line is caught as before at the word “Sunday.” This is repeated until all are caught. The new captives in turn select their favourites—Oranges or Lemons—and take up their positions behind their leaders according as they have chosen. Then begins the tug-of-war between the Oranges and Lemons, each still holding on firmly by the waist of the one in front. Whichever side pulls the other over wins the game. (Symondsbury.)
A variant of the rhyme which obtained at Broadwinsor many years ago is as follows:
“I owe you five farthings.
When will you pay me,
To-day or to-morrow?
Here comes a candle to light you to bed;
Here comes a chopper to chop off your head.”[1]
(ii.)—Fox and Goose.
One of the party called the “Fox” takes one end of the room or corner of a field (for the game was equally played indoors or out); all the rest of the children arrange themselves in a line or string, according to size, one behind the other, the smallest last, behind the tallest one, called “Mother Goose,” with their arms securely round
- ↑ Conf. no doubt a London version:
“Oranges and Lemons,”
Said the bells of St. Clement’s;
“You owe me five farthings,”
Said the bells of St. Martin’s;
“And when will you pay me?”
Said the bells of Old Bailey;
“When I grow rich,”
Said the bells of Shoreditch;
“When will that be?”
Said the bells of Stepney;
“I do not know,”
Said the big bell of Bow.See also Folklore Record, vol. v. p. 86, for a Surrey variant; the Folklore Journal, vol. i. p. 386, for a Derbyshire one. Also Halliwell’s Nursery Rhymes, No. cclxxxi.
