XIV. Mother, may I buy some male-scales, mother, mother? Mother, may I buy some male-scales, gentle mother of mine? Where will the money come from, daughter, daughter? Sell my father’s feather bed, mother, mother. Where will your father lie, daughter, daughter? Lie in the boys’ bed, mother, mother. Where will the boys lie, daughter, daughter? Lie in the servants’ bed, mother, mother. Where will the servants lie, daughter, daughter? Lie in the pig-sty, mother, mother. Where will the pigs lie, daughter, daughter? Lie in the washing-tub, mother, mother. Where will we wash our clothes, daughter, daughter? Wash them at the sea-side, mother, mother. Suppose the clothes should float away, daughter, daughter? Take a boat and bring them in, mother, mother. Suppose the boat would go too slow, daughter, daughter? Take a steamboat and bring them in, mother, mother. Suppose the steamboat would go too fast, daughter, daughter? Then take a rope and hang yourself, mother, mother. —South Shields (Miss Blair, aged 9). (_b_) One child stands apart and personates the Mother. The other children form a line, holding hands and facing the Mother. They advance and retire singing the first, third, and alternate verses, while the Mother, in response, sings the second and alternate verses. While the last verse is being sung the children all run off; the Mother runs after them, catches them, and beats them. Either the first or last caught becomes Mother in next game. In the Shropshire game the Mother should carry a stick. In the Norfolk version the Mother sits on a form or bank, the other children advancing and retiring as they sing. After the last verse is sung the children try to seat themselves on the form or bank where the Mother has been sitting. If they can thus get home without the Mother catching them they are safe. The Kentish game is played with two lines of children advancing and retiring. This was also the way in which the London version (A. B. Gomme) was played. In the version sent by Mr. H. S. May a ring is formed by the children joining hands. One child stands in the centre—she represents the Mother. The ring of children say the first, third, and every alternate verse. The child in the centre says the second, fourth, and alternate verses, and the game is played as above, except that when the Mother has said the last verse the children call out, “Good job, too,” and run off, the Mother chasing them as above. The game does not appear to be sung.