M. Can’t I wrap them up in a sheet?
W. The sheet is too white.
M. Can’t I ride up in a carriage?
W. You would break the stairs down.
The children then burst out from behind the Witch and they and the Mother run after her, crying out, “Burn the Old Witch.” They continue chasing the Witch till she is caught, and the child who succeeds in catching her, takes the part of the Witch in the next game.—Dartmouth (Miss Kimber).
The children choose from their party an Old Witch (who is supposed to hide herself) and a Mother. The other players are the daughters, and are called by the names of the week. The Mother says that she is going to market, and will bring home for each the thing that she most wishes for. Upon this they all name something. Then, after telling them upon no account to allow any one to come into the house, she gives her children in charge of her eldest daughter, Sunday, and goes away. In a moment, the Witch makes her appearance, and asks to borrow some trifle.
Sunday at first refuses, but, after a short parley, goes into the next room to fetch the required article. In her absence the Witch steals the youngest of the children (Saturday), and runs off with her. Sunday, on her return, seeing that the Witch has left, thinks there must be something wrong, and counts the children, saying, “Monday, Tuesday,” &c., until she comes to Saturday, who is missing. She then pretends to cry, wrings her hands, and sobs out—“Mother will beat me when she comes home.”
On the Mother’s return, she, too, counts the children, and finding Saturday gone, asks Sunday where she is. Sunday answers, “Oh, mother! an Old Witch called, and asked to borrow ——, and, whilst I was fetching it, she ran off with Saturday.” The Mother scolds and beats her, tells her to be more careful in the future, and again sets off for the market. This is repeated until all the children but Sunday have been stolen. Then the Mother and Sunday, hand in hand, go off to search for them. They meet the Old Witch, who has them all crouching down in a line behind her.
Mother. Have you seen my children?
Old Witch. Yes! I think by Eastgate.