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HEN AND CHICKEN |
20I |
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the name of this game with the northern belief that the wicked were condemned to suffer eternal punishment in Hecla, the volcanic mountain in Iceland. See " Namers and Guessers."
Hen and Chicken
Chickery, chickery, cranny crow, I went to the well to wash my toe, When I got back a chicken was dead. This verse is said by the Hen to her Chickens, after which they all go with the Hen to search for the dead Chicken. On their way they meet the Fox. The following dialogue between the Fox and Hen ensues, the Hen beginning:—
What are you doing ? Picking up sticks. What for ? To make a fire. What's the fire for ? To boil some water. What's the water for ? To boil some chickens in. Where do you get them from ? Out of your flock. That I'm sure you won't.
—Derbyshire (Folk-lore Journal, i. 386).
The game is played in the usual manner of " Fox and Goose " games. One is chosen to be the Hen, and one to be the Fox. The rest are the Chickens. The Chickens take hold of each other's waists, the first one holding the Hen's waist. At the end of the dialogue the Fox tries to get hold of one of the chickens. If he succeeds in catching them, they all with the Fox try to dodge the Hen, who makes an effort to regain them.
It is known at Winterton under the name of " Pins and Needles." The players stand in a row, one behind another, with one of the party as their Leader. Another player, called " Outsider," pretends to scratch the ground. The Leader asks the questions, and the Outsider replies— |
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