A boisterous game, played by girls, especially favoured in Paddington and Marylebone.
"Mother, buy me a milking can, A, I, O.
Where's the money to come from, A, I, O?
Sell my father's feather bed.
Where must your father sleep?
Sleep in the boys' bed.
Where will the boys sleep?
Sleep in the cradle.
Where will the baby sleep?
Sleep in the thimble.
What shall I sew with?
Sew with the poker.
Suppose I burn myself?
Serve you right."
At the time of saying "serve you right" all the children scamper away from the girl who acts the part of mother. It is little more than a mild reproof on the over-indulgent mother who would sell or give anything to satisfy the fancies of her children, and the "serve you right" is a girl's idea of what a foolish mother deserves—less impudent than corrective.
The town and country boys' game of
"Bell horses, bell horses, what time of day,
One o'clock, two o'clock, three and away,"
comes into fashion with all the reckless frivolity of early years, when the old English festivities of Maying take place, reminding one of the old custom of bringing the May-pole from the neighbouring woods, when each of the eighty oxen yoked to the May-pole waggon had a nosegay of wild-flowers tied to the horns.
"HERE COMES A POOR SAILOR FROM BOTANY BAY."
"Here comes a poor sailor from Botany Bay;
Pray, what are you going to give him to-day?"
is played as a preliminary game to decide who shall join sides in the coming tug-of-war.