A little girl would say to the rest:--"I sent my
daughter to the oil-shop, and the first thing she saw was C;" and
the task was to guess for what article this initial stood.
"Carrots!" cried one, but was laughed to scorn. "Candles!" cried
another, and triumphed. Then there were games which consisted in the
saying of strange incantations. The children would go round and
round, as was evident from the sound of their feet, chanting the
while:--"Sally, Sally Wallflower, Sprinkle in a pan; Rise, Sally
Wallflower, And choose your young man. Choose for the fairest one,
Choose for the best, Choose for the rarest one, That you love best!"
Upon this followed words and movements only half understood; then at
length broke out a sort of hymeneal chorus:--"Here stands a young
couple, Just married and settled: Their father and mother they must
obey. They love one another like sister and brother. So pray, young
couple, come kiss together!" Lastly, laughter and screams and
confusion. This went on till it was quite dark.
Pitch dark in Slimy's room; only the faintest reflection on a
portion of the ceiling of lamplight from without. Waymark's
sufferings became extreme. The rope about his neck seemed to work
itself tighter; there were moments when he had to struggle for the
scant breath which the gag allowed him.
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