Eight fingers two thumbs two hands two arms two feet one leg keep moving, etc.
(Lift one leg with bent knee and replace the foot on the floor in rhythmic time, while all of the other parts mentioned are kept in motion as previously.)
Eight fingers two thumbs two hands two arms two feet two legs keep moving, etc.
Eight fingers two thumbs two hands two arms two feet two legs one head keep moving, etc.
(Add a nodding movement of the head, forward and backward.)
This is a Scotch game and is full of sport, but will depend largely for its success upon the familiarity of the leader with the order of the movements, and, like most Scotch games, upon the rapid and sustained time in which it is kept going. It is especially good for the schoolroom, as it affords some excellent exercise without the players leaving their seats.
The King of France with for-ty thou-sand men Marched up the hill and then marched down a-gain. ]
The King of France with forty thousand men Marched up the hill and then marched down again.
The players stand in two rows or groups facing each other. Each group has a leader who stands in the center and represents a king leading his army.
The game or play is a simple one of imitation; in which the players perform in unison some action first indicated by one of the leaders.
The leaders of the two groups take turns in singing the verse, at the same time marching forward during the first line of the verse, and back again to their places during the second line, illustrating the action that is then to be taken by all. The verse is then sung by both groups while advancing toward each other and retreating, performing the movements indicated by the leaders. The movements illustrated by the leaders may be anything suitable to an army of men, the words describing the movement being substituted for the line, "Marched up the hill." Thus:--
The King of France with forty thousand men Waved his flag and then marched down again.
The following variations are suggested, each of which indicates the movements to go with it.
Gave a salute, etc. Beat his drum. Blew his horn. Drew his sword. Aimed his gun. Fired his gun. Shouldered arms. Pranced on his horse.
It is scarcely necessary to say that a real flag and drum add much to the martial spirit of the game, and if each soldier can have a stick or wand over his shoulder for a gun, the _esprit de corps_ will be proportionately enhanced.