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RING GAMES FROM GEORGIA.

BY LORAINE DARBY.

I SAW in southern Georgia a number of ring-games which I believe are peculiar to the colored children of that region. One of the prettiest is "The May-Pole Song." One girl skips about inside the ring, and at the singing of the fourth line bows to the one she chooses. Then both "jump for joy," a peculiar step rather like a clog, which outsiders find very difficult to learn. Then the song is repeated, the second girl choosing; and so on.

All around the May-pole,

The May-pole, the May-pole,

All around the May-pole,

Now, Miss Sallie, won't you bow?

Now, Miss Sallie, won't you jump for joy,

Jump for joy, jump for joy?

Now, Miss Sallie, won't you jump for joy?

Now, Miss Sallie, won't you bow?

A game which is most amusing to watch is "Good Old Egg-Bread." The leader shouts one line, and the others answer with the next. The rhythm is very strong, and they stamp their feet most energetically as they circle.

Did you go to the hen-house?

Yes, ma'am!

Did you get any eggs?

Yes, ma'am!

Did you put 'em in the bread?

Yes, ma'am!

Did you stir it 'roun'?

Yes, ma'am!

Did you bake it brown?

Yes, ma'am!

Did you hand it 'roun'?

Yes, ma'am!

Good old egg-bread,

Shake 'em, shake 'em!
Good old egg-bread,

Shake 'em, shake 'em!

Did you go to the lynchin'?

Yes, ma'am!

Did they lynch that man?

Yes, ma'am!

Did the man cry?

Yes, ma'am!

How did he cry?

Baa, baa!

How did he cry?

Baa, baa!

Did you go to the wedding?

Yes, ma'am!

Did you get any wine?

Yes, ma'am!

Did you get any cake?

Yes, ma'am!

How did it taste?

So good!

How did it taste?

So good!

Good old egg-bread,

Shake 'em, shake 'em!

Good old egg-bread,

Shake 'em, shake 'em!

Bow, Mr. Blackbird, bow, Mr. Crow.
Bow, Mr. Blackbird, bow no mo'!

Similar to this is "Way Down Yonder."

Way down yonder

Soup to soup!

Where dem white folks

Soup to soup!

Just singin' an' prayin'

Soup to soup!

Tryin' to make man

Soup to soup!

Biscuits hot

Soup to soup!

Corn-bread cold

Soup to soup!

Thank God Almighty

Soup to soup!

Just give me a little mo'

Soup to soup!

In "Old Green Field," too, the leader and the ring sing alternately. One inside chooses, and the action follows the words.

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"Take Your Lover in the Ring" plainly dates from slavery times.

My old mistress promised me

Before she died she would set me free.

Take your lover in the ring.

I don't care!

Take your lover in the ring.

I don't care!

Now she's dead and gone to hell.

I hope that devil will burn her well!

Take your lover in the ring.

I don't care!

Take your lover in the ring.

I don't care!

It's a golden ring.

I don't care!

It's a silver ring.

I don't care!

In "High O" the action is very swift. A girl skips quickly once around inside the ring, chooses another, and takes her place.

In come another one,

High O!

A mighty pretty little one,

High O!

Then get about, go!

High O!

Then get about, go!

High O!

Perhaps the most charming of all is "This Lady wears a DarkGreen Shawl." The action is carried out by two in the centre, choosing as in the other games, in turn.

This lady she wears a dark-green shawl,

A dark-green shawl, a dark-green shawl.
This lady she wears a dark-green shawl-
I love her to my heart!

Now choose for your lover, honey, my love!
Honey, my love! honey, my love!

Now choose for your lover, honey, my love!-
I love her to my heart!

Now dance with your lover, honey, my love! etc.
Throw your arms 'round your lover, etc.

Farewell to your lover - etc.

KALAMAZOO, MICH.

FOLK-TALES COLLECTED AT MIAMI, FLA.

BY ELSIE CLEWS PARSONS.

Nos. 1-13 a were told me by George Washington. Born in 1850, he grew up in Manatee County, Florida. His mother was a Virginian; his father, a native of Charleston, S.C. They were married in Charleston. Then the wife was sold down to Manatee County. Her husband ran away from his master and followed her. His master recovered him, but subsequently sold him for eighteen hundred dollars to the owner of the wife. Nos. 13b-16 were told by Scott Payne. He was born in 1863 at Tallahassee, Fla., and came to Miami in 1896. He was, he said, "'bout de oldes' citizen."

I. NO TRACKS OUT.

De dogs held a convention. Up came de fox. Says de dog to Mr. Fox, "We had a convention las' night. An' we decided not to bother with the fox any mo'." De dog says to Mr. Fox, "You may go on." De fox den says to Mr. Dog, "Kent I git a hen?" — "Yes, you may." But Mr. Fox said to de dog, "I hear a barkin' behin' me."-"Oh," says Mr. Dog to de fox, "We have agree to disagree. You better run along an' let de hen go." De dog said to Mr. Fox, "The reason why I said let him go, because you all tracks goin' an' none comin' back." 1

2. TAR BABY.

De rabbit said, "I see a boy sittin' up yonder. What is that?". "Oh!" said, "it's simply a boy. Are there any harm in him?” — "No." "May I go an' hit him?" "Oh, yes!" De rabbit walks up to de tar boy an' slaps him. Dat han' got fastened. "Oh!" he says, "I have another one." He taps him with that, an' that got fastened. "Oh!" he says, "I have another one." He tap him with that, an' that got fastened. "Oh!" he says, "the fou't' more powerful than all." He slap him with that one. That got fastened. He says, "O boy! if you will let me go, I'll never come to see you any mo'." He says, "I see now that you are not a tar baby, but a devil

ketcher." 2

3. AHSHMENS AT DE WELL.3

One said to the oder, "Let me go an' ketch hold de winders. So on we will go an' ketch each oder until we reach de water." When de 1 See this number, p. 175. 2 See this number, p. 171. Title given by narrator.

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