As Amish kids my siblings and I didn't play with guns or cap pistols. We used .22s for target practice but the mood then was totally sober; no leaping around or waving the gun or anything like that. (Bragging was allowed.) I expect we got that attitude from my father. Because I was next to youngest in a large family I learned it from the older kids.

We played 'Cowboys and Indians' in the woods. Along with my brothers I prized my ability to move silently through the trees. (You move carefully and with patience and your foot goes under the twigs.) Because we were also, one of my brothers and I were quite proud of the fact that 'Indians tended to be a little pigeon toed'. I have no idea if it's true but that's what we read. Perhaps because we had horses and cattle, cowboys, as such, didn't have nearly the appeal that Indians had. The Indians tended to win the battles.

Our 'war' weapons were buckets of gathered acorns; our shields were 'boiler' lids (remember them?) and garbage can lids. We ran through the orchard, dodging behind trees, sneaking up and over the ridge. If you caught one of the bigger kids by surprise it made your day.

Frankly, I don't remember that I ever did.