Button, Button

Any number of children can play this game.
One child goes out of the room while all of the rest except
one sit down in a straight line with their hands flattened
together as if in prayer.
The player not in line will then place a button between his
flattened palms. In turn he will go to each child in the
line and slide his hands between their clasped hands.
(It resembles a knife cutting between two slices of bread).
He repeats this action to every player, leaving the button
secretly between the palms of one of them.
Once each child has been given a turn, the first child who
had left the room is called back. All the players in unison
sing, " Button, Button, whose got the button?"
He then must choose which child has the button, while they
all try to either pretend that they have it, or keep a
straight face.
The guesser is given a predetermined number of chances to
guess correctly, depending on the number of players.
If he guesses correctly, the player concealing the button
becomes the new guesser, and the old guesser becomes the
leader who passes the button.
If, however, he does not guess in the number of tries given
to him, he remains the guesser until he successfully does so.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HEMLOCK

Date learned: 00001970S