Hunt The Squirrel
Source:
What Shall We Do Now?: Five Hundred Games And Pastimes
Category:
PICNIC GAMES
All the players except one join a ring. This one, with a knotted
handkerchief in his hand, walks round the outside of the ring for a
while, and then, dropping the handkerchief behind one of the players,
runs off crying--
Hunt the squirrel through the wood.
Now I've lost him--now I've found him!
Hunt the squirrel through the wood.
The player behind whom the handkerchief was dropped must
catch the squirrel before he can take up the empty place in
the ring left by the pursuer. It is more fun if, in dropping
the handkerchief, it can be done without the player discovering
it for a little while.
The way in which old-fashioned country children play
this game (called usually "Drop the handkerchief"), is a little
different. As the one with the handkerchief walks around
and around the outside of the ring all join in singing,
"A tisket! A tasket!
A green and yellow basket!
I sent a letter to my love
And now I find I've lost it.
I've lost it! I've lost it!
And where do you think I found it?
Up in the sky, ever so high
With angels gathered 'round it."
As the words "I've lost it!" are repeated, the player outside
must drop the handkerchief, but no one must look behind
him until the verse is ended. Then the one who finds the
handkerchief behind him must try to catch the first one, who
in turn tries to slip into the empty place.
Next:
Gaps
Previous:
The Little Dog
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