_New York streets._
No. 65.
_The Game of Rivers._
A girl is chosen to be the _Ocean_. The rest represent _rivers_. The
rivers, by very devious courses (around school-desks, etc.), flow into
the Ocean. Not unfrequently in their course to the sea, the rivers
encounter somewhat violently.
_New York._
No. 66.
_Quaker, How is Thee?_
"Quaker, Quaker, how is thee?"
"Very well, I thank thee."
"How's thy neighbor, next to thee?"
"I don't know, but I'll go see."
The question is accompanied by a rapid movement of the right hand. The
second child in the ring inquires in the same manner of the third; and
so all round. Then the same question is asked with a like gesture of
the left hand, and, after this has gone round, with both hands, left
foot, right foot, both feet, and finally by uniting all the motions at
once. "A nice long game," as our little informant said.
_New York, Philadelphia, etc._
No. 67.
_Darby Jig._
This absurd little rhyme was formerly used to accompany an animated
dance, in which the arms were placed behind the waist, and the hands
rested on the hips, with alternate motion.
Darby, darby, jig, jig, jig,
I've been to bed with a big, big wig!
I went to France to learn to dance--
Darby, darby, jig, jig, jig!
_Philadelphia; Massachusetts_.
No. 68.
_Right Elbow In._
Put your right elbow in,
Put your right elbow out,
Shake yourselves a little,
And turn yourselves about.
Put your left elbow in,
Put your left elbow out,
Shake yourselves a little,
And turn yourselves about.
Then followed _right ear_ and _left ear_, _right foot_ and _left
foot_, etc. The words we give were in use some sixty years since,
when the game was danced deliberately and decorously, as old fashion
was, with slow rhythmical motion. Now it has been turned into a romp,
under various names (in Boston, "Ugly Mug"). The English name is
"Hinkumbooby."
No. 69.
_My Master Sent Me._
"My master sent me to you, sir."
"For what, sir?"
"To do with one as I do, sir."
The person who gives orders beats time with one foot, then both feet,
one hand and both feet, two hands and both feet, etc. The game, like
the preceding, is performed with a dancing motion.
_New York._
No. 70.
_Humpty Dumpty._
This game is for girls only. All present sit in a circle, then each
girl gathers her skirts tightly, so as to enclose her feet. The leader
begins some rhyme; all join in, and at a word previously agreed on,
keeping the skirt tightly grasped, throw themselves over backward. The
object now is to recover the former position without letting go the
skirt.
_New York._
No. 71.
_Pease Porridge Hot._
This familiar little rhyme is accompanied by two players with alternate
striking of the hands together and against the knees, in a way easier
to practise than to describe. School-girls often use it to warm their
hands on cold winter mornings.
Pease porridge hot,
Pease porridge cold,
Pease porridge in the pot,
Nine days old.
No. 72.
_Rhymes for a Race._
Up the street, down the street,
Here's the way we go.
Forty horses standing in a row;
[Dolly] on the white one,
[Harry] on the black one,
Riding to Harrisburg _five_ miles away.
_Philadelphia._
We suppose the above formula to be a rhyme for starting in a race. The
common schoolboy verse--
One to make ready,
Two to prepare,
Three to _go slambang_,
Right--down--there,
appears to be a parody of the older English rhyme,
One to make ready,
And two to prepare,
Good luck to the rider,
And away goes the mare.
No. 73.
_Twine the Garland._
We find mentioned in the "Girls' Own Book," Boston, 1856, a dance of
girls which has the characteristics of an old game. Girls take hold of
hands, one standing still; the rest twist about her until they form
a knot. They then untwist in the same manner, singing, "Twine the
garland, girls!" and, "Untwine the garland, girls!"
No. 74.
_Hopping-dance._
This name was formerly given in New England to a dance similar to
that known in Scotland as _Curcuddie_. The hands were clasped under
the knees, and the children slowly and solemnly described squares and
triangles on the floor.
We may add here an unnamed amusement for school-girls, which consists
in joining hands behind the back (giving the right hand to the left
hand of a partner), and then turning, while retaining the hold, so as
to stand facing each other. This movement is then repeated until the
couple whirl about with considerable rapidity.