On the floor or ground mark a circle, the diameter of which is two feet.
The easiest way would be to use a hoople of the correct size, and chalk
it all around close to the wood. Be careful not to move the hoople
while marking. Therefore, one person would better hold the hoople,
while another uses the chalk.
Eight players are required, two and two standing together, taking the
same positions as if they were to dance a quadrille. The circle must
be in the centre of the space around which they stand, and the players
should be six feet from the outer edge.
In the circle place four small articles, three without much value,
and the other of some little value. As an example, put in three empty
bottles, and one filled with inexpensive perfume, or if you use
flowers, put three dandelions, and one half-blown rose. All articles
must be laid side by side, and as nearly as possible, in the exact
centre of the circle.
When all is ready, the host, being at the piano, should play “Pop Goes
the Weasel,” and if the game is played out of doors, the same tune
should be hummed or whistled. When the music starts, the head couples
join hands and skip to the circle and then back, this must be again and
again repeated, until the pianist suddenly stops. Those who have been
skipping must then bow to each other wherever they happen to be, also
unclasp their hands, and neither run nor walk, but skip as rapidly as
possible to the circle; sometimes they are fortunate enough to be by
it when the music stops; then at once pick up one of the articles, and
skip back to the position held at the time the game started.
These movements must be finished before the musician again commences to
play. Then, holding the article in one hand and your partner’s hand in
the other, you skip twice around the circle, and return to position.
The head couple leading, all the others following after the same order,
as the march in a quadrille.
The articles are then put where they were at the game’s start, and the
side couples repeat what the head couples have already done.
The musician should allow enough time to make it possible for all the
players to pick up an article, but he must not allow too much time, or
a prominent feature in the game is missed.
Every one is desirous to pick up the valuable article, but if you are
not careful the music will start before you have gotten anything:
in that case you must be blindfolded and skip all alone four times
around the circle. While you are skipping, the spectators are clapping.
Whoever is fortunate enough to have picked up the valuable article, may
retain it as a favor. This must therefore have a duplicate, as the side
couples have equal chances with the heads.