The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

COUNTING OUT RHYME

ALL THOSE CHILDREN WHO ARE GOING TO PLAY A CERTAIN GAME
IN WHICH ONE OF THEM HAS TO BE IT, STAND IN A CIRCLE AND
POINT THEIR RIGHT TOES TO THE CENTER OF THE CIRCLE. ONE
PERSON DOES THE COUNTING OUT AND POINS TO EACH TOE
SEPARATELY, WHILE SAYING ONE WORD OF THE RHYME TO EACH
TOE; THE RHYME:
TOE, TOE, HOW OLD ARE YOU?
THE PERSON TO WHOSE TOE THE COUNTER IS POINTING MAY REPLY,
"TEN." THE COUNTER THEN GOES ON SAYING, "1, 2, 3, ... 10,
AND YOU ARE NOT IT." THE PESON HE SAYS IT TO REMOVES HIS
FOOT FROM THE CIRCLE, AND THE LAST PERSON LEFT IS IT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SAINT CLAIR SHORES

Date learned: 00001950'S