forward; in the rear (center) group the lifting of hands and stooping
under; and in the right-hand group the position for dancing around
while repeating the verse.
[Illustration music: DUCK DANCE (THE)
1. I saw a ship a-sail-ing, A-sail-ing on the sea;
And oh, it was la-den With pret-ty things for me.
2. There were com-fits in the cab-in, And ap-ples in the hold;
The sails were made of silk, And the masts were made of gold.
3. Four and twen-ty sail-ors That sat up-on the decks
Were four and twen-ty white mice With chains a-bout their necks.
4. The cap-tain was a duck With a pack-et on his back,
And when the ship be-gan to move The cap-tain cried "Quack! quack!"
]
I saw a ship a-sailing, a-sailing on the sea;
And oh, it was laden with pretty things for me.
There were comfits in the cabin, and apples in the hold;
The sails were made of silk, and the masts were made of gold.
Four and twenty sailors that sat upon the deck
Were four and twenty white mice with chains about their necks.
The captain was a duck with a packet on his back,
And when the ship began to move the captain cried quack! quack!
The players hold hands and circle rapidly while singing. After the
last verse one of the players breaks the circle and with his next
neighbor raises his hand high to form an arch, calling "Bid, bid,
bid!" which is the call for ducks. The player on the opposite side of
the break in the circle proceeds to pass under this arch, the entire
circle following, all holding hands and answering "Quack! quack!
quack!"
When all have passed through, the two players at the opposite end of
the line raise their hands and cry, "Bid, bid, bid!" while the two who
first made the arch pass through, drawing the line after them, and
calling "Quack! quack! quack!" This passing of the ducks under the
gateway is continued during one or two repetitions of the music. The
players should repeat "Bid, bid, bid!" and "Quack, quack, quack!" in
rhythm during all of this latter part of the play.
FARMER IN THE DELL
_10 to 30 or more players._
_Indoors; out of doors._
The farmer in the dell,
The farmer in the dell,
Heigh-o! the cherry-oh!
The farmer in the dell.
The farmer takes a wife,
The farmer takes a wife,
Heigh-o! the cherry-oh!
The farmer takes a wife.
The wife takes a child,
The wife takes a child,
Heigh-o! the cherry-oh,
The wife takes a child.
The succeeding verses vary only in the choice in each, and follow in
this order:--
The child takes a nurse, etc.
The nurse takes a cat, etc.
The cat takes a rat, etc.,
The rat takes the cheese, etc.
[Illustration music:
The far-mer in the dell, The far-mer in the dell,
Heigh-o the cher-ry-oh, The far-mer in the dell.
]
The players stand in a circle with one of their number in the center,
who represents the farmer in the dell. At the singing of the second
verse, where the farmer takes a wife, the center player beckons to
another, who goes in and stands by her. The circle keeps moving while
each verse is sung, and each time the player last called in beckons to
another; that is, the wife beckons one into the circle as the child,
the child beckons one for the nurse, etc., until six are standing in
the circle. But when the lines, "The rat takes the cheese," are sung,
the players inside the circle and those forming it jump up and down
and clap their hands in a grand confusion, and the game breaks up.
HUNTING
_10 to 60 or more players._
_Indoors; out of doors._
This game is especially enjoyed by little boys, for whom there
is a comparatively small number of appropriate singing games.
The players all stand in two lines facing each other. They clap their
hands in time with the song, and sing the first verse:--
[Illustration music:
Oh, have you seen the Shah? Oh,
have you seen the Shah? He lights his pipe on a
star-light night, Oh, have you seen the Shah?
For a-hunt-ing we will go, A-
hunt-ing we will go. We'll catch a fox and
put him in a box. A-hunt-ing we will go.
]
Oh, have you seen the Shah?
Oh, have you seen the Shah?
He lights his pipe on a starlight night.
Oh, have you seen the Shah?
For a-hunting we will go,
A-hunting we will go.
We'll catch a fox and put him in a box.
A-hunting we will go.
While the last verse is being sung, the two players at the top of the
lines run forward, join hands, and run down between the lines to the
foot, turn around, join the other hands, and return between the lines.
When they have reached the head again, they unclasp hands and run down
the outside of the lines, each on his own side, and take their places
at the foot of the lines. By this time the verse should be finished,
and it is then sung again, the two players who are now standing at the
head running down through the middle, etc. This is repeated until all
the players have run, when the two lines join hands in a ring and all
dance around, repeating the verse for the last time.
For a large number of players several may run instead of two. The
first two then represent foxes, the next four, prancing or galloping
horses (all in time to the music), and four others for riders or
hunters.
ITISKIT, ITASKET
_10 to 30 or more players._
_Indoors; out of doors._
This is a form of Drop the Handkerchief, differing somewhat in play,
and also in that a verse is sung with the game.
All of the players but one stand in a circle with clasped hands; the
odd player, carrying a handkerchief, runs around on the outside of the
circle, singing the following verse:--
Itiskit, Itasket,
A green and yellow basket;
I wrote a letter to my love
And on the way I dropped it.
Some one of you has picked it up
And put it in your pocket;
It isn't you--it isn't you--
This last phrase is repeated until the player reaches one behind whom
he wishes to drop the handkerchief, when he says, "It is you!" and
immediately starts on a quick run around the circle.
[Illustration music: Itiskit, Itasket
I-tis-kit, I-tas-ket, A green and yel-low bas-ket; I
wrote a let-ter to my love And on the way I dropped it. I
dropped it, I dropped it, And on the way I dropped it.
Some one of you has picked it up And put it in your pock-et; It
isn't you, it isn't you, It isn't you, it isn't you.
]
The one behind whom the handkerchief was dropped picks it up and at
once starts around the circle in the opposite direction, the object
being to see which of the two shall first reach the vacant place. The
one who is left out takes the handkerchief for the next round.
Should a circle player fail to discover that the handkerchief has been
dropped behind him until the one who has dropped it has walked or run
entirely around the circle, he must yield his place in the circle to
the handkerchief man, changing places with him.
KEEP MOVING
_5 to 60 players._
_Indoors; out of doors; schoolroom._
One player is chosen as leader. He repeats or sings the following
formula, at the same time going through the motions indicated. The
other players must repeat the formula and the motions with him. They
may be either seated or standing. The rhythm should be very rapid:--
[Illustration music:
One finger, one thumb (etc.) keep moving,
One finger, one thumb (etc.) keep moving,
One finger, one thumb (etc.) keep moving,
Tra la! la, la! la, la!
]
One finger one thumb keep moving,
One finger one thumb keep moving,
One finger one thumb keep moving.
Tra-la! la-la! la-la!
(The thumb and index finger of one hand are separated and brought
together, as when a bird's beak is being imitated with the fingers.)
Two fingers two thumbs keep moving,
Two fingers two thumbs keep moving,
Two fingers two thumbs keep moving.
Tra-la! la-la! la-la!
(The thumb and index finger of both hands are moved in similar
manner.)
Four fingers two thumbs keep moving,
Four ----
Four ----
Tra-la! ----
(The thumb, index, and middle fingers on each hand.)
Six fingers two thumbs keep moving,
Six ----
Six ----
Tra-la! ----
(Add the ring finger.)
Eight fingers two thumbs keep moving,
Eight ----, etc.
(All the fingers.)
Eight fingers two thumbs one hand keep moving,
Eight fingers two thumbs one hand keep moving,
Eight fingers two thumbs one hand keep moving.
Tra-la! la-la! la-la!
(The finger motion is continued, and to it is added an up-and-down
shaking of one hand.)
Eight fingers two thumbs two hands keep moving,
Eight ----
Eight ----
Tra-la! ----
(A similar movement of the other hand is added.)
Eight fingers two thumbs two hands one arm keep moving, etc.
(One arm is moved up and down with the shoulder, elbow, and wrist all
active, while the movement of the fingers and of the opposite hand
continues.)
Eight fingers two thumbs two hands two arms keep moving, etc.
(Add similar movement of the other arm.)
Eight fingers two thumbs two hands two arms one foot keep moving, etc.
(The toes of one foot are lifted (bending the ankle) and tapped on the
floor as in beating time.)
Eight fingers two thumbs two hands two arms two feet keep moving, etc.
(Add similar movement of other foot.)
Eight fingers two thumbs two hands two arms two feet one leg
keep moving, etc.
(Lift one leg with bent knee and replace the foot on the floor in
rhythmic time, while all of the other parts mentioned are kept in
motion as previously.)
Eight fingers two thumbs two hands two arms two feet two legs
keep moving, etc.
(Add similar movement of the other leg.)
Eight fingers two thumbs two hands two arms two feet two legs
one head keep moving, etc.
(Add a nodding movement of the head, forward and backward.)
This is a Scotch game and is full of sport, but will depend largely
for its success upon the familiarity of the leader with the order of
the movements, and, like most Scotch games, upon the rapid and
sustained time in which it is kept going. It is especially good for
the schoolroom, as it affords some excellent exercise without the
players leaving their seats.
KING OF FRANCE (THE)
_10 to 60 players._
_Playground; gymnasium; schoolroom._
[Illustration music:
The King of France with for-ty thou-sand men Marched
up the hill and then marched down a-gain.
]
The King of France with forty thousand men
Marched up the hill and then marched down again.
The players stand in two rows or groups facing each other. Each group
has a leader who stands in the center and represents a king leading
his army.
The game or play is a simple one of imitation; in which the players
perform in unison some action first indicated by one of the leaders.
The leaders of the two groups take turns in singing the verse, at the
same time marching forward during the first line of the verse, and
back again to their places during the second line, illustrating the
action that is then to be taken by all. The verse is then sung by both
groups while advancing toward each other and retreating, performing
the movements indicated by the leaders. The movements illustrated by
the leaders may be anything suitable to an army of men, the words
describing the movement being substituted for the line, "Marched up
the hill." Thus:--
The King of France with forty thousand men
Waved his flag and then marched down again.
The following variations are suggested, each of which indicates the
movements to go with it.
Gave a salute, etc.
Beat his drum.
Blew his horn.
Drew his sword.
Aimed his gun.
Fired his gun.
Shouldered arms.
Pranced on his horse.
It is scarcely necessary to say that a real flag and drum add much to
the martial spirit of the game, and if each soldier can have a stick
or wand over his shoulder for a gun, the _esprit de corps_ will be
proportionately enhanced.
KITTY WHITE
_10 to 30 or more players._
_Indoors; out of doors._
This is an admirable game for very little children. Their dramatic
tendency should be given full rein in impersonating the soft movements
of the kitty and mousie before the chase begins.
Kitty White so slyly comes,
To catch the Mousie Gray;
But mousie hears her softly creep;
And quickly runs away.
Run, run, run, little mouse,
Run all around the house;
For Kitty White is coming near,
And she will catch the mouse, I fear.
[Illustration music: Kitty White
Kit-ty White so sly-ly comes To catch the Mous-ie Gray; But
mous-ie hears her soft-ly creep And quick-ly runs a-way. Run,
run, run, lit-tle mouse, Run all a-round the house; For
Kit-ty White is com-ing near, And she will catch the mouse, I fear.
]
One player is chosen for the mouse and stands in the center, and
another for Kitty White, who stands outside of the circle. The other
players join hands in a ring and move around, while singing the first
four lines. Meanwhile Kitty White is creeping around outside of the
circle, peeping in at little Mousie Gray. When the fourth line is
reached, "And quickly runs away," the circle stops moving and drops
hands while the mouse runs out and in through the circle, chased by
Kitty White. For the last four lines, while the chase is going on,
the players in the circle stand in place and clap their hands while
singing "Run, run," etc.
When the mousie is caught, both return to the circle, and another
mouse and kitty are chosen.
[Illustration: THE DUCK DANCE]
LEAVES ARE GREEN
_4 to 60 players._
_Indoors; out of doors._
This is a game for small children. The players join hands and form a
ring. They dance around in a circle in time to the music, singing to
the air of "Mulberry bush":--
The leaves are green, the nuts are brown;
They hang so high they will not come down;
Leave them alone till frosty weather;
Then they will all come down together.
As the last words are sung, the children all stoop suddenly to the
ground, to represent the falling nuts. This is more interesting if the
time be rapid and if the players jump before stooping, which may lead
to their tumbling over as the nuts do when they fall from the trees.
LET THE FEET GO TRAMP
_10 to 60 players._
_Playground; gymnasium; schoolroom._
Let the feet go tramp! tramp! tramp!
Let the hands go clap! clap! clap!
Let the finger beckon thee.
Come, dear friend, and skip with me.
La, la la la, la la la, etc.
Let the Feet Go Tramp
[Illustration music: Let the Feet Go Tramp
Let the feet go tramp, tramp, tramp, Let the hands go clap, clap, clap,
Let the fin-ger beck-on thee, Come, dear play-mate, skip with me.
Tra la la la la la la, La la la la la la la,
La la la la la la la, La la la la la.
]
The players form a circle with from one to five in the center,
according to the number of players. All of the players, both circle
and center, sing the verse, suiting the action to the words with
stamping of the feet for "Tramp, tramp, tramp!" and clapping of the
hands for "Clap, clap, clap!" As the last line, "Come dear friend and
skip with me," is sung, each child in the center beckons to one in the
circle, who steps in and joins hands with the little partner as they
stand facing each other. These partners in the center then dance
around in time to the chorus "La, la," and the circle players may also
join hands and dance in a circle.
LONDON BRIDGE
_6 to 30 or more players._
_Indoors; out of doors._
[Illustration music:
Lon-don bridge is fall-ing down, Fall-ing down, fall-ing down,
Lon-don bridge is fall-ing down, My fair la-dy.
]
London Bridge is falling down,
Falling down, falling down.
London Bridge is falling down,
My fair lady!
Build it up with iron bars,
Iron bars, iron bars.
Build it up with iron bars,
My fair lady!
Iron bars will bend and break,
Bend and break, bend and break,
Iron bars will bend and break,
My fair lady!
Build it up with gold and silver, etc.
Gold and silver will be stolen away, etc.
Get a man to watch all night, etc.
Suppose the man should fall asleep? etc.
Put a pipe into his mouth, etc.
Suppose the pipe should fall and break? etc.
Get a dog to bark all night, etc.
Suppose the dog should meet a bone? etc.
Get a cock to crow all night, etc.
Here's a prisoner I have got, etc.
What's the prisoner done to you? etc.
Stole my hat and lost my keys, etc.
A hundred pounds will set him free, etc.
A hundred pounds he has not got, etc.
Off to prison he must go, etc.
Two of the tallest players represent a bridge by facing each other,
clasping hands, and holding them high for the others to pass under.
The other players, in a long line, holding each other by the hand or
dress, pass under the arch while the verses are sung alternately by
the players representing the bridge and those passing under, those
forming the arch singing the first and alternate verses and the last
"Off to prison." As the words,--
"Here's a prisoner I have got"
are sung, the players representing the bridge drop their arms around
the one who happens to be passing under at the time. The succeeding
verses are then sung to "Off to prison he must go." During this last
one the prisoner is led off to one side to a place supposed to be a
prison, and is there asked in a whisper or low voice to choose between
two valuable objects, represented by the two bridge players who have
previously agreed which each shall represent, such as a "diamond
necklace" or a "gold piano." The prisoner belongs to the side which he
thus chooses. When all have been caught, the prisoners line up behind
their respective leaders (who have up to this time been the holders of
the bridge), clasp each other around the waist, and a tug of war
takes place, the side winning which succeeds in pulling its opponent
across a given line.
Where a large number of players are taking part, say over ten, the
action may be made much more rapid and interesting by forming several
spans or arches to the bridge instead of only one, and by having the
players run instead of walk under. There is thus much more activity
for each player, and the prisoners are all caught much sooner.
This is a very ancient game, supposed to have originated in the
custom of making a foundation sacrifice at the building of a
bridge. The tug of war is thought by Mr. Newell possibly to
signify a contest between powers of good and evil for the soul
of the victim sacrificed.
LOOBY LOO
_5 to 60 or more players._
_Indoors; out of doors._
Here we dance, looby, looby, looby.
Here we dance, looby, looby, light.
Here we dance, looby, looby, looby, loo,
Every Saturday night.
Put your right hand in
Put your right hand out
Give your right hand a shake, shake, shake,
Hinkumbooby round-about.
Here we dance, looby, looby, looby, etc.
Put your left hand in, etc.
Here we dance, looby, looby, looby, etc.
Put your two hands in, etc.
Put your right foot in, etc.
Put your left foot in, etc.
Put your two feet in, etc.
Put your right elbow in, etc.
Put your left elbow in, etc.
Put your two elbows in, etc.
Put your right ear in, etc.
Put your left ear in, etc.
Put your head way in (bend deeply from the waist).
[Illustration music: Looby Loo
Here we dance looby, loo-by, loo-by,
Here we dance looby, loo-by, light;
Here we dance loo-by, loo-by, loo-by, loo,
Ev-'ry Sat-ur-day night. Put your right hand in,
Put your right hand out, Give your right hand a
shake, shake, shake, Hin-kum-boo-by round a-bout.
]
The players stand in a ring, clasping hands. For the first two lines
of the chorus,--
Here we dance, looby, looby, looby,
Here we dance, looby, looby, light,
the players sway from one foot to the other, throwing the free foot
across the other in sort of a balance movement in rhythm to the music.
On the last two lines of this verse,--
Here we dance, looby, looby, looby, loo,
Every Saturday night,
the circle gallops halfway around to the left for the first line, and
reverses the action, returning to place on the last line.
For the alternate verses which describe action the movements are
suited to the words; for instance, when the left hand is called for,
the players lean far forward and stretch the left hand into the ring
while singing the first line, turn around, and stretch the left hand
outward for the second line, shake the hand hard on the third line,
and on the last line jump or spin completely around.
This is a very ancient game, supposed to have originated in a
choral dance, probably in celebration of the rites of some
deity, in which animal postures were assumed or animal rites
were an object. Later, it was an old court dance, stately and
decorous as the minuet.
MUFFIN MAN
_6 to 30 or more players._
_Indoors; out of doors._
The players stand in a circle, with one or more in the center. The
circle dances around and sings the first two lines of the following
verse. They then stand still while the player or players in the center
choose each a partner who enters the circle with him; they clasp hands
and dance around, singing the last two lines:--
Oh, have you seen the muffin man, the muffin man, the muffin man?
Oh, have you seen the muffin man that lives in Drury Lane, O!
Oh, yes, I've seen the muffin man, the muffin man, the muffin man,
Oh, yes, I've seen the muffin man that lives in Drury Lane, O!
[Illustration music: (The) Muffin Man
Oh, have you seen the muffin man, the
muffin man, the muffin man? Oh, have you seen the
muffin man that lives in Drury Lane, O!
Oh, yes, I've seen the muffin man, the
muffin man, the muffin man, Oh, yes, I've seen the
muffin man that lives in Drury Lane, O!
]
Miss Newton has a very good adaptation of this game for the
schoolroom or parlor, in which four or five players stand in
corners. Each of these chooses a partner at the end of the
second line, and these groups of two dance in a circle.
MULBERRY BUSH
_6 to 60 players or more._
_Indoors; out of doors._
Here we go round the mulberry bush,
The mulberry bush, the mulberry bush,
Here we go round the mulberry bush,
So early in the morning!
[Illustration music: MULBERRY BUSH
Here we go round the mulberry bush,
The mulberry bush, the mulberry bush,
Here we go round the mulberry bush,
So early in the morning!
]
This is the way we wash our clothes,
We wash our clothes, we wash our clothes,
This is the way we wash our clothes,
So early Monday morning.
This is the way we iron our clothes,
We iron our clothes, we iron our clothes,
This is the way we iron our clothes,
So early Tuesday morning.
This is the way we scrub the floor,
We scrub the floor, we scrub the floor,
This the way we scrub the floor,
So early Wednesday morning.
This is the way we mend our clothes,
We mend our clothes, we mend our clothes,
This the way we mend our clothes,
So early Thursday morning.
This is the way we sweep the house,
We sweep the house, we sweep the house,
This is the way we sweep the house,
So early Friday morning.
Thus we play when our work is done,
Our work is done, our work is done,
Thus we play when our work is done,
So early Saturday morning.
The players stand in a circle clasping hands, and circle around,
singing the first verse. In the second and alternate verses the action
indicated by the lines is given in pantomime. In all verses the
players spin around rapidly, each in her own place, on the repetition
of the refrain, "So early in the morning."
This is one of the oldest traditional games, and probably one
of the most widely known. It is considered to have originated
as a marriage dance around a sacred tree or bush, our mistletoe
custom having come from the same source.
NUTS IN MAY
_6 to 60 or more players._
_Indoors; out of doors._
(Sung to the air of "Mulberry Bush")
Here we come gathering nuts in May,
Nuts in May, nuts in May.
Here we come gathering nuts in May,
On a cold and frosty morning.
Whom will you have for nuts in May,
Nuts in May, nuts in May?
Whom will you have for nuts in May
On a cold and frosty morning?
We'll have (Mary) for nuts in May,
Nuts in May, nuts in May,
We'll have (Mary) for nuts in May,
On a cold and frosty morning.
Whom will you send to fetch her away,
To fetch her away, to fetch her away?
Whom will you send to fetch her away,
On a cold and frosty morning?
We'll send (Alice) to fetch her away,
To fetch her away, to fetch her away.
We'll send (Alice) to fetch her away,
On a cold and frosty morning.
The players stand in two lines facing each other and holding hands,
with a wide space between which will admit of advancing toward each
other and retreating. The first line sings the first verse, advancing
toward its opponents and retreating. The second line then advances and
retreats and sings the second verse. The first line again advances and
retreats, singing the third verse, naming some player who stands in
the opposing line. The second line, unwilling to yield a player so
easily, then advances and retires, singing the fourth verse, in which
it suggests that some one be sent to take the one who has been
selected for "nuts," and the first line then advances and retires,
singing the last verse, in which it names some player from its own
side whom it considers a good match for the player whom it has called
from the opposite side.