DRAW A BUCKET OF WATER
4 to 60 or more players.
Indoors; out of doors.
This game is played in groups of four, generally by girls. Two players face each other, clasping hands at full arm's length. The other two face each other in the same way, with their arms crossing those of the first couple at right angles. Bracing the feet, the couples sway backward and forward, singing the following rhyme:—
Draw a bucket of water,
For my lady's daughter.
One in a rush,
Two in a rush,
Please little girl, bob under the bush.
As the last line is said, the players all raise their arms without unclasping the hands and place them around their companions, who stoop to step inside. They will then be standing in a circle with arms around each other's waists. The game finishes by dancing in this position around in a ring, repeating the verse once more.
The illustration shows in the left-hand group the pulling backward and forward; in the rear (center) group the lifting of hands and stooping under; and in the right-hand group the position for dancing around while repeating the verse.