generally been drawn at equal distances between the contending parties. As soon as one is drawn over, she has to be “crowned’ immediately (by the conqueror putting her hand on her head); for if this is not done at once the captive is at liberty to return to her own party. On the crowning taking place, the captured one takes up her position at the end of the line, and henceforth is considered to belong to the side of her conqueror. The game is now recommenced in the same way as before; but the second line advances first this time, and so on alternately until one side has drawn all the others over to it, or one has become too weak to continue the game.
Another version runs:
“Here we come gatherin’ nuts away,
Here we come gatherin’ nuts away,
On a could and frasty marnen.”
(Hazelbury Bryan.)
(x.)—The Lady of the Land.
An account of this game, which for want of a better appellation I call by the above title, is contained in the Somerset and Dorset Notes and Queries, vol. i. part v. pp. 133, 134 (1889). In this two girls are chosen, the one to represent a lady and the other a mother, who is supposed to be taking her children out to service. She has one or more of them in each hand, and leads them up to the lady, saying or singing:
“Here comes the Lady of the Land,
With sons and daughters in her hand;
Pray, do you want a servant to-day?”
The lady answers:
“What can she do?”
The mother replies:
“She can brew, she can bake,
She can make a wedding cake
Fit for you or any lady in the land.”
The lady then says:
“Pray leave her.”
