"PRAY, MR. FOX, WHAT TIME IS IT?"
A child stands on a hillock, or slightly elevated ground. A party of children, hand in hand, approach him whom they denominate Mr. Fox with the question—
"Pray, Mr. Fox, what time is it?"
"One o'clock," answers Mr. Fox.
They are safe and fall back to their den.
Making another venture they repeat the question.
"Twelve o'clock," shouts Mr. Fox, at the same time bounding towards them and scattering them in all directions. Those he can catch before they get back to their den are his prisoners, and the game is played until one remains, who of course becomes the fox.
"Twelve o'clock," it is to be observed, is the sly, foxy answer to the question, "Pray, Mr. Fox, what time is it?"
"One," "two," "three," "four," etc., are but evasive replies.