Hen And Chickens.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XX, Issue 1415, 24 December 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

Hen And Chickens.

A boy is chosen Fox, a big girl is Hen. The rest of the children are Chickens. The chickens are ranged back of one another each grasping the waists or jackets of the one in front. The foremost chicken takes firm hold of the Hen in a similar manner. Thus they stand In file behind the Hen, who holds out her skirt like wings to protect her chicks. The Fox is hidden behind a tree or bush. The Hen walks to and fro before this bush with her chicks, singing : •' Chickany, chiekany, crany crow, I went to the well to wash my toe, When I came back my chicken was dead. " What o'clock is it old Fox?" | " One o'clock," says the Fox. Then she repeats the rhyme. " Two o'clock," says the Fcx.

And so the Hen goes on repeating the rhyme six times, and each time passing to and fro before the den. To each question, " What o'clock is it?" the old Fox tells her it is an hour later than it was last time she asked, until he reaches six o'clock. Then he makes a rush for the chicks.

Now the Hen must protect her brood by heading off the crafty Fox, and the ehioks will have to be smart in order to keep in line behind the old Hen, If the Fox catches a chicken he carries it off to his den, and as he is supposed to eat it, the chicken

must remain there quietly until the end of the game,

After a chicken is caught the Hen continues to walk with her remaining chicks before Mr. Fox's den, saying the rhyme as before, and as soon as it comes to "six o'clock," the Fox rushes out as before, catches a chicken, and carries it off. The game is continued until the last chicken is captured.