_6 to 30 or more players._

_Indoors; out of doors._

[Ill.u.s.tration 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 c.o.c.k 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 pa.s.s under.

The other players, in a long line, holding each other by the hand or dress, pa.s.s under the arch while the verses are sung alternately by the players representing the bridge and those pa.s.sing 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 pa.s.sing 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 Sat.u.r.day night.

Put your right hand in Put your right hand out Give your right hand a shake, shake, shake, Hink.u.mb.o.o.by 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).

[Ill.u.s.tration 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-k.u.m-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,--