The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

FINGER GAME

THESE ARE MOTHER'S KNIVES AND FORKS (INTERLOCKED FINGERS
POINTED UP)
THIS IS MOTHER'S TABLE (TURN HANDS SO LOCKED FINGERS POINT
DOWN
THIS IS TEACHER'S LOOKING GLASS (ADD TWO INDEX FINGERS TO
FORM A CIRCLE)
THIS IS BABY'S CRADLE. (ADD TWO SMALL FINGERS POINTED UPWARD
AND ROCK HANDLES--CRADLE FASHION).

Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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FINGER GAME

HERE IS THE CHURCH (FINGERS INTERLOCKED, POINTING DOWN)
HERE IS THE STEEPLE (ADD 2 INDEX FINGERS, POINTING UP TO
FORM THE STEEPLE)
OPEN THE DOORS (FINGERS INTERLOCKED POINTING UPWARDS)
AND YOU HAVE PEOPLE (SAME AS ABOVE)

Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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LONDON BRIDGE IS FALLING DOWN, FALLING DOWN, FALLING DOWN,
LONDON BRIDGE IS FALLING DOWN, MY FAIR LADY.
BUILD IT UP WITH STICKS AND STONES, ETC.
STICKS AND STONES WILL FALL AWAY, ETC.
BUILT IT UP WITH IRON BARS, ETC.
IRON BARS WILL BEND AND BREAK, ETC.
BUILD IT UP WITH PINS AND NEEDLES, ETC.
PINS AND NEEDLES WILL BEND AND BREAK, ETC.
TAKE A KEY AND LOCK HER UP, ETC.
TWO CHILDREN JOIN HANDS TO MAKE THE BRIDGE. THE OTHERS
FORM A SINGLE CIRCLE, PASSING UNDER THE BRIDGE, AND SKIP
AROUND THE CIRCLE. AT THE END OF EACH STANZA, THE
CHILDREN REPRESENTING THE BRIDGE DROP THEIR HANDS AND
CAPTURE WHOEVER IS BETWEEN THEM. THEY ASK "WHAT WILL YOU
PAY, SILVER OR GOLD?" BEFORE EACH STANZA THEY HAVE
SECRETLY AGREED WHICH ONE OF THEM SHALL CAPTURE SILVER,
WHICH GOLD. THE CAPTURED CHILD RESPONDS, AND HE IS TOLD
TO STAND BEHIND THE PERSON WHOSE METAL HE HAS GUESSED.
WHEN EVERYONE HAS BEEN CAPTURED, THERE WILL REMAIN TWO LINES
ONE BEHIND EACH SIDE OF THE BRIDGE, EACH CHILD HOLDING
ON TO THE WAIST OF THE ONE IN FRONT. THE GAME ENDS

Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO

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RING AROUND THE ROSIE,
A POCKET FULL OF POSIES,
ASHES, ASHES,
WE ALL FALL DOWN. (EVERYONE TUMBLES TO THE GROUND)

Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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LUBY LOO

THIS IS A RING GME WITH SONG:
HERE WE GO LUBY LOO
HERE WE GO LUBY LOO
HERE WE GO LUBY LOO
ALL ON A SATURDAY NIGHT.
I PUT MY RIGHT FOOT IN,
I PUT MY RIGHT FOOT OUT,
I GIVE MY RIGHT FOOT A SHAKE, SHAKE, SHAKE,
ANDTURN MYSELF AROUND.

Submitter comment: THIS CONTINUES SUBSTITUTING DIFFERENT BODY PARTS TO SHAKE.

Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO

Date learned: NOT GIVEN

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YOUR NAME FOREVER

HERE IS ONE LEAF RESERVED FOR ME,
FROM ALL THY SWEET MEMORIALS FREE,
AND HERE MY SIMPLE SONG MIGHT TELL
THE FEELINGS THOU MUST GUESS SO WELL
BUT COULD I THUS WITHIN MY MIND,
ONE LITTLE CORNER FIND,
WHERE NO IMPRESSION YET IS SEEN
WHERE NO MEMORIAL YET HAS BEEN
OH, IT SHOULD BE MY SWEETEST CARE
TO WRITE YOUR NAME FOREVER THERE.

Submitter comment: FROM THE AUTOGRAPH BOOK OF THE LATE CLARA MATHES, ENTRIES 1880

Data entry tech comment: ADDED COMMAS WHERE NEEDED AS WELL AS TITLE FOR VERSE.

Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO

Keyword(s): RHYME

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FLORIDA GROWS ORANGES, CALIFORNIA DOES TOO.
BUT IT TOOK OHIO TO GROW A PEACH LIKE YOU.

Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO

Date learned: 10-27-1968

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I LOVE, I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU I DO;
BUT DON'T GET EXCITED, I LOVE MONKIES TOO!

Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO

Date learned: 10-27-1968

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I THOUGHT, I THOUGHT, I THOUGHT IN VAIN AT LAST I THOUGHT I WOULD WRITE MY NAME.

James Callow comment: RDNeedsReview

Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO

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A LINE OR TWO I'LL WRITE FOR YOU
AND END THEM WITH A SIGNATURE
IT'S TRUE THERE'S NEITHER RHYME NOR SENSE
NO AIM AT WIT; AND WRITE NO(N?)SENSE
(SIGNED) SARA FOLEY

Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO

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REMEMBER WELL AND BEAR IN MIND
A TRUE LOVE IS HARD TO FIND.
AND WHEN YOU FIND ONE JUST AS TRUE
NEVER CHANGE THE OLD FOR THE NEW.
(SIGNED) LOUISA KOEHLER (APPR. 1885)

Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO

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THINK NOT OF LIFE TOMORROW,
WITH HAPPINESS FOR MATE,
NOR FROM THE PRESENT BORROW
A THOUGHT DISCONSOLATE.
AND IF YOUR SHARE BE SORROW,
ACCEPT IT SO AND WAIT CC[ I THINK SOMETHING'S MISSING HERE

James Callow comment: I THINK SOMETHING'S MISSING HERE

Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO

Date learned: 00001880S

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THERE IS A DAY OF SUNNY REST
FOR EVERY DARK AND TROUBLED NIGHT,
AND GRIEF MAY BIDE AN EVENING GUEST
BUT JOY SHALL COME WITH EARLY LIGHT.
(SIGNED) MARY FLEMING, JAN. 28, 1881

Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO

Date learned: 00001880S

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THE SAINT THAT WEARS THE BIGGEST CROWN
IN DEEPEST ADORATION BENDS;
THE WEIGHT OF GLORY BOWS HIM DOWN
THE MOST, WHEN MOST HIS SOUL DESCENDS.
NEARER THE THRONE ITSELF MUST BE
THE FOOTSTOOL OF HUMILITY.
(SIGNED) CHARLES J. HIMMELSBACH

Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO

Date learned: 00001880S

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WE OFTEN FAIL BUT TRY AGAIN
DON'T GIVE UP IN DESPAIR
LET FAILURE GIVE YOU GREATER STRENGTH
OF IDLENESS BEWARE.
KEEP WORKING ON (AND) YOU MUST SUCCEED
BUT PRAY LET ME IMPRESS
THIS WELL KNOWN MOTTO ON YOUR MIND
MERIT COMMANDS SUCCESS
(SIGNED) ED M. WALLEN
WHEELING, FEB. 17 (1890 CA.)

Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO

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GATHER THE ROSEBUDS WHILE YE MAY
OLD TIME IS STILL A FLYING
AND THAT SAME FLOWER THAT BLOOMS TODAY
TOMORROW SHALL BE DYING.
(SIGNED) LIZZIE SNYDER

Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO

Date learned: 00001800S

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ONLY WANT A LITTLE SPOT
TO WRITE THE WORDS "FORGET ME NOT."
(SIGNED) AMELIA HANNER

Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO

Date learned: 00001880S

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TIS HARD TO PART WITH A FRIEND I LOVE
TIS HARD TO PART WITH FEW
TIS NOT SO HARD TO PART WITH SOME
AS TIS TO PART WITH YOU
(SIGNED) MARY HIMMELSBACH

Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO

Date learned: 00001880S

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A LITTLE WORD IN KINDNESS SPOKEN
A MOTION OR A TEAR
HAS OFTEN HEALED THE HEART THAT'S BROKEN
AND MADE A FRIEND SINCERE
(SIGNED) YOUR NIECE, MARGURITE MATHES

Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO

Date learned: 00001880S

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TIS NOT TITLES AND NOT RANK
TIS NOT WEALTH LIKE LONDON BANK
THAT MAKES YOU TRULY BLEST
BUT HAPPINESS HAS ITS SEAT
AND CENTER IN THE BREAST
SO BE IN FUTURE AS IN PAST
AND YOU SURELY WILL BE BLEST.
(SIGNED) CHARLES MATHES

Where learned: OHIO ; TOLEDO

Date learned: 00001800S

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