The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

HIDE THE THIMBLE

THIS GAME WAS PLAYED WITH ONE "HIDER" AND AN UNLIMITED NUMBER OF
"FINDERS". THE HIDER WOULD TAKE A THIMBLE AND HIDE IT ANYWHERE IN
A DESIGNATED ROOM. THE THIMBLE HAD TO BE AT LEAST PARTIALLY VISIBLE
IN ITS HIDING SPOT. WHILE THE HIDER HID THE THIMBLE, THE FINDERS
HAD TO STAY IN ANOTHER ROOM SO THAT THEY COULDN'T WATCH THE HIDER.
AFTER THE THIMBLE WAS HIDDEN, THE FINDERS WERE CALLED INTO THE ROOM
SO THAT THEY COULD LOOK FOR THE THIMBLE. SOMETIMES THE HIDER WOULD
TELL A FINDER IF HE WAS HOT OR COLD; HOT MEANT THAT HE WAS IN THE
NEAR VICINITY OF THE THIMBLE AND COLD MEANT HE WAS NOT NEAR IT.
AFTER THE THIMBLE WAS FOUND, IT WAS HIDDEN AGAIN BY WHOEVER FOUND IT
AND THE GAME CONTINUED THE SAME WAY.

Submitter comment: IF A THIMBLE WASN'T AVAILABLE, THE INFORMANT USED ANY SMALL OBJECT
THAT COULD BE EASILY HIDDEN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD

Date learned: CA00001967