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Children's Games 179
Cat watches the chance to spring into the circle at one side, and the Mouse dashes out at the other—public sympathy being with the Mouse. His or her movements are aided when possible. When the Cat is in the circle, the players lower their arms so as to keep the enemy prisoner. The Cat goes around meekly, crying "Mew, mew," while the rest dance around her. With a sudden "Miaow!" she tries to break through any weak place in the chain of hands.
As soon as she escapes she tries to catch the Mouse, who runs for safety into the ring again, hotly pursued. If the Cat is so near as to follow the Mouse into the ring, before her entrance can be prevented, or if she catches the Mouse outside the circle, the Mouse must pay a forfeit. If the Cat is unsuccessful, then she must pay the forfeit. Two more players are then named by the Cat end Mouse to succeed them.
GOING TO JERUSALEM
If asked suddenly to name the most popular game of childhood, nine out of ten persons would name "Tag," but the second choice, I think, would be "Going to Jerusalem."
A row of chairs, facing alternately different ways, is placed through the centre of the room—a chair for every player except one.
Some one at the piano plays a lively air, first fast, then slow, very loud, then low—while the children march around the chairs without touching them, keeping time with the music. When the music suddenly stops, all rush for a seat. A chair must be taken away each time the marching recommences—until but two chairs remain, when the excitement becomes intense. The one who at the moment that the music ceases has the good fortune |
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