The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

COUNTING OUT

THERE IS A VERSE CHILDREN USE TO DECIDE WHO'S GOING TO BE
IT. ALL OF THE PEOPLE PUT THEIR FEET IN A CIRCLE, THEN
ONE PERSON CHANTS THIS VERSE, TOUCHING ONE FOOT AT A
TIME, PROCEEDING IN A CIRCLE TOUCHING ONE FOOT FOR EACH
WORD.
ENGINE, ENGINE NUMBER NINE, GOING DOWN CHICAGO LINE,
IF THE TRAIN SHOULD JUMP THE TRACK, WOULD YOU WANT YOUR
MONEY BACK?
AT THIS POINT, THE FOOT THE COUNTER IS ON HAS TWO
CHOICES--YES OR NO. THE COUNTER THEN SPELLS OUT THE
CHOICE AND SAYS SPELLS (YES OR NO) DEPENDING ON THE CHOICE.
WHOSEVER FOOT THE COUNTER IS ON AT THE END OF THIS IS
OUT.

Where learned: NOT GIVEN

Date learned: 00-00-1960