THE GARDEN GATE

The Garden Gate is a very pretty game. A ring is formed of all the

players except one, who stands in the middle. The others dance round

her three times, and when they stop she begins to sing:

"Open wide the garden gate, the garden gate, the garden gate,

Open wide the garden gate and let me through."

The circle then dances round her again, singing:

"Get the key of the garden gate, the garden gate, the garden gate,

Get the key of the garden gate and open and let yourself through."

The girl inside the circle, pretending to sob, replies:

"I've lost the key of the garden gate, the garden gate, the garden gate,

I've lost the key of the garden gate, and cannot let myself through."

But the dancers dance round and round her, singing:

"Then you may stop all night within the gate, within the gate,

within the gate,

You may stop all night within the gate, unless you have strength

to break through."

The captive then rushes to the weakest part of the ring, and tries to

break through by throwing her whole weight upon the clasped hands of

the children, and generally contrives to break through, the one whose

hand gives way being made captive in her stead.

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