The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

GHOST IN THE GRAVEYARD

ONE CHILD WAS THE GHOST AND THE OTHERS WERE VISITORS
TO THE GRAVEYARD. THE VISITORS WOULD GATHER AROUND
ONE SPOT WHILE THE GHOST WENT OUT TO HIDE. THE
VISITORS WOULD CHANT "ONE O'CLOCK, HE ISN'T HERE, TWO
O'CLOCK, HE ISN'T HERE...TWELVE O'CLOCK, HE'S ON HIS
WAY." AT THIS POINT, THE GHOST JUMPPED OUT OF HIDING
AND CHASED THE VISITORS. THE ONE THAT WAS CAUGHT
BECAME THE NEW FOX. (GHOST?) THIS GAME WAS USUALLY
PLAYED AFTER DARK.

Submitter comment: VARIATION: WHAT TIME IS IT, MR. FOX?

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

James Callow Keyword(s): COUNTING

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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DUCK, DUCK, GRAY DUCK

ALL CHILDREN (SQUAT POSITION) ARE IN A CIRCLE. ONE
PERSON WALKS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE CIRCLE AND TAPS
EACH ONE ON THE HEAD, SAYING, "DUCK" ON EACH ONE.
WHEN HE HITS A HEAD AND SAYS "GRAY DUCK" THAT PERSON
MUST CHASE THE TAPPER. THE TAPPER MUST GET TO THE
OTHER CHILD'S POSITION IN THE CIRCLE AND SQUAT
BEFORE HE IS CAUGHT. IF HE IS CAUGHT, HE NOW TAKES
THE PLACE OF THE ONE OUTSIDE THE CIRCLE AND THE GAME
CONTINUES.

Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO

James Callow Keyword(s): COLOR: GRAY ; CONFIGURATION: CIRCLE

Date learned: 00001964-1965

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PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH

THIS IS AN ACTING GAME. THE PLAYERS DIVIDE UP INTO
TWO SIDES AND DETERMINE WHICH SIDE WILL GO FIRST.
THAT SIDE DECIDES ON SOME PANTOMIME THAT THEY WILL
PERFORM. THEY THEN GO OVER TO THE OTHER SIDE AND
RECITE THIS RHYME:
(SIDE ONE IS THE ACTING SIDE):
1. HERE WE COME.
2. WHERE FROM?
1: PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH.
2. WHAT'S YOUR TRADE?
1. LEMONADE.
2. SHOW US SOME.
SIDE ONE THEN ACTS OUT ITS PANTOMIME. AS SOON AS
SOMEONE ON SIDE TWO KNOWS WHAT SIDE ONE IS DOING,
HE SHOUTS IT OUT. IF IT IS RIGHT, SIDE TWO CHASES SIDE
ONE BACK TO ITS GOAL. EVERY PERSON IT CATCHES GOES
OVER TO SIDE TWO. THEN IT IS SIDE TWO'S TURN. IF
THEY DON'T CATCH ANYONE, SIDE ONE TAKES ANOTHER TURN.
THIS CONTINUES UNTIL THERE IS ONLY ONE SIDE LEFT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; JACKSON

James Callow Keyword(s): DIALOGUE ; DRINK: LEMONADE ; RHYME: AABCCA

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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GOING DOWNTOWN

GAME STARTS WITH A LINE OF PLAYERS. LEADER SAYS:
"I'M GOING DOWNTOWN TO SMOKE MY PIPE,
I WON'T BE BACK 'TIL SATURDAY NIGHT.
I'LL WHIP YOU BLAC, I'LL WHIP YOU BLUE,
ESPECIALLY YOU MY DAUGHTER SUE.
(THE LEADER CHOOSES SOMEONE TO BE SUE).
THE LEADER THEN LEAVES THE GROUP. A WITCH COMES
ALONG AND GIVES EACH MEMBER OF THE GROUP THE NAME
OF A COLOR AND STEALS ONE OF THE MEMBERS (SUE).
THE LEADER RETURNS: "WHERE'S SUE?"
GROUP ANSWERS: "THE WITCH TOOK HER."
THE WITCH RETURNS. THE LEADER CALLS OUT COLORS AND
THE WITCH CHASES THE MEMBER WHO RESPONDS TO HER
GIVEN COLOR. A MEMBER WHO IS NOT CAUGHT BECOMES
THE MOTHER, AND THE GIRL WHO WAS "SUE" IS NOW THE
WITCH.

Submitter comment: THIS GAME HAS MANY VERSIONS IN DIFFERENT NEIGH-
BORHOODS.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; HUNTINGTON WOODS

Date learned: 02-20-1970

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NEW YORK

YOU WOULD CHOOSE SIDES AND DECIDE WHAT THE OTHER SIDE
SHOULD DO. ONE SIDE WOULD SAY: HERE WE COME.
THE OTHER WOULD ASK: WHERE FROM? ANSWER: NEW YORK.
QUESTION: WHAT'S YOUR TRADE? ANSWER: ICE CREAM AND
LEMONADE. QUESTION: GIVE ME YOUR INITIAL AND SET
TO WORK.
THEN THE OPPOSING SIDE WOULD GIVE THE INITIALS OF THE
TASK THEY HAD CHOSEN FOR THE OTHER SIDE TO DO; FOR
EXAMPLE, "SSFSS" FOR "SEWING SOCKS FOR SEVEN SISTERS."
THEN THEY WOULD PANTOMIME THE ACTION AND THAT
OPPOSING SIDE WOULD HAVE TO GUESS WHAT IT WAS. WHEN
THEY GUESSED IT RIGHT, THE PANTOMIMING TEAM WOULD ALL
RUN; WHOEVER WAS CAUGHT WOULD HAVE TO GO OVER TO THE
OTHER SIDE.

Submitter comment: PLAYED WHEN SHE WAS A GIRL IN GLOUCESTER, OHIO.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; OHIO ; DETROIT ; GLOUCESTER

James Callow Keyword(s): ALLITERATION ; DIALOGUE ; RHYME: AABCCD

Date learned: 05-11-1965

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Hide and Seek

Last night, night before, twenty-four men at my door. Let them in, knocked them down with a bowling pin.

Count to ten.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE

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