No. 107 Blank and Ladder
New York.
A boy is selected by the following peculiar counting rhyme:
In came a little man with a white hat;
If you want a pretty girl, pray take that;
Take your choice of one, two, or three,
If you want a pretty girl, pray take she.
Lad after lad being successively excluded, the last remaining is “it,” and has to hide himself, when he calls out,
Blank and ladder!
The searcher may summon the fugitive to indicate his whereabouts:
Halloo if you’re far off, whistle if you’re nigh.
Salem, Mass.
In Portland, Me., the shout of the concealed party is, “Blank, blank, Cornelia!” and in the western part of the State of New York, “Blancalilo!”
The searcher, on discovering one of the hidden players, calls “Hi spy!” and tries to touch the latter before he can reach goal, the rule being that
Elbow and knee
Always go free.