, hand in hand, approach him whom they denominate Mr. Fox with
the question--

"Pray, Mr. Fox, what time is it?"

"One o'clock," answers Mr. Fox.

They are safe and fall back to their den.

Making another venture they repeat the question.

"Twelve o'clock," shouts Mr. Fox, at the same time bounding towards them
and scattering them in all directions. Those he can catch before they
get back to their den are his prisoners, and the game is played until
one remains, who of course becomes the fox.

"Twelve o'clock," it is to be observed, is the sly, foxy answer to the
question, "Pray, Mr. Fox, what time is it?"

"One," "two," "three," "four," etc., are but evasive replies.

"MOTHER, BUY ME A MILKING CAN."

A boisterous game, played by girls, especially favoured in Paddington
and Marylebone.

"Mother, buy me a milking can, A, I, O.
Where's the money to come from, A, I, O?
Sell my father's feather bed.
Where must your father sleep?
Sleep in the boys' bed.
Where will the boys sleep?
Sleep in the cradle.
Where will the baby sleep?
Sleep in the thimble.
What shall I sew with?
Sew with the poker.
Suppose I burn myself?
Serve you right."

At the time of saying "serve you right" all the children scamper away
from the girl who acts the part of mother. It is little more than a
mild reproof on the over-indulgent mother who would sell or give
anything to satisfy the fancies of her children, and the "serve you
right" is a girl's idea of what a foolish mother deserves--less impudent
than corrective.

* * * * *

The town and country boys' game of

"Bell horses, bell horses, what time of day,
One o'clock, two o'clock, three and away,"

comes into fashion with all the reckless frivolity of early years, when
the old English festivities of Maying take place, reminding one of the
old custom of bringing the May-pole from the neighbouring woods, when
each of the eighty oxen yoked to the May-pole waggon had a nosegay of
wild-flowers tied to the horns.

"HERE COMES A POOR SAILOR FROM BOTANY BAY."

"Here comes a poor sailor from Botany Bay;
Pray, what are you going to give him to-day?"

is played as a preliminary game to decide who shall join sides in the
coming tug-of-war.

The chief delight of the youngsters playing "Here comes a poor sailor,"
is in putting and answering questions. All are warned before