We know, too, the old belief that the cuckoo tells children how many years they have to live. These lines are also sometimes said, in addition to those given above-- Elder belder, limber lock, Three wives in a clock; Sit and sing, and call a spring, O-u-t spells out. The boy who bends down is supposed to be undergoing a great penalty. Strutt (_Sports_, p. 394) describes this game, and gives an illustration which is here reproduced from the original MSS. in the Bodleian. This game may have originated from a custom at funerals of practising spells for the safe and speedy passage of the departing spirit to its destination, or from divination mysteries to foretell who would be the next among the mourners to follow the dead body to the grave. The spirit of prophecy was believed to exist in a dying person. See Handy Croopen. How many Miles to Babylon I.
|Build it up with |Build it up with |Build it up with | | |silver and gold. |silver and gold. |silver and gold. | |18.|Silver and gold will |Silver and gold would |Silver and gold I have| | |be stolen away. |be stolen away. |not got. | |19.| -- | -- | -- | |20.| -- | -- | -- | |21.