.”
Here again the children form themselves into two ranks, as in the last game.
The first rank says:
“Here comes an old ’oman from the wood.”
The second party answers:
“What cans’t thee do?”
First Party:
“Do anythin’ ”
Second Party:
“Work away.”
This the children proceed to do, some by pretending to sew, some to wash, some to dig, some to knit, without any instruments to do it with. If the opposite guess what they are doing they change sides.
These last two games, Miss Summers believes, are very old ones, and have been played by several generations in the village of Hazelbury Bryan.
(xiv.) How many Miles to Gandigo?
This is another of the games mentioned in the Yarmouth Register (ante) as having been sent to Mr. Otis by Mr. Barnes. It is played by as many as like standing, two and two, opposite each other, each of them taking with the right hand the right hand of the other; then the two that are the king and queen say or sing:
“How many miles to Gandigo?”
The others answer:
“Eighty-eight, almost or quite.”
The king and queen reply:
“Can I [we] get there by candle-light?”
Chorus:
“Yes, if your legs are long and light.”
- ↑ Called in Sussex “A Man across the Common.”
