The incident of the three kings becoming robbers is not easily understood. Robbery was common of course, particularly when money and valuables were known to be carried on the person; but I do not think this is sufficient in itself to account for the incident. It may be a reflection of the later fact that a man always took possession of his wife's personal property after marriage, and considered it his own to do as he pleased with. When this idea became codified in written law, the idea might readily get reflected in the game, when _kings_ would not be understood as apparently taking things that did not belong to them, unless they were bandits in disguise. This last verse and the robbery may be a later addition to the game, when robbery was of everyday occurrence. There may have been (although there is nothing now in any version to warrant the idea) some similar action on the part of the kings, such as a further arraying of the bride, and presenting her to their party or house, which has been misunderstood. Mr. Newell suggests that children having forgotten the original happy finish, and not understanding the "haggling" over the suitors, turned the kings into bandits. Children think it such a natural thing to wish to marry kings, princes, and princesses, and are so sincere in thinking it a matter of course to refuse a sailor or soldier for a king, when it is only a question of marriage, and not of choosing the one you like the best, that this reason does not to me seem to apply to a game of this kind.
Two leaders each choose a name such as "Golden Apple" and "Golden Pear." The remaining children all hold each other's waists in a long string, the "Golden Apple" and "Golden Pear" holding hands aloft like an arch. The string of children then runs under the arch. The last child that passes under is detained by the "Golden Apple" and "Golden Pear" (they having dropped hands previously). The detained child is asked in a whisper which she prefers, "Golden Apple," "Golden Pear;" she chooses, and then stands at the back of the "Golden Apple" or "Golden Pear." When all the children have passed through, the "Golden Apple" and "Golden Pear" hold each other's hands and stand with the others behind them and pull like a "Tug of War." There should be a line drawn between the "Golden Apple" and the "Golden Pear," and whichever side pulls the other over the line, wins the game.--Northumberland (from a lady friend of Hon. J. Abercromby).