Part 21 (1/2)

2. ”Little white pigeons Dream of Granada, Glistening snows on Sierra Nevada.

Lift up the arches, Silver as fountains.

Little white pigeons Fly to the mountains.”

The Spanish form of ”Blindman's Buff” begins with ”giving the pebble”

to determine who shall be the Blind Hen. A child shuts in one hand the pebble and then presents both little fists to the other children pa.s.sing in file. Each, while all sing the first stanza given below, softly touches first one of the hands, then the other, and finally slaps the one chosen. If this is empty, she pa.s.ses on. If it holds the pebble, she must take it and be the one to offer the hands. The child who finally remains with the pebble in her possession, after all have pa.s.sed, is the Blind Hen. As the game goes on, the children tease the Blind Hen, who, of course, is trying to catch them, by singing the second stanza given below.

1

”Pebble, O pebble!

Where may it be?

Pebble, O pebble!

Come not to me!

Tell me, my mother, Which hand to choose.

This or the other?

That I refuse, This hand I choose.”

2

”She's lost her thimble, Little Blind Hen.

Better be nimble!

Try it again!

Who'll bring a taper For the Blind Hen?

Scamper and caper!

Try it again!

Try it again!”

Other games as well known to American children as ”Blindman's Buff”

are played by little Spaniards. They understand how to make the ”hand-chair” and ”drop the b.u.t.ton,” only their b.u.t.ton is usually a ring. ”Hide the Handkerchief” carries with it the familiar cries of _hot_ and _cold_, but our ”Puss in the Corner” becomes ”A Cottage to Rent.”

”'Cottage to rent?'

'Try the other side, You see that this Is occupied.'”

In religious Seville the dialogue runs:--

”'A candle here?'

'Over there.'

'A candle here?'

'Otherwhere.'

”'Candle, a candle!'

'Loss on loss.'

'Where is light?'

'In the Holy Cross.'”

For all these games, common to childhood the world over, have a rhyming element in the Peninsula, where, indeed, the ordinary intercourse of children often carries verses with it. For instance, our youngsters are content with cries of ”Tell-tale!” and ”Indian-giver!” but under similar provocation the fierce little nurslings of Catholic Spain will sing:--

”Tell-tale! Tell-tale!

In h.e.l.l you'll be served right, All day fed on mouldy bread, And pounded all the night!”