The German usage is nearly the same, the question being "Lord judge, what is your sentence, what shall he do whose pledge I have in my hand?"
The following are examples of old penalties, which usually involved kissing, with infinite variety of method:
To go to Rome. To kiss every girl in the room.
Flat-irons. The lad and lass lay their hands on the wall and kiss.
Measuring yards of tape, and cutting it off. To kiss with the arms extended.
"I'm in the well." "How many fathoms deep?" (Any number is answered.)
"Whom will you have to take you out?" (Some one of the company is named.) Each fathom represents a kiss.
No. 89.
Old Mother Tipsy-toe.
This is a very popular game with girls in various parts of the United States.
The children sit in a row, with the exception of the mother, who comes up and asks each child in turn, "How did you tear your dress?" After hearing their various excuses, she again traverses the row, indicating the part of the dress to be mended, and saying: