A CHILDREN'S GAME.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 205, 23 May 1908, Page 11

A CHILDREN'S GAME.

Ono is sometimes askod to provide a good rainy-day gamo for children. Hero is ono from an English paper that can bo taught in a few minutes. In a wholly natural way tho gamo of "White Boso" creatos somo delightful postures and groups. These are accompanied by somo verses about a "white rose" aud a "willow-tree," and when beginning to play a couple of children are chosen to represent these two, preferably a short ono and a tall one. Near them stand tho others in a group or circle, and these repeat: "There stood a white rose by a willow-tree, And it grew, and grew, and grew. Oh, little white roso, will you bloom for mc, ' As you stand in the sun by the willowtree? Oh, do 10h, dol Oh, do!" As the last lino of tho first couplet is repeatedXthe children express tho growing of tho roso, in pantomime, by stretching out their arms in front of them and slowly spreading them apart, gradually widening the distanco between the palms. When tho words, "Oh, do!" are spoken, those in tho lino assume all sorts of supplicating attitudes. Then the Wliito Rose cries : "I'm spinning my roses and weaving the dew Just now in a sweet little nosegay for you." As sho says these words she advances and waves her hands about, as though making tho nosegay, selecting meanwhile four of tho largest and strongest children from tho group. All go back to the Willow-Tree, whero they kneel at the feet of the Rose, to form tho nosegay. Then Rose turns to' tho others and says: "But beforo you may. pluck it you'll have to break through The hedge of my thorns ; and, whatever you do, Look out for the willow-trce." Upon this the nosegay springs up to be-' como a protecting circle of thorns about tho Roso, for tho rest of the players immediately rush • upon them in efforts to "pluck" her. The AVillow-Tree, almost im- | movable up to this time, now throws himself into tho scramble at tho points where danger of breaking through tho lino seems most imminent, trying to thwart the attempts of these players, and to ward off others who may bo coming to their aid. When, at last, tho Roso is reached, a new gamo is formed, with different children in the centre.