It seems probable that the inner rows of children should kneel or stoop down in order that “Mother Mop” should have as much trouble as possible with her oven. The game may have lost some of its details in other directions, as there is no apparent reason why the oven is demolished or broken down. See “Jack, Jack, the Bread’s a-burning.” Mother, Mother, the Pot Boils over A number of girls choose one of their number to represent a witch, and another to be a mother. The Witch stands near the corner of a wall, so that she can peep round. Then the Mother counts the children by the seven days of the week, “Monday,” “Tuesday,” &c., and appoints another girl to act as guardian over them. She then pretends to go out washing, removing to a short distance so as to be within ear-shot of the other children. As soon as the Mother has gone, the old Witch comes and says, “Please, can I light my pipe?” Then the children say, “Yes, if you won’t spit on t’ hearth.” She pretends to light her pipe, but spits on the hearth, and runs away with the girl called Sunday. Then the Guardian, among the confusion, pretends to rush down stairs, and, failing to find Sunday, calls out, “Mother, mother, t’ pot boils over.” The Mother replies, “Put your head in;” the Guardian says, “It’s all over hairs;” the Mother says, “Put the dish-clout in;” the Guardian says, “It’s greasy;” the Mother says, “Get a fork;” the Guardian says, “It’s rusty;” the Mother says, “I’ll come mysen.” She comes, and begins to count the children, Monday, Tuesday, up to Saturday, and missing Sunday, asks, “Where’s Sunday?” the Guardian says, “T’ old Witch has fetched her.” The Mother answers, “Where was you?” “Up stairs.” The Mother says, “What doing?” “Making t’ beds.” “Why didn’t you come down?” “Because I had no shoes.” “Why didn’t you borrow a pair?” “Because nobody would lend me a pair.” “Why didn’t you steal a pair?” “Do you want me to get hung?” Then the Mother runs after her, and if she can catch her thrashes her for letting Sunday go. Then the Mother pretends to go out washing again, and the Witch fetches the other days of the week one by one, when the same dialogue is rehearsed.—Dronfield, Derbyshire (S. O. Addy).