The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

CHOOSING LEADER

DRAW A CIRCLE ON THE OLD MAN'S BACK.
PUT THE TWO EYES,
PUT THE NOSE.
WHO WILL PUT THE MOUTH?
THIS VERSE IS RECITED BEFORE CHOOSING SOMEONE TO BE "IT"
FOR HIDE AND SEEK. FIRST A PLAYER DRAWS A CIRCLE WITH
HIS FINGER ON SOMEONE'S BACK. ANOTHER PLAYER SPREADS
TWO FINGERS AND POKES THE PERSON TO MAKE EYES ON HIS
BACK. THIRDLY, ANOTHER PLAYER POKES HIS FINGER IN TH
PERSON'S BACK TO MAKE A NOSE. LASTLY "WHO WILL MAKE THE
MOUTH" IS ASKED. ONE OF THE PLAYERS DRAWS A HALF CIRCLE FOR
A MOUTH ON THE PERSON'S BACK. IF THE PERSON CAN GUESS
WHO DID IT, THEN THAT PLAYER IS "IT."

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT