Games for the Playground, Home, School and Gymnasium Part 24

_15 to 100 players._

_Playground; gymnasium; house party._

All but two of the players stand in parallel lines or ranks, one behind the other, with ample s.p.a.ce between each two players and each two ranks; all the players in each rank clasp hands in a long line.

This will leave aisles between the ranks, and through these a runner and chaser make their way.

The sport of the game consists in sudden changes in the direction of the aisles, brought about by one player who is chosen as leader and stands aside, giving the commands, "Right face!" or "Left face!" at his discretion. When one of these commands is heard, all of the players standing in the ranks drop hands, face in the direction indicated, and quickly clasp hands with the players who are then their neighbors on the right and left. This brings about a change of direction in the aisles, and therefore necessitates a change of direction in the course of the two who are running.

The success of the game depends largely upon the judgment of the leader in giving the commands, "Right (or left) face!" They should be given quickly and repeatedly, the leader often choosing a moment when the pursuer seems just about to touch his victim, when the sudden obstruction put in his way by the change in the position of the ranks makes necessary a sudden change of direction on his part. The play continues until the chaser catches his victim, or until a time limit has expired. In either case two new players are then chosen from the ranks to take the places of the first runners.

It is a foul to break through the ranks or to tag across the clasped hands.

MENAGERIE

_10 to 60 or more players._

_Indoors._

This game may be one of the funniest possible for a house party. The players sit around the room or in a circle. One player who has ready wit is chosen to be ringmaster, or there may be different showmen or ringmasters for each group of animals. The ringmaster takes his place in the center, and will be more effective if furnished with a whip. He shows off in turn different troops of animals, pointing out from two to eight players for each troop, according to the number who are taking part. These must come forth into the center of the ring and go through their paces as indicated by the showman. He may thus display the growling and clawing bear, the hopping and croaking frog, the leaping kangaroo, the roaring and ramping lion, the humped camel, the stubborn and braying donkey, the screaming and wing-flapping eagle, the hooking and mooing cow, the neighing and galloping horse, etc.

For instance, the ringmaster may say: "Ladies and gentlemen: I will now exhibit to you a marvelous troup of snorting hippopotami. Such graceful carriage has never before been seen in these ponderous animals. They have learned to gambol in our Northern clime with even greater grace than they showed in their native jungles. They show almost human intelligence. Sit up there!" (cracking his whip) "Snort to the right! Snort to the left!" etc.

When all of the animals in the menagerie have been displayed, they may all join in a circus parade, each retaining his distinctive character.

MIDNIGHT

(Twelve O'clock at Night)

_10 to 30 or more players._

_Playground; gymnasium; cla.s.sroom._

One player is the fox and the others sheep. The fox may catch the sheep only at midnight. The game starts with the fox standing in a den marked in one corner of the playground, and the sheep in a sheepfold marked in the diagonally opposite corner. The fox leaves his den and wanders about the meadow (playground), whereupon the sheep also come forth and scatter around, approaching as close to the fox as they dare. They keep asking him, "What time is it?" and he answers with any hour he chooses. Should he say "Three o'clock," or "Eleven o'clock,"

etc., they are safe; but when he says "Midnight!" they must run for the sheepfold as fast as possible, the fox chasing them. Any sheep caught changes places with the fox, and the game is repeated. When played in a cla.s.s room, only a few children should be selected for sheep.

This game is enjoyed by children of almost any age.

It affords an excellent opportunity for daring and for finesse.

Timid children should be encouraged to take risks, approaching near the fox, and surrounding him on all sides. All should be taught to make the chase varied and difficult for the fox, instead of running in a straight line for the goal. The fox has opportunity for much stratagem in choosing for the moment when he says "Midnight!" one in which the players are standing where he could easily catch or corner them. He may also gain advantage by appearing to start in one direction and suddenly changing to another. These elements add zest to the game, cultivate prowess, and make the children brighter and more alert.

MOON AND MORNING STARS

_5 to 20 players._

_Out of doors._

This game is played when the sun is s.h.i.+ning. One of the players is the moon, and takes her place in a large area of shadow, such as would be cast by a large tree or a house. As the moon belongs to the night, she may not go out into the suns.h.i.+ne.

The other players are morning stars, and as they belong to the daylight, their place is in the sun. The morning stars dance around in the sunlight, venturing occasionally into the shadow where the moon is, saying--

"O the Moon and the Morning Stars, O the Moon and the Morning Stars!

Who dares to tread--Oh, Within the shadow?"

The moon tries to catch or tag them while they are in the shadow. Any star so caught changes places with the moon.

This game is played by the little Spanish children.

MOTHER, MAY I GO OUT TO PLAY?

This is one of the old traditional dramatic games and is found in many countries.

One player represents a mother, and the rest are her children, and stand in front of her in a line. One or all of them ask the mother the following question, the mother answering as indicated:--

"Mother, may I go out to play?"

"No, my child; it is such a wet day."

"Look how the sun s.h.i.+nes, mother."

"Well, make three round courtesies and be off away."

The children thereupon make three "round courtesies" by whirling around and dipping down suddenly to spread the skirts out. They then run away and pretend to play. Soon they return and knock at the door.

The mother asks:--

"What have you been doing all this time?"

"Brus.h.i.+ng Jennie's hair and combing Jennie's hair."

"What did you get for it?"

"A silver penny."

"Where's my share of it?"

"The cat ran away with it."

"Where's the cat?"