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: