What Shall We Do Now? by Dorothy Canfield Fisher (unputdownable books .TXT) π
Stir the Mash
This is another variety of "Going to Jerusalem." The chairs are placed against the wall in a row, one fewer than the players. One of the players sits down in the middle of the room with a stick and pretends to be stirring a bowl of
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This test of self-control is rather a favorite; but it is not so much a game as a means of distributing forfeits. The players sit in a circle. One then stands up and, holding out a stick, repeats these linesβ
And I say Buff to you again.
Buff never laughs, Buff never smiles,
In spite of all your cunning wiles,
But carries his face
With a very good grace,
And passes his stick to the very next place.
This must be said without laughing or smiling. Each player in turn holds the stick and repeats the verses, those that laugh or smile having, when it is over, to pay a forfeit.
The Ditto GameThis is another game in which laughter is forbidden. The players sit close together in a silent circle. Whatever the leader does the others have to do, but without smile or sound. Perhaps the leader will begin by pulling the next player's hair, and pass on to pat her cheek, or prod her sides, or pinch her nose.
StatuesAnother trial of composure. The players choose what positions they will and become as still and as silent as statues. One player is judge. It is his business to try and make the statues laugh. All who laugh pay forfeits; but the one who keeps his face grave longest becomes "Judge."
Laughter"Laughter" is just the opposite. The company sit in a circle and the game is begun by one throwing a handkerchief into the air. Immediately this is done every one must begin to laugh and continue to laugh until the handkerchief touches the ground. They must then stop or leave the circle. Gradually all will leave but one, who must then perform by himself, if he is willing.
The Concerted SneezeOne third of the company agree to say "Hish" all together at a given signal, another third agree to say "Hash," and the rest agree to say "Hosh." The word of command is then given, and the result is the sound as of a tremendous sneeze.
BingoIn "Bingo" the players begin by joining hands and marching round, singingβ
His name was Bobby Bingo O.
B, I, N, G, O,
B, I, N, G, O,
B, I, N, G, O,
And Bingo was his name O!
The players then loose hands, the girls go inside the ring and stand there, and the boys run round them singing the rhyme again. Then the boys go inside and the girls run round them and sing it. And then hands are taken once more and all go round in the original circle singing it a fourth time. If no boys are playing, the girls should arrange, before the game begins, which shall personate them.
Robin's AliveA good game for the fireside is "Robin's Alive." There are so few children nowadays who have fireplaces that this can be modified so that it is a good evening game for any quiet group of children. Some one lights a piece of twisted paper or a stick of wood, twirls it rapidly in the air to keep it burning and says, as fast as he can,
If he dies in my hand you may back-saddle me,
and at once passes the paper on to the next player who in turn recites the verse. The one in whose hand it finally goes out is "back-saddled" in this way. He lies down on the floor and the others pile cushions and chairs and books on him while he repeats,
All this and more you may pile upon me.
The Mulberry Bush
The players join hands and go round and round in a ring, singingβ
Here we go round the mulberry bush
On a fine and frosty morning.
They then let go hands and singβ
This is the way we wash our clothes
On a fine and frosty morning,
and as they sing they pretend to be washing. After the verse is done they join hands again and dance round to the singing of the mulberry bush chorus again, and so on after each verse. The other verses areβ
(3) This is the way we wash our face.
(4) This is the way we comb our hair.
(5) This is the way we go to school (very sadly).
(6) This is the way we learn our book.
(7) This is the way we sew our seams.
And lastly and very gailyβ
and then the chorus comes again, and the game is done.
Looby, LoobyThis is another of the old country games in which the players all have to do the same things. They first join hands and dance round, singingβ
Here we dance Looby light,
Here we dance Looby, looby,
All on a Saturday night.
Then, letting go of hands and standing still, they singβ
Put your right hands out,
Shake them and shake them a little,
And turn yourselves about,
and at the same time they do what the song directs. Then the dance and chorus again, and then the next verse, and so on. This is the orderβ
(3) Put your right feet in.
(4) Put your left feet in.
(5) Put your noddles in.
And finallyβ
Put your bodies out,
Shake them and shake them a little,
And turn yourselves about.
Orchestra
An ear-splitting game that is always great fun. The players stand in rows before the leader or "conductor," who sings a verse from any well-known nonsense or other song. Then he says, pointing to one of the players, "and the first violin played this simple melody," whereupon the two sing the verse over again, the player imitating with his arms the movements of a violin player, and with his voice the sound of a squeaking fiddle. Then the conductor says, pointing to another player, "and the big trombone played this simple melody." Then the three sing together, the second player imitating the sound of a trombone and the appearance of a trombone player. This is continued until every one is playing on an imaginary instrument, the conductor, of course, being the only one who sings the words of the song.
A Good Fat HenA nonsensical game, useful in leading to forfeits. The company sit in a row, and one of the end players begins by saying, "A good fat hen." Each of the others in turn must then say, "A good fat hen." The first player then says, "Two ducks and a good fat hen," and the words pass down the line. Then "Three squawking wild geese, two ducks, and a good fat hen." And so on until the end is reached, in the following orderβ
Fourth round.β Prefix: Four plump partridges. Fifth round.β " Five pouting pigeons. Sixth round.β " Six long-legged cranes. Seventh round.β " Seven green parrots. Eighth round.β " Eight screeching owls. Ninth round.β " Nine ugly turkey-buzzards. Tenth round.β " Ten bald eagles.The sentence has now reached a very difficult length:β"Ten bald eagles, nine ugly turkey-buzzards, eight screeching owls, seven green parrots, six long-legged cranes, five pouting pigeons, four plump partridges, three squawking wild geese, two ducks and a good fat hen." Any one making a mistake may be made to pay a forfeit.
John BallThe same game may be played also with "The House that Jack Built," and there are other stories of a similar kind. Among these the most amusing for a large party would perhaps be the old rhyme of "John Ball."
First round.β John Ball shot them all. Second round.β John Block made the stock, But John Ball shot them all. Third round.β John Brammer made the rammer, John Block made the stock, But John Ball shot them all. Fourth round.β John Wyming made the priming, John Brammer made the rammer, John Block made the stock, But John Ball shot them all. Fifth round.β John Scott made the shot.... Sixth round.β John Crowder made the powder.... Seventh round.β John Puzzle made the muzzle.... Eighth round.β John Farrell made the barrel.... Ninth round.β John Clint made the flint.... Tenth round.β John Patch made the match...In the tenth round, then, each player has to sayβ
John Clint made the flint,
John Farrell made the barrel,
John Puzzle made the muzzle,
John Crowder made the powder,
John Scott made the shot,
John Wyming made the priming,
John Brammer made the rammer,
John Block made the stock,
But John Ball shot them all.
Chitterbob
There is also the old rhyme of "Chitterbob," but it is usual in repeating this to say it all at once, in one round, and not prolong the task. This is the rhyme:β
He had a wife and her name was Mob,
He had a dog and his name was Bob,
She had a cat and her name was Chitterbob.
"Bob," says Cob;
"Chitterbob," says Mob.
Bob was Cob's dog,
Mob's cat was Chitterbob,
Cob, Mob, Bob, and Chitterbob.
In the old way of playing "Chitterbob" a paper horn used to be twisted into the player's hair for each mistake made in the recitation, and at the end these horns could be got rid of only by paying forfeits.
The Muffin Man"The Muffin Man" is another variety. The players sit in a circle, and the game is begun by one of them turning to the next and asking, either in speech or in songβ
Oh, do you know the muffin man who lives in Drury Lane?
The reply isβ
Oh, yes I know the muffin man who lives in Drury Lane.
Both players then repeat togetherβ
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