The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

HUCKLE, BUCKLE, BEAN STALK

CIRCLE ARE IN A CIRCLE. SEVERAL CHILDREN ARE ASKED
TO LEAVE THE ROOM OR ALL THE CHILDREN MAY BE ASKED TO
CLOSE THEIR EYES. ONE CHILD PUTS A BALL OR SOME
OTHER OBJECT PREVIOUSLY SELECTED BY THE GROUP IN A
FAIRLY CONSPICUOUS SPOT. WHEN ALL IS READY THE
LEADER GIVES THE SIGNAL AND THE SELECTED CHILDREN
SEARCH FOR THE OBJECT. WHEN THEY FIND IT, THEY WALK
TO THEIR PLACES WITHOUT TOUCHING IT, MERELY TOUCHING
IT, MERELY CALLING OUT "HUCKLE, BUCKLE, BEAN STALK."
A TIME LIMIT IS SOMETIMES PLACED ON THE SEARCH.

Submitter comment: LEARNED FROM CHILDREN IN (ILLEGIBLE WORD)
KINDERGARDEN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT