The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

WITCH IN THE WELL - CHILDREN'S GAME

FIRST PICK THE MOTHER AND WITCH. THEN THE REST ARE
CHILDREN. THE CHILDREN LINE UP. THE MOTHER SAYS,
"I'M GOING OUT TO SMOKE MY PIPE. I WON'T BE BACK
TILL SATURDAY NIGHT. SO DON'T GET IN THE GOODIES!"
SO CHILDREN GET IN GOODIES. ONE CHILD SEES THE
MOTHER COMING BACK AND SAYS, "MOTHER IS COMING."
THE CHILDREN PUT THEIR HANDS BEHIND THEIR BACKS.
THE MOTHER SAYS, "LET ME SEE YOUR HANDS." (THREE
DIFFERNT TIMES) THE CHILDREN SAY NO. ON THE FOURTH
TIME, THE CHILDREN PUT THEIR HANDS OUT. THE MOTHER
SAYS, DIRTY. DIRTY. GO DOWN TO THE WELL AND WASH
YOUR HANDS. THE CHILDREN GO TO THE WELL. THE WITCH
SCARES THEM. THEY COME BACK. THEY TELL THE MOTHER,
"THERE'S A WITCH IN THE WELL." THE MOTHER SAYS,
"NONSENSE!" THE CHILDREN GO TO THE WELL AGAIN AND
AGAIN. THE FOURTH TIME THE MOTHER COMES WITH THE
CHILDREN. THE MOTHER SEES THE WITCH AND SAYS
"OH, YOU CHILDREN ARE NOT LYING." THE MOTHER SAYS
TO THE WITCH, "WHY ARE YOU IN MY WELL?" THE WITCH
SAYS, "TO SMOKE MY PIPE." "WHY DO YOU WANT TO SMOKE
YOUR PIPE?" THE WITCH SAYS, "TO MAKE ASHES." "WHY?"
SAYS THE MOTHER. THE WITCH SAYS, "TO SHARPEN MY
KNIFE." "WHY?" SAYS THE MOTHER. THE WITCH SAYS,
"TO KILL YOU." THEN THE MOTHER AND CHILDREN RUN .
WHOEVER THE WITCH GETS (CATCHES) IS THE WITCH.

Where learned: UNCLE ; TOLD BY

Date learned: 02-12-1972