"One Red Hen"...what does that have to do
with drinking you might ask. The answer...I have no idea.
But that is what the game is called so just deal with it,
ok?
All participants sit in a circle. There is one
leader, who is responsible for leading the game. This
individual must memorize the passage below in full.
Each line must be repeated around the circle, after
the leader's lead, preceded by each of the previously
used lines in their proper order. It is easier to
understand if an example is given.
[First time round the circle]
Leader: To the judge, Queen, and country! [take
a quick swig]
[Each individual in the circle then takes their
turn at the preceding passage. After all have had
their turn, the leader begins the second time round
the circle]
Leader: To the judge, Queen, and country! [take
a quick swig]
One red hen, and a couple of ducks. [The whole
phrase is repeated by each individual around the
circle]
The whole series of verses is as follows:
- To the judge, Queen, and country!
- One red hen, and a couple of ducks.
- Three brown bear.
- Four running hare.
- Five frolicking fillies
- Six simple Simon's.
- Seven salty seamen, sailing the seven seas.
- Eight elongated elephants elevating elegantly
in an elevator.
- Nine nimble nimphomaniacs kneeling nicely in
their nighties in a nunnery.
- Ten, I am not a fig plucker, nor a fig
plucker's son. But, I'll pluck figs till the
fig pluckings done.
Remember that each time the game goes round the
circle a new line must be added to the whole. The
point in all of this is that when a mistake is made,
a nice long swig must be taken in punishment. The
game ends when the whole stream of verses have been
completed.