The pigeons rise to their feet and fly out of these holes, round and round the room.

As the music begins to stop and die away, the pigeons should return to their dovecote, and when the last note sounds they should all be settled again.  The farmer’s boy now runs round the ring, closing it in and making all safe for the night.

This game can be played without music, and the elder children can take their turn at being pigeons.

* * * * *

OATS AND BEANS AND BARLEY

All the children form a ring with the exception of one player, who stands in the center.  The children then dance round this one, singing the first three lines of the verses given below.  At the fourth line they stop dancing and act the words that are sung.  They pretend to scatter seed; they stand at ease, stamp their feet, clap their hands, and at the words:  “Turn him round,” each child turns round.

They then again clap hands and dance round, and when the words, “Open the ring and take one in,” are sung, the center child chooses a partner, who steps into the ring, and the two stand together while the other children sing the remaining verse, after which the child who was first in the center joins the ring and the game is continued as before.

  “Oats and beans and barley O! 
  Do you or I or any one know
  How oats and beans and barley grow?

  “First the farmer sows his seed,
  Then he stands and takes his ease,
  Stamps his foot and claps his hands,
  And turns him round to view the land.

  “Oats and beans and barley O! 
  Waiting for a partner, waiting for a partner. 
  Open a ring and send one in. 
  Oats and beans and barley O!

  “So now you’re married you must obey,
  You must be true to all you say,
  You must be kind, you must be good,
  And help your wife to chop the wood. 
  Oats and beans and barley O!”

* * * * *

BINGO

  “The miller’s dog lay at the mill,
  And his name was little Bingo,
  B with an I, I with an N, N with a G, G with an O,
  His name was little Bingo.

  “The miller he bought some peppermint,
  And he called it right good Stingo,
  S with a T, T with an I, I with an N, N with a G, G with an O,
  He called it right good Stingo.”

One child represents the miller, the rest stand round him in a circle, and all dance round and sing the verses.  When it comes to the spelling part of the rhyme, the miller points to a child, who must call out the right letter.

Any one who makes a mistake must pay a forfeit.

* * * * *

LUBIN LOO

This game can be played by any number of children.  The players form a ring by clasping hands; they then dance round singing the first verse, which after the second verse serves as a chorus.