From
Games and Songs of American Children by William Wells Newell
For observations about this same game in Europe, see "Cumulative Pieces" in Comparative Studies in Nursery Rhymes by Lina Eckenstein (online at
Hathi Trust).
This is
ATU 2043. Where is the warehouse?
CLUB FIST
A child lays on a table his clenched fist, with the thumb elevated; another grasps the raised them with his own fist, and so on until a pile of fists is built up. A player, who remains apart from the group, then addresses the child whose hand is at the top:
What's that?
A pear.
Take it off or I'll knock it off.
The same conversation is repeated with the next child and so on; the fist being withdrawn as speedily as possible, to escape a rap from the questioner.
When only one is left, the following dialogue ensues:
What have you got there?
Bread and cheese.
Where's my share?
Cat's got it.
Where's the cat?
In the woods.
Where's the woods?
Fire burned it.
Where's the fire?
Water quenched it.
Where's the water?
Ox drank it.
Where's the ox?
Butcher killed it.
Where's the butcher?
Rope hung him.
Where's the rope?
Rats gnawed it.
Where's the rat?
Cat caught it.
Where's the cat.
Behind the church door.
The first who laughs, or grins, or shows the teeth has three pinches and three knocks.
Then there follow a general scattering; for some child is sure to laugh, and if he does not do so of his own accord, his neighbors will certainly tweak him, poke him, or otherwise excite his risibility.
Georgia
NOTES
In Pennsylvania the conversation ends:
Where's the butcher?
He's behind the door cracking nuts, and whoever speaks first I'll slap his fingers, Because I am the keeper of the keys, and I do whatever I please.
This dialogue, based on a well-known nursery tale, has maintained itself with remarkable persistence, and even verbal identity, in several European languages. We meet it in Germany and Denmark, as well as England.
~ ~ ~
Compare this version from Shropshire Folklore, A Sheaf of Gleanings by Charlotte Sophia Burne (1886;
online at Hathi):
Two playfellows place their clenched fists one on top of the other; the owner of the uppermost fist is asked, "What have you got there?" He replies, "Apple-pie," or any other victuals; is told, "Take it off or else I'll knock it off!" and obeys: and so on till the last, when the dialogue runs:
What have you got there? Roast beef.
Where's my part? The cat's got it.
Where's the cat? In the wood.
Where's the wood? The fire's burnt it.
Where's the fire? The water's quenched it.
Where's the water? The ox has drunk it.
Where's the ox? The butcher's killed it.
Where's the butcher? Behind the church-door cracking nuts.
Both (pretending to throw nutshells at each other): You shall have the shells, and I shall have the kernels.
