d never
gave me a bit of it!" The mother asks the next child, who says she cut
off her ear or fingers, etc., and made a pie, not giving her a bit of
it. When all have told the mother what the lady has done to them, they
all rise up and chase the lady; when captured, she is led off to
prison.

This is one of the oldest traditional dramatic games, and is
found in some form in almost all countries. Sometimes the
mother is supposed to be poor, and bestows her children upon
the wealthy lady of the land for adoption. It is thought
possibly to have come from the country practice in European
countries of hiring servants at fairs.

LAME FOX AND CHICKENS

_10 to 30 or more players._

_Playground; gymnasium._

One player is chosen for the fox, and stands in a den marked off at
one end of the playground. The rest are chickens, and have a chicken
yard at the opposite end of the ground. The chickens advance as near
as they dare to the den of the fox and tease him by calling out: "Lame
fox! Lame fox! Can't catch anybody!" The lame fox may take only three
steps beyond his den, after which he must hop on one foot, trying to
tag the chickens while hopping. All tagged become foxes and go home
with him, thereafter sallying forth with him to catch the chickens.
They must all then observe the same rule of taking but three steps
beyond the den, after which they must hop. Should any fox put both
feet down at once after his three steps while outside the den, the
chickens may drive him back. Care should be taken that the hopping be
not always done on the same foot, though a fox may change his hopping
from one foot to the other. The chicken last caught wins the game and
becomes the first lame fox in the new game.

Where more than thirty players are engaged, the game should start with
two or more foxes.

This game has sometimes been called Lame Goose.

It is admirable for players of all ages, but, like all "dare"
games, is especially good to overcome timidity. Timid children
should be encouraged to venture near the fox and to take risks
in giving their challenge.

LAST COUPLE OUT

(Widower; Last Pair Pass)

_11 to 31 or more players._

_Playground; gymnasium._

An odd number of players is required for this game. One is chosen for
catcher, who stands at one end of the playground with his back to the
other players. The other players stand in couples in a long line