This is another of the games which have been widely distributed through Europe, and date back to a remote past. At present, with us it is a child's jest, the noisy imitation of animal cries; but, as in all such cases, sense preceded sound. Comparing German versions, we see that our game is properly a song, the idea of which consists in the enumeration by significant and comical names of the members and possessions of a family. "When I was a poor woman, I went over the Rhine: my goose was called _Wag-tail_, my maid _So he said_, my pig _Lard-pot_, my flea _Hop-i'-straw_" etc. A more courtly version gives us a pleasing pilgrim's song: "Whence come you?--From sunset. Whither will you?--To sunrise. To what country?--Home. Where is it?--A hundred miles away. What is your name?--The world names me _Leap a-field_, my sword is _Honor worth_, my wife _Pastime_, her maid _Lie-a-bed_, my child _Rush-about_," etc. Thus we see the ancient earnestness appearing behind the modern mirth. It is likely that the origin of the song would take us back to those lists of mythical titles which were regarded as conveying real knowledge of the relations of things, at a time when a large part of learning consisted in the knowledge of the significant names which were given to objects. No. 49. _Frog-pond._ A party of children, who represent frogs by a hopping motion. At the word "kough," they imitate the croaking of the frog. [Illustration] Come, neighbors, the moon is up, It's pleasant out here on the bank. Come, stick your heads out of the tank, And let us, before we sup, Go kough, kough, kough. And let us, before we sup, Go kough, kough, kough. Enter child in character of duck-- Hush, yonder is the waddling duck, He's coming, I don't mean to stay. We'd better by half hop our way, If we don't he will gobble us up, With a kough, kough, kough. If we don't he will gobble us up, With a kough, kough, kough. Every frog hops to his separate den, while pursued by the duck, the game after the duck's advent being extremely animated. _Georgia._ No. 50. _Bloody Tom._ Within the ring is the shepherd; the wolf approaches from without. A dialogue ensues: "Who comes here?" "Bloody Tom." "What do you want?" "My sheep." "Take the worst, and leave the best, And never come back to trouble the rest." _Salem, Mass._ A New Hampshire version makes the game represent a fox, who carries off chickens, thus: "Who comes here this dark night?" "Who but bloody Tom!--Which you druther be, picked or scalded?" The Esthonian Fins have a characteristic children's game, based on the same idea, which may be quoted, to show how much imagination and spirit enter into the sports of a simple people. A watchman on duty at the sheepfold announces his office in a soliloquy: