Drop the Handkerchief.
This is much too common to require a description. I will therefore only give the doggerel, which is recited by the holder of the handkerchief as he walks around the ring:—
"I sent a letter to my love,
I carried water in my glove,
And by the way I dropped it.
I did so! I did so!
I had a little dog that said 'Bow! wow!'
I had a little cat that said 'Meow! meow!'
Shan't bite you, shan't bite you.
Shall bite you."
Throws the handkerchief, and chases the girl.
Rules of Contrary.
Four children hold a handkerchief by the four corners, one moves a finger over it, saying, as fast as possible—
"Here I go round the rules of contrary,
Hopping about like a little canary.
When I say 'Hold fast' leave go;
When I say 'Leave go' hold fast."
Any player making a mistake pays a forfeit.
Lady Queen Anne.
A very pretty version of this old English game is often played at juvenile parties in Cornwall.
One child is chosen to remain in the room, whilst the others go outside and consult together as to whom shall hold the ball (some small thing). They then troop in, with their hands either hidden under the skirts of their dresses, or clasped in such a way that Lady Queen Anne, by looking at them, cannot tell which has it; all repeating—
"Here come we to Lady Queen Anne,
With a pair of white gloves to cover our hand;
As white as a lily, as fair as the rose,
But not so fair as you may suppose."
