My Book of Indoor Games | Page 7

for
instance, "America," or "Amsterdam," in time, goes to the top of the
class. The schoolmaster may go on in this way through the alphabet
either regularly or at random, as he likes. Any subject--names of kings,
queens, poets, soldiers, etc.--may be chosen. The questions and answers
must follow as quickly as possible. Whoever fails to answer in time,
pays a forfeit.
* * * * *
RULE OF CONTRARY
This is a simple game for little children. It is played either with a
pocket-handkerchief, or, if more than four want to play, with a
table-cloth or small sheet. Each person takes hold of the cloth; the
leader of the game holds it with the left hand, while with the right he
makes pretense of writing on the cloth while he says: "Here we go
round by the rule of contrary. When I say 'Hold fast,' let go; and when I
say 'Let go,' hold fast." The leader then calls out one or other of the
commands, and the rest must do the opposite, of what he says. Any one
who fails must pay a forfeit.
* * * * *
SIMON SAYS

Seat yourselves in a circle and choose one of the company to be the
leader, or Simon. His duty is to order all sorts of different things to be
done, the funnier the better, which must be obeyed only when the order
begins with "Simon says." As, for instance, "Simon says: 'Thumbs up!'"
which, of course, all obey; then perhaps comes: "Thumbs down!"
which should not be obeyed, because the order did not commence with
"Simon says."
Each time this rule is forgotten a forfeit must be paid. "Hands over
eyes," "Stamp the right foot," "Pull the left ear," etc., are the kind of
orders to be given.
* * * * *
THE BIRD-CATCHER
To play this game you must first decide which one of you is to be the
Bird-catcher; the other players then each choose the name of a bird, but
no one must choose the owl, as it is forbidden. All the players then sit
in a circle with their hands on their knees, except the Bird-catcher, who
stands in the center, and tells a tale about birds, taking care to specially
mention the ones he knows to have been chosen by the company. As
each bird's name is called, the owner must imitate its note as well as he
can, but when the owl is named, all hands must be put behind the chairs,
and remain there until the next bird's name is mentioned. When the
Bird-catcher cries "All the birds," the players must together give their
various imitations of birds. Should any player fail to give the cry when
his bird is named, or forget to put his hands behind his chair, he has to
change places with Bird-catcher.
* * * * *
FRENCH ROLL
A good many children may play at this game. One player is called the
buyer, the rest form a line in front of him and take hold of each other.
The first in this line is called the baker, the last the French roll. Those
between are supposed to be the oven. When they are all in place the

buyer says to the baker, "Give me my French roll." The baker replies,
"It is at the back of the oven." The buyer goes to fetch it, when the
French roll begins running from the back of the oven, and comes up to
the baker, calling all the while, "Who runs? Who runs?" The buyer may
run after him, but if the French roll gets first to the top of the line, he
becomes baker, and the last in the line is French roll. If, however, the
buyer catches the French roll, the French roll becomes buyer, and the
buyer takes the place of the baker.
* * * * *
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