Buff says Buff to all his men, 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 pa.s.ses 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 Game

This 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 pa.s.s on to pat her cheek, or prod her sides, or pinch her nose.

Statues

Another 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 Sneeze

One 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.

Bingo

In "Bingo" the players begin by joining hands and marching round, singing--

There was a farmer had a dog 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 Alive

A 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,

Robin's alive, and alive he shall be If he dies in my hand you may back-saddle me,

and at once pa.s.ses 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,

Rocks and stones and the old horse's bones All this and more you may pile upon me.

The Mulberry Bush

The players join hands and go round and round in a ring, singing--

Here we go round the mulberry bush, the mulberry bush, the mulberry bush, Here we go round the mulberry bush On a fine and frosty morning.

They then let go hands and sing--

This is the way we wash our clothes, wash our clothes, wash our clothes, 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 are--

(2) This is the way we iron our clothes.

(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 gaily--

(8) This is the way we come from school,

and then the chorus comes again, and the game is done.

Looby, Looby

This 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, singing--

Here we dance Looby, looby, Here we dance Looby light, Here we dance Looby, looby, All on a Sat.u.r.day night.

Then, letting go of hands and standing still, they sing--

Put your right hands in, 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 order--

(2) Put your left hands in.

(3) Put your right feet in.

(4) Put your left feet in.

(5) Put your noddles in.

And finally--

Put your bodies in, 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,"