_CERTAIN GAMES OF VERY LITTLE GIRLS._
Dans mon coeur il n'y a pas d'amour,
Mais il y en aura quelque jour.
_French Round._
No. 118.
_Sail the Ship._
Two little girls, clinching fingers, and bracing their feet against
each other, whirl rapidly round, a movement which they call "Sailing
the ship."
No. 119.
_Three Around._
Three little girls join hands and swing about, being the simplest form
of motion without song, to which they give the name of "Three Around."
No. 120.
_Iron Gates._
Two little girls clasp hands tightly, singing,
Iron gates,
Never break,
While a third throws herself against them, and endeavors to break
through.
No. 121.
_Charley Over the Water._
Children sing, as they dance with clasped hands about one who stands in
the centre of the ring:
[Illustration]
Charley over the water,
Charley over the sea,
Charley catch a black-bird,
Can't catch _me_!
At the last word all stoop, and if the child in the centre can catch
any other before assuming that position, the latter must replace him.
Almost any summer evening, in certain streets of New York, children may
be seen playing this round, which they sing on one note, with a shriek
to conclude.
No. 122.
+_Frog in the Sea._+
Frog in the sea,
Can't catch me?
Played like the preceding.
_Philadelphia._
No. 123.
+_Defiance._+
A mother and children:
"Mother, can I pick a rose?"
"Yes, my dearest daughter, if you don't tear your clothes,
But remember, to-morrow is your sister's wedding-day."
The children now retire to a safe distance, and sing:
"I picked a rose.
I tore my clothes!"
"Come home!"
"I don't hear you."
"I'll send your father after you."
"I don't hear you."
"I'll send your brother after you."
"I don't hear you."
"I'll send the dog after you."
"I don't hear you."
"I'll send myself after you."
"Sen' 'em along!"
A chase follows, and the child caught must replace the mother.
The dialogue (which belongs to Georgia) is also extended by the
mother's threatening to send the _cow_, or the _trees_, after the
children.
This game is differently played by little girls in Philadelphia, thus:
"Oh, mother, mother, may I go out to play?"
"No, no, no, it's a very cold day."
"Yes, yes, yes, it's a very warm day,
So take three steps, and away, away, away."
"Where's your manners?"
"I haven't any."
The indignant mother now pursues the disobedient children.
No. 124.
_My Lady's Wardrobe._
The children sit in a ring, and are named according to the articles of
a lady's wardrobe. The child in the centre of the circle of players
names some article, as, "My lady wants her brush, brush, brush." She
who has received that name must answer before the third utterance or
pay forfeit. The speaker naturally pronounces the word as fast as
possible.
No. 125.
_Housekeeping._
(A ROUND.)
[Illustration]
Kittie put the kettle on,
Kettle on, kettle on,
Kittie put the kettle on,
We'll all have tea.
To this familiar little round, girls five or six years of age, in New
York, sometimes prefix a fragment of some ballad--
Here stands a red rose in the ring--
Promised to marry a long time ago.
No. 126.
+_A March._+
March, march, two by two,
Dressed in yellow, pink, and blue.
_Philadelphia._
No. 127.
_Rhymes for Tickling._
1. Tickle'e, tickle'e on the knee;
if you laugh, you don't love me.
_Philadelphia._
2. If you're a little lady, as I take you for to be,
You will neither laugh nor smile when I tickle your knee.
_Georgia._
3. Old maid, old maid, you'll surely be,
If you laugh or you smile while I tickle your knee.
_Massachusetts._