Class _ikVHIi 
 
 Book .h^ ■ — 
 
(T': 
 
THE FEATHER. 
 
HOME GAMES 
 
 FOR 
 
 THE PEOPLE: 
 
 A COLLECTION OF FAMILY AMUSEMENTS FOR THE FIRE- 
 SIDE, PARLOUR, OR PIC-NIC PARTIES; 
 
 CONSISTING OF 
 
 Games of Action ; Gaines simply taxing the Attention ; Catch Games, depending 
 
 on the assistance of an Accomplice ; Games requiring the Exercise 
 
 of Fancy, Memory, Intelligence, and Imagination. 
 
 ^w t|e H^e d tie 
 
 mh '¥mn%. 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 PHILIP J. COZANS, ^ 
 
 NO. 107 NASSAU STREET, f) /f /^ 
 
Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1855, 
 
 BY PHILIP J. COZANS, 
 
 In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, 
 
 for the Southern District of New York. 
 
 VrNOENT Ii. Dii-L, Stereotyper. 
 
 128 Fultou Street, New Tn^-li. 
 
 
C ONTENTS. 
 
 I. €5sme3 of Jetton. 
 
 •) TAGE 
 
 HOT COCKLES .9 
 
 THE BUNDLES .10 
 
 THE FEATHER 11 
 
 jack's alive 12 
 
 THE AVOLF AND THE LAMBS 13 
 
 THE GAME OF THE KEY .15 
 
 SNAP DRAGON 16 
 
 rUSS, PUSS IN THE CORNER . . . . . . . . " 
 
 THE SHEPHERD AND THE "WOLF . . . . . . .17 
 
 THE HUNTSMAN .18 
 
 THE CAT AND THE MOUSE 20 
 
 CONVERSATION CARDS . . . . . . . . . " 
 
 BLIND man's BUFF — ITS VARIOUS MODIFICATIONS AND DERIVATIONS . 22 
 
 BLIND MAN IN THE CHAIR " 
 
 SHADOW BUFF 24 
 
 THE BLIND MAN's WAND . . . , . . .25 
 HUNT THE SLIPPER 26 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 li €Samcs mrnpl^ ^ufim tSe ^tteiittoii. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 THE BIRCCATCHER ... 29 
 
 THE SPORTSMAN AND THE GAME 35 
 
 THE PAINTER AND THE COLOURS 40 
 
 MAGIC MUSIC 43 
 
 what's the PRICE OF BARLEY? 45 
 
 BIRDS FLY 47 
 
 THE ELEMENTS " 
 
 THE RULE OF CONTRARY 48 
 
 THE TRADES . . . .49 
 
 MY lady's toilet; or, SPINNING THE TRENCHER . . . .50 
 
 THE BOX OF SECRETS 52 
 
 THE alphabet; or, I LOVE MY LOVE WITH AN A . . . .53 
 
 COME OUT OF THAT 65 
 
 PINCH "WITHOUT LAUGHING ....,..." 
 
 THE COMICAL CONCERT 56 
 
 FLY AWAY, pigeon! . . . 68 
 
 JUDGE AND JURY , 69 
 
 III. ©fames ot J^cmor^. 
 
 THE ECHO 61 
 
 THE ANTS AND THE GRASSHOPPER 66 
 
 THE SCHOOLMISTRESS; OR, MY LITTLE FINGER 70 
 
 MY grandmother's GARDEN 73 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 THE HORNED AMBASSADOR . 74 
 
 CROSS PURPOSES TG 
 
 THE BOOK OF FATE TV 
 
 THE BUTTERFLY Y9 
 
 IV. ®atc|) frames, 
 
 THE WITCH 83 
 
 THE WIZARD . 84 
 
 THE WHISTLE 85 
 
 THE KING AND HIS SLAVE 86 
 
 THE COOK WHO DOESN't LIKE PEAS . . . . . .88 
 
 THE CLAIRVOYANT BEHIND THE SCREEN 89 
 
 THE SCISSORS 91 
 
 THE MOLE IN THE FARMER's FIELD 92 
 
 I'VE BEEN TO MARKET " 
 
 HOT COCKLES FOR TWO 93 
 
 V. 6fames requirinfl tfiz 3Sj:extisz ot JFancg, antr XntcIUijcnte. 
 
 THE STOOL OF FJEPENTANCE . . . . . . . .95 
 
 ACTING RHYMES .98 
 
 THE SECRETARY .99 
 
 DEFINITIONS 102 
 
 PROVERBS • 104 
 
 HOW, WHEN, AND WHERE , 10*7 
 
 YES AND NO 109 
 
 ACTING PROVERB , . 113 
 
CONTENTS- 
 
 PAGF 
 
 HIDDEN WORD 115 
 
 COMPLIMENTS HY 
 
 THE BOQUET . , . . . 119 
 
 THE BOQUET INTERPEETED 120 
 
 TRANSFORMATIONS 122 
 
 THE SONG ON A GIVEN SUBJECT 123 
 
 PROVERBS 124 
 
 THE WILL ,, 
 
 THE BOQUET " 
 
 GOOD ADVICE 125 
 
 COMPARISONS " 
 
 THE EMBLEM " 
 
 THE DOORCHEEK 126 
 
 THE PRIVATE OPINION " 
 
 THE SECRET 127 
 
 THE TELEGRAPHIC MESSAGE . « 
 
 THE CONFIDENTIAL ANSVfTEK " 
 
 THE DECLARATION OF LOVE 128 
 
 THE PERFECT "WOMAN . . - - . . . - " 
 
 THE ACROSTIC * . . . . 129 
 
 THE THREE WORDS 130 
 
 THE FIRST LETTERS 131 
 
 THE TORN LETTER . . . . , 132 
 
 BOUTS RIMES 133 
 
 THE COMPLIMENT , . , . . 135 
 
 THE EXCLUDED VOWEL ....,..,." 
 
 CHARADES 186 
 
CONTENTS. rii 
 
 jForfelts, $(c. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 BLOWING OUT THE CANDLE 139 
 
 THE CHAM OF TAETAKY " 
 
 THE PARROT 140 
 
 DUMMEr " 
 
 THE STATUE ...........'* 
 
 KISSING THE CANDLESTICK 141 
 
 THE DISAPPOINTMENT ........." 
 
 THE SPIRIT OF CONTRADICTION " 
 
 THE BEGGAR " 
 
 THE PLLORIM . . 142 
 
 SULKS " 
 
 LANGUISHING 143 
 
 SO MANY YARDS OF KISSES . . . . . . . . " 
 
 THE CLOCK 144 
 
 THE ARBOUR OF LOVE , " 
 
 KISSING UNDER THE CANDLESTICK , 145 
 
 TO KISS YOUR OWN SHADOW " 
 
 TO KISS THE ONE YOU LOVE BEST WITHOUT ITS BEING NOTICED , . " 
 THE CHANCE KISS ...'......" 
 
 THE KNIGHT OF THE RUEFUL COUNTENANCE 146 
 
 ARIADNe's LEOPARD ; OR, THE HOBBY HORSE " 
 
 THE SOFA ..,,....,.. 14'7 
 
 THE EXILE . , . . " 
 
 TO BE AT THE iLERCY OF THE COMPANY " 
 
 JOURl^Y TQ ROitE . *f 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGB 
 
 the' cushion 148 
 
 the statue of love " 
 
 the country table 149 
 
 thread the needle 150 
 
 the genteel lady 151 
 
 the bird-seller . . . . . . , . . .153 
 
 the french roll 154 
 
 chairing the leg 156 
 
 prostrate and perpendicular 156 
 
 the stooping stretch " 
 
 the tantalus trick ......--.<* 
 
 another tantalus trick 157 
 
 knuckle down ... •......" 
 
 dot and carry two " 
 
 the triltviph , . " 
 
 to take a chair from under you without falling . . .158 
 
 thumb spring " 
 
 the flying book , . . " 
 
 LEAP BEFORE YOU LOOK 159 
 
 THE LONG REACH " 
 
 THE CRADLE OF LOVE 160 
 
GAMES OF ACTION. 
 
 HOT COCKLES. 
 
 Fortunately the principles of tliis game of our ances- 
 tors are more easily explained than its title, whose origin 
 is lost in the midst of antiquity. 
 
 A player kneels down before a lady, concealing his 
 face in her lap, as for the crying of forfeits. He then 
 places one hand, with the palm uppermost, on his back. 
 The rest of the company advance in turns, each adminis- 
 tering to the open hand a slap. The task of the kneeler 
 is to discover (without looking up) who it is has given 
 the slap. Should he succeed, the detected player takes 
 his place ; if not, he continues to occupy it himself, till 
 such time as he shall make a more fortunate guess. 
 
 The impatience of the victim, who, having received 
 several slaps without divining the operator, hears ironi- 
 cal suggestions offered to him, such as, " the loan of a 
 
10 HOME GAMES 
 
 pair of spectacles," " a bedroom candle, as he really 
 ought not to go to sleep there!^ a promise to " hit harder 
 next time, that he may recognise the hand," &c., is very 
 delightful indeed — to the spectators. 
 
 THE BUNDLES. 
 
 This is the only variety of the class of games known as 
 " Touch," or " Tag," worthy of distinction. 
 
 The players, who must be of an even number, are form- 
 ed into a double ring, their faces to the centre — a lady 
 being placed in front of each gentleman — each pair form- 
 ing what is termed a bundle. The bundles being arrang- 
 ed, two of the players are chosen — one to run after and 
 touch the other. The pursued has the right of crossing 
 the ring in any direction (for which purpose the bundles 
 must be sufficiently far apart from each other to afford 
 an easy passage), and when tired and not wishing to be 
 touched (and consequently become pursue?- in his turn), 
 may rest himself by standing in front of one of the bu7i- 
 dles. The bundle is then composed of three persons — 
 which is not allowable. The outside one of the three 
 must therefore run away to avoid being touched. If 
 touched, he takes the place of his pursuer, who is chased 
 
FOR THE PEOPLE. 11 
 
 in his turn ; or if lie likes it better, places himself in front 
 of one of the bundles, thereby compelling another player 
 to run away, — as the first. The fugitive, can however, 
 resign his post at any moment, by placing himself in front 
 of the hundle. The more frequently this is done, the 
 greater the perplexity of the pursuer ; — and in conse- 
 quence, the animation of the game. 
 
 As an in-door amusement, this game is out of the ques- 
 tion, from the space required for its exercise. 
 
 THE FEATHER. 
 
 One of the players takes a bed-feather, a bit of cotton- 
 down, or any light substance coming under the compre- 
 hensive denomination of " fluff," which he tosses up in 
 the centre of the assembled circle (who should be seated 
 as closely together as convenience will admit of). He 
 then blows upon it to keep it floating in the air. The in- 
 dividual to whom it comes nearest does the same in order 
 to prevent its falling on his knees, or indeed any part of 
 his person — an accident which would subject him to the 
 payment of a forfeit. 
 
 One of the chief advantages of this simple but highly 
 amusing game is, that steady serious people may be in- 
 
72 HOME GAMES 
 
 duced to engage in it. The gravity of their faces, blow- 
 ing and puffing away at the contemptible feather, as if 
 all their hopes were centred in evading its responsibility. 
 is truly edifying. Sometimes it happens (it being im- 
 possible to blow and laugh at the same time) that the 
 " fluff," drops into the player's mouth at the very mo- 
 ment when he is concentrating all his energies in the 
 effort to get rid of it. This is the signal for shouts of 
 laughter, and for a forfeit demanded in just expiation of 
 the player's greediness. We recollect seeing an eminent 
 college dignitary in such a predicament — a spectacle not 
 without its instructive tendencies. 
 
 JACK'S ALIYE. 
 
 The players pass from one to another a lighted match 
 or twist of paper, of which the flame has been blown out, 
 saying (as they present it), ^^ Jack^s alive /^^ 
 
 The player in whose hands the last spark dies out pays 
 a forfeit ; for which reason, when "Jack" appears in a 
 tolerably lively condition you do not hurry yourself to 
 give it up. When, on the contrary, the sparks seem in- 
 clined to die out you lose no time in handing it to your 
 
FOR THE PEOPLE. 13 
 
 neiglibour, who is bound to receive it directly you have 
 pronounced the requisite words. 
 
 This very simple game affords considerable amusement 
 without in the least degree taxing the intellectual resour- 
 ces of the players. 
 
 THE WOLF AND THE LAMBS. 
 
 In this game, all the ladies of a company may participate, 
 but only one gentleman at a time — who should be a man 
 of dauntless courage and great powers of endurance. 
 
 This latter personage is called the Wolf, The princi- 
 pal lady takes the part of the Shepherdess. The others 
 stand behind her in a single file, and constitute the Flock. 
 
 The aim of the Wolf is to catch the innocent lamb 
 who may happen to be at the extremity of the flock. He, 
 however, manifests his hostile intentions by the following 
 terrible announcement ! 
 
 "I am the Wolf! the Wolf! Come to eat you all up.'' 
 
 The Shepherdess replies, "I am the Shepherdess, and 
 will protect my lambs." 
 
 The Wolf retorts, " I'll have the little white one with 
 the golden hoofs." 
 
 This dialogue concluded, the Wolf attempts to make 
 
14 HOME GAMES 
 
 an irruption in the line of tlie flock. But the Shepherd- 
 ess extending her arms, bars his passage. If lie succeedi' 
 in breaking through, the lamb placed at the end aban- 
 dons her post before he can catch her, and places herself 
 in front of the Shepherdess, where she incurs no risk ; 
 and so on with the others in succession, till the Shepherd- 
 ess finds herself the last of the row. 
 
 The game then finishes. The unlucky wolf pays as 
 many forfeits as he has allowed lambs to escape him. 
 
 If, on the contrary, he has contrived to seize one of 
 them, he does not eat her, but has the privilege of kiss- 
 ing her,^ and compels her to pay a forfeit. 
 
 This game, in company with cricket, skittles, steeple- 
 chasing and others, is more adapted to the open air than 
 the precincts of an expensively furnished draAving-room. 
 
 * We believe that in what a popular writer has called " the present 
 strict state of society and mammas," great objections exist to the intro- 
 duction of " kissing " in games. To silence them all— and keep up that 
 tremendously exalted tone for which our work intends to be celebrated — 
 we hereby announce that ail games requiring the introduction of the ob- 
 jectionable ceremony, are intended by us to be played exclusively in fam- 
 ily parties, consisting of brothers, sisters, maiden aunts, grandmothers, 
 and uncles. Cousins maj^ be admitted under certain restrictions — but 
 the privilege can extend no farther. We hope none of our readers will 
 think of breaking through this regulation. If they do, all we can say is, 
 we can't help it. We have done our best. 
 
FOR THE PEOPLK Ifi 
 
 THE GAME OF THE KEY. 
 
 This game may be played by any number of persons, who 
 should all, except one, seat themselves on chairs placed 
 in a circle, and he should stand in the centre of the ring. 
 Each sitter must next take hold, with his left hand, of 
 the right wrist of the person sitting on his left, being 
 careful not to obstruct the grasp by holding the hands. 
 When all have, in this manner, joined hands, they should 
 begin moving them from left to right, making a circular 
 motion, and touching each other's hands, as if for the 
 purpose of taking something from them. The player in 
 the centre then presents a key to one of the sitters, and 
 turns his back, so as to allow it to be privately passed 
 to another, who hands it to a third ; and thus the key is 
 quickly handed round the ring from one player to the other ; 
 which task is easily accomplished, on account of the 
 continued motion of the hands of all the players. Mea]e.- 
 while, the player in the centre, after the key has reached 
 the third or fourth player, should watch its progress 
 narrowly, and endeavour to seize it in its passage. If he 
 succeed, the person in whose hand it is found, after pay- 
 ing a forfeit, must take his place in the centre, and give 
 and hunt the key in his turn ; should the seeker fail in 
 discovering the key in his first attempt, he must continue 
 
16 HOME GAMES 
 
 his search until he succeeds. When a player has paid 
 three forfeits, he is out. 
 
 SNAP DRAGON 
 
 Is another Chrismas pastime. A dish of raisins being- 
 prepared, some heated brandy or spirits of wine is pour- 
 ed over the fruit, and then set on fire, the other lights in 
 the room being extinguished. The young folks then stand 
 round the dish to pluck out the lighted raisins, and eat 
 them as hastily as they can, but rarely without warming 
 their hands and mouths. The blue flames of the burning- 
 spirit, and the singular and spectral appearance which 
 they give to the faces of the busy crowd, are a source of 
 considerable merriment. 
 
 PUSS, PUSS IN THE CORNER. 
 
 This is a very simple game, but a very lively and amus- 
 ing one. In each corner of the room, or by four trees 
 which form nearly a square, a little girl is stationed : 
 another one stands in the centre, who is called Puss. At 
 
FOR THE PEOPLE. 17 
 
 the words, " Puss, puss in the corner ! " they all start 
 and run to change corners ; and at the srme time the one 
 in the middle runs to take j^ossession of tlie corner before 
 the others can reach it. If she succeed in getting to the 
 corner first, the one who is left out is obliged to become 
 the puss. If A and B undertake to exchange corners, 
 and A gets into B's corner, but puss gets- into A's, then 
 B must stand in the centre. In order to avoid confusion 
 and knocking each other down, it is well to agree in 
 what direction you will run, before the racing begins. If 
 a little girl remains puss after three or four times going 
 round the room, they sometimes agree that she shall pay 
 a forfeit. 
 
 THE SHEPHERD AND THE WOLF. 
 
 The company stand in a file, holding by each other's 
 dresses, and are called lambs ; one little girl at the head 
 is called the shepherdess ; one stands outside, and is call- 
 ed the wolf. As the latter walks round, the shepherdess 
 calls out, " Who is round my house this dark night ? " 
 The one on the outside answers, "A wolf! a wolf!'' The 
 shepherdess says, " Let my lambs alone." The wolf an- 
 swers, " There is one little one I will take," at the same 
 
18 H02,IE GAMES 
 
 time trying to take away the little girl at the bottom of 
 the file. The shepherdess springs forward to stop her : 
 the lambs all follow the motion of the shepherdess ; the 
 wolf tries to profit by the general confusion — she pretends 
 to jmnp to the left, and then suddenly darts to the right. 
 If any one gets caught, she must pay a forfeit. Some- 
 times one gets caught, and slips away ; in that case she 
 must run and place herself before the shepherdess for 
 safety. When this happens, she must take upon herself 
 the troublesome employment of the shepherdess ; the 
 wolf, likewise, loses her place, and pays a forfeit. The 
 last lamb in the file takes the place of the wolf. 
 
 THE HUNTSMAN. 
 
 This game is one of the liveliest winter's evening pas- 
 times that can be imagined : it may be played by any 
 number of persons above four. One of the players is 
 styled the " huntsman," and the others must be called 
 after the different parts of the dress or accoutrements of 
 a sportsman ; thus, one is the coat, another the hat, whilst 
 the shot, shot-belt, powder, powder-flask, dog, and gun, 
 and every other appurtenance belonging to a huntsmaii, 
 has its representative. As many chairs as there are play- 
 
FOR THE PEOPLE. ]9 
 
 ers, excluding the " huntsman," should next be ranged in 
 two rows, back to back, and all the players must then seat 
 themselves; and, being thus prepared, the "huntsman" 
 walks round the sitters, and calls out the assumed name 
 of one of them : for instance, " Gun 1" when that player 
 immediately gets up, and takes hold of the coat-skirts of 
 the "huntsman," who continues his walk, and calls out all 
 the others, one by one ; each must take hold of the skirts 
 of the player before him, and when they are all summon- 
 ed, the huntsman sets off running round the chairs as fast 
 as he can, the other players holding on and running after 
 him. When he has run round two or three times, he 
 shouts out " Bang !" and immediately sits down on one of 
 the chairs, leaving his followers to scramble to the other 
 seats as they best can. Of course, one must be left stand- 
 ing, there being one chair less than the number of play- 
 ers, and the player so left must pay a forfeit. Tli^e game 
 is continued until all have paid three forfeits, when they 
 are cried, and the punishments or penances declared. The 
 huntsman is not changed throughout the game, unless he 
 gets tired of his post. 
 
20 HOME GAMES 
 
 THE CAT AND THE MOUSE. 
 
 All the company stand hand in hand, in a circle ; one is 
 placed inside, called the mouse ; another outside, called 
 the cat. They begin by turning round rapidly, raising 
 their arms ; the cat springs in at one side, and the mouse 
 jumps out at the other ; they then suddenly lower their 
 arms, so that the cat cannot escape. The cat goes round 
 mi-au-ing, trying to get out : and as the circle are oblig- 
 ed to keep dancing round all the time, she will find a 
 weak place to break through, if she is a sharp-sighted 
 cat. As soon as she gets out, she chases the mouse, who 
 tries to save herself by getting within the circle again. 
 Eor this purpose, they raise their arms ; if she gets in 
 without being followed by the cat, the cat must pay a for- 
 feit, and try again ; but if the mouse is caught, she must 
 pay a forfeit. They then name who shall succeed them ; 
 they fall into the circle, and the game goes on. 
 
 CONYERSATION CARDS. 
 
 CoNVEESATiON Cards, are well known, and may be had 
 at any stationer's. These specimens, however, are gene- 
 
FOR THE PEOPLE, 21 
 
 rally characterized by the scarcely differing (in sense any 
 more than sound) objectionable qualities of sameness and 
 tameness. Moreover, we do not consider the amusement 
 worth the preparation of a premeditated purchase. Such 
 things should be got up on the spur of the moment, and 
 hy ourselves, or not at all. 
 
 The following are the principles on which Conversa- 
 tion Cards are composed : — 
 
 On a given number of blank cards you write the same 
 number of questions. An equal number of answers are 
 prepared, so contrived that each answer will apply to 
 any one of the questions, in whatever order they may be 
 asked. The questions are given to a gentleman ; the 
 answers to a lady, or vice versa. Both shufiSe their cards, 
 and the holder of the questions reads them out in succes- 
 sion as they come to his hand, — the other reading an an- 
 swer to each in like manner. This produces replies often 
 of a sufficiently piquante nature. 
 
 Examples. 
 
 Question. Are you of an affectionate disposition ? 
 
 Answer. Before dinner. 
 
 Q. Can you weep at a tale of suffering 
 
 A. With new boots on. 
 
 Q. Do you understand the language of flowers ? 
 
 A. Three times a week, if my mother has no objection. 
 
22 HOME GAMES 
 
 Question. Can you keep a secret ? 
 
 Ajs^swer. You'd laugli if I told you. 
 
 Q. Do you love the being who adores you ? 
 
 A. Get out. 
 
 Q. Can your temper be trusted ? 
 
 A. Under the rose. 
 
 Q. Do you sympathize with the Hungarian refugees? 
 
 A. On the top of the monument. 
 
 Q. Do you think you could love me to distraction ? 
 
 A. Don't if you please. 
 
 Q. Do you often change your mind ? 
 
 A. Don't you wish you may get it. 
 
 Q. May I hope? 
 
 A. Nonsense. &c. &c. 
 
 BLIND MAN'S BUFF— ITS VARIOUS MODIFI- 
 CATIONS AND DERIYATIONS. 
 
 The original (and perhaps the most amusing) form of 
 Blind Man's Buff, is too well known to need description. 
 Variety, however, is charming. The following are a few 
 varieties, all more or less so in their way. 
 
 BLIND MAN IN THE CHAIR. 
 
 .^The players are seated on chairs sufficiently near to 
 
FOR THE PEOPLE. 2S 
 
 each other, forming a circle. The person fixed upon by 
 vote or otherwise, to officiate as a blind man, is depriyed 
 of sight in the usual manner : — if a gentleman, the hand- 
 kerchief is applied to his eyes by a lady, and vice versa. 
 
 The blind man having answered satisfactorily all 
 questions respecting the number of fingers held up, or 
 gone through any other ordeal that may be considered 
 necessary, to prove that he can see nothing, is turned 
 loose in the centre of the circle. 
 
 The players then change places rapidly so as to put 
 his memory at fault, as to where each is seated. He then 
 approaches the players, and without touching with his 
 hand, (that being strictly prohibited), seats himself gent- 
 ly on the extremity of the knees of the first person he 
 meets with ; and, without feeling the garments, or using 
 any means but his own powers of guessing, assisted by 
 the laughs around him, the rustling of stuffs, &c., must 
 discover and pronounce the na.me of the person on whose 
 knees he has seated himself. 
 
 If he guesses correctly, the discovered player takes 
 his place, receives the handkerchief, and proceeds in the 
 same manner. If not the players clap their hands to 
 apprize him of his mistake, which having recognised, he 
 proceeds to the knees of another. 
 
 It is customary for the players, in order to throw as 
 many difficulties as possible in the way of the blind man, 
 
24 HOME GAMES 
 
 to resort to little stratagems ; some cover their knees 
 with the skirts of their neighbours' dresses ; others put 
 sofa cushions, &c., on their laps. Ladies in silk, put 
 woollen shawls, &c., over their dresses. In short, every 
 body tries to conceal his identity as much as possible. 
 
 In case of a laudable tendency, to "pity the Poor 
 Blind'' from the overwhelming difficulties of his position, 
 or a wish to give all the players a turn, it is allowable 
 under certain circumstances, to give him a hint as to the 
 name he ought to pronounce, and so put an end to his 
 darkened career. 
 
 SHADOW BUFF. 
 
 This version is an illustration of the proverb, " None 
 are so blind as those who will not see." Here the eyes 
 of the practitioner are not bandaged. It is, however, 
 the object of his comrades to make them of as little use 
 to him as if they were. 
 
 A sheet or white table-cloth is hung upon a screen, 
 after the manner of preparations for a magic lantern. 
 The blind man (as we may call him for the sake of dis- 
 tinction) is seated on a stool, low enough to prevent his 
 shadow being thrown on the sheet before him. At some 
 distance behind him a lighted candle is placed, all the 
 other lights in the room being extinguisiied. 
 
 These preparations being concluded, all the members 
 
FOR THE PEOPLE. 25 
 
 of the company form themselves into a sort of procession, 
 and pass one after the other between the blind man (who 
 is not allowed to turn his head round as much as an 
 inch) and the table whereon the candle is placed. This 
 produces the effect intended. The light of the candle, 
 intercepted by the forms passing before it, throws on to 
 the sheet a profile shadow of each. 
 
 As these shadows pass before him in succession, the 
 blind man is obliged to declare aloud the name of the 
 person to whom he imagines the shadow to belong ; the 
 mistakes he falls into causing considerable amusement 
 among the players. 
 
 It is scarcely necessary to say, that each, in passing 
 before the light, takes all possible pains to disguise his 
 appearance, his height and his walk, so as to ]3revent re- 
 cognition. 
 
 It is not customary to exact forfeits at this game ; they 
 might, however, be enforced from the players whose por- 
 traits may be recognised. By this means a new interest 
 may be added to the game 
 
 THE BLIND MAN'S WAND. 
 
 The blind man's wand may be easily played in a draw- 
 ing-room. 
 
 The blind man (in this instance really blinded, as for 
 the primitive form of the game) is j^laced in the middle 
 
26 HOME GAMES 
 
 of the room, a light cane or other similar implement hav- 
 ing been given to him. The players form a circle and 
 dance round him, holding each other's hands, enlivening 
 the proceeding by the chorus of any popular melody that 
 may be approved of. The chorus finished, all stand still. 
 The blind man holds out his wand at hazard, the person 
 to whom it is pointed being obliged to take liold of it by 
 the end presented to him. The blind man then utters 
 three cries, which the holder of the wand is obliged to 
 imitate in the same tone of voice. If the latter does not 
 know how to disguise his voice, he is detected, and takes 
 the place of the blind man. If not, the game is resumed 
 with a new round, and so on ad libitum. 
 
 HUNT THE SLIPPER. 
 
 This well-known game, or rather " romp,'' is usually 
 played in a circle seated on the ground, in which case, it 
 is more adapted to the lawn or park, than the drawing- 
 room. 
 
 It may, however, be played in-doors, the company 
 being seated on chairs. It is advisable that there should 
 be an uneven number of players. Tlie one fixed on to 
 commence the game remains standing. The rest form a 
 
FOR THE PEOPLE. 27 
 
 circle (a lady and a gentleman being placed alternately) 
 in the centre of whicli all their toes meet. The legs how- 
 ever, should not be stretched out quite straight, but bent 
 a little at the knee so as to form a sort of circular gallery 
 for the passage of the slipper. When all have taken 
 their seats, the player standing up throws the slipper 
 into the centre of the circle. A hand seizes it and passes 
 it round under the gallery. It is the hunter^ s duty to 
 keep his eyes about him, to watch where it goes to, for 
 it often travels a long way before he can catch a trace of 
 it. From time to time, when he is observed to be com- 
 pletely off the scent, one of the players draws the slipper 
 from its hiding place, and raps the heel of it three times 
 against the floor ; then while the hunter is running to 
 catch it, passes it quickly round again to his neighbour s, 
 who, whenever they see a fitting opportunity, repeat the 
 some ceremony. Frequently there is no time to pass it 
 round the circle ; in which case, the holder throws it into 
 the centre, — ^when it is caught by the most alert, and 
 put in circulation as before. 
 
 If the hunter, tired of ducking and leaping around the 
 circle, renounces so fatiguing a chase of his own free 
 will, he pays a forfeit, and receives from each player a rap 
 from the heel of the slipper on the head, or (if considered 
 invulnerable in that quarter, from the known thickness 
 of the material) on the knuckles. If on tlie contrary, he 
 
28 HOME GAMES 
 
 succeeds in catching tlie slipper, he takes the place of the 
 player who has suffered him to do so, and who in turn 
 has to give chase, — of course after having paid a forfeit. 
 This game being, as we have already said, nothing 
 more or less than a downright romp, it should only be 
 played in family parties, or among the most intimate 
 friends where tlie bounds of gentleness and propriety are 
 sure not to be exceaded. 
 
11. GAMES SLMPLY TAXING THE ATTENTION. 
 
 THE BIRDCATCHEK. 
 
 This game is strongly recommended to families, where 
 the gentleman next door is not an invalid, and the baby 
 sleeps at the top of the liouse. 
 
 A Birdcatcher is appointed. He forms the centre of 
 an admiring circle, composed of the entire strength of 
 the company, seated on chairs. Each of the players (ex- 
 clusive of the Birdcatcher) takes the name of a bird — as 
 Goose, Tom-tit, Eagle, Parrot, Wren, Duck, Canary, <fec. 
 The selection of species is a perfectly optional matter, 
 with one exception — there must be an Owl in the collec- 
 tion. The imperative necessity of this will be seen here- 
 after. 
 
 The Birdcatcher tells a story — introducing the names 
 of the various birds as often as possible. Every bird, 
 when his name is mentioned, must immediately utter the 
 crow, screech, chirrup, or splutter, peculiar to his species, 
 
80 HOME GAMES 
 
 witli the accuracy usual in such representations ; the slight- 
 est delay or mistake to be punished by a forfeit. 
 
 So long as the owl is not mentioned, all the players sit 
 with their hands before them, resting on their knees. At 
 the first mention of his name, all hands (literally) must 
 get up and hide behind their owner's backs to avoid 
 being caught by the Birdcatcher, who is on the watch. 
 If, after having named the owl, he succeed in seizing a 
 hand not yet raised from the owner's knee, the individ- 
 ual so entrapped pays a forfeit, and becomes Birdcatcher 
 in his turn (the late official taking his name and position 
 in the aviary). If, on the contrary, the players are too 
 quick for him, and he cannot make a single capture, he 
 pays a forfeit and continues his narrative. The birds, at 
 the first name pronounced, replace their hands on their 
 knees — not till then."^' 
 
 Hovf the owl came to occupy this important position, 
 we are at a loss to conceive. These, however are grave 
 matters which we have no riglit to enquire into. We 
 should remark, by the way, that his distinguished attri- 
 butes do not exempt him from the common lot. When 
 named by the Birdcatcher, he must give his cry as well 
 as the rest, enjoying no more immunity from the usual 
 penalties than the merest tom-tit — which is consoling. 
 
 * A sharp Birdcatcher Avill probably name the owl twice running. 
 No notice should be taken of the second mention. 
 
FOR THE PEOPLE. SI 
 
 When the Birdcatclier names " all the birds in the air,'^ 
 all utter tlieir respective cries at once. Any bird neg- 
 lecting to do so, or forgetting his identity and uttering 
 the cry of another bird, pays a forfeit, as must the Bird- 
 catcher himself in case of his inadvertently naming a bird 
 not in the collection. 
 
 An arrangement may be come to that when he has 
 paid a certain number he may be at liberty to resign his 
 post— his successor to be appointed by lots, unless a 
 Curtius-like individual can be found to throw himself 
 into the vacuum for the public good. 
 
 As we have already stated, the selection of birds (with 
 the exception of the ovfL) is purely an optional matter. 
 The exact sounds to be uttered will depend on the a- 
 mount of ornithological knowledge and imitative powers 
 possessed by the player. To prevent mistakes, however, 
 it will be as well, on commencing the game, for each to 
 give a specimen of the sort of thing he considers a fair 
 illustration of his peculiar department of natural his- 
 tory. On the principal of the distinguished artist who 
 wrote under his picture, " This is a house — this is a tree, 
 &c.,'' the advantages of such an arrangement are too ob- 
 vious to need pointing out. 
 
 The following is a list of the most available birds, with 
 their various modes of expressing themselves — compiled 
 from the most unquestionable authorities ; 
 
82 HOME GAMES 
 
 The Cock.—" Cock-a-doodle-doo !" 
 
 The Canary'. " Pretty Dick." 
 
 The Turkey. " Gobble-obble-obble." 
 
 The Magpie. " Jack wants his dinner." 
 
 The Sparrow. " Chip ! Chip !" 
 
 The Duck. " Quack ! quack ! quack !" 
 
 The Curlew. " Pe-wit ! pe-wit !" 
 
 The Parrot. " Pretty Poll." 
 
 The Crow. " Caw ! caw ! caw !" 
 
 The Owl. " To-whit ! to-whit ! to-whoo !" 
 
 The Goose. " Hiss-s-s-s 1" 
 
 The Raven. " Cro-a-ak 1" 
 
 These may be varied according to the humour of the 
 performers. The Parrot and Magpie may express them- 
 selves in any facetious terms, founded on observation or 
 satire. The Raven may be made to say " Never more !" 
 after the celebrated bird in Mr. Poe's poem. These cor- 
 rections must, however, be properly understood before 
 the commencement of the game and rigidly adhered to. 
 
 Considerable amusement may be excited by giving the 
 different players the names of appropriate birds. For 
 instance, the Duck should be either a very nice young- 
 lady — or a gentleman in the medical profession. A gen- 
 tleman remarkable for his learning, will represent the 
 Owl adequately ; a young lady with a nice voice the 
 Nightingale (whose song may be represented by a few 
 
FOR THE PEOPLE. 83 
 
 bars from one of Jenny Lindas popular melodies) ; a talk- 
 ative individual the Magpie ; and so on. 
 
 Several foreign birds may be happily introduced. We 
 have recently heard of an Australian specimen called the 
 Laughing Jackass^ on account of his uttering a sound 
 something between a laugh and a bray. This should ob- 
 viously fall to the lot of the funny man of the party. 
 There is another known as the More Pork bird, from his 
 distinct pronunciation of those two words. Any young 
 gentleman, having expressed an anxiety as to how long 
 it will be before supper is ready, might be selected for 
 this. Unmistakable Geese are to be found in most 
 parties. 
 
 All preliminaries agreed on, the Birdcatcher commen- 
 ces his narrative something in the following manner : — 
 
 " I went out the other morning with my gun and nets 
 to catch a few birds. I didn't intend poaching, much 
 less robbing a farm-yard, but just on the top of a railing 
 I saw a fine young Cock. (' Cock-a-doodle-doo P) There was 
 nobody looking and I couldn't resist it when all of a 
 sudden up came an enormous Turkey, (' Gobble-obble- 
 obble r) ' Oh I ho !' said I, ' a Turkey ! (' Gobble-obble- 
 obble P) Well, a Turkey (' Gobble-obble-obble /^ is worth 
 
 * These repetitions are quite right and proper, being generally Tin- 
 foreseen — and seldom fail in bringing in forfeits — the sole aim and end 
 of th« right-minded Birdcatcher. 
 
S4 HOME GAMES 
 
 rather more than a wretched Sparrow, (' Chip ! Chip P) 
 and there's more to eat on it than on a Canary. (' Pretty 
 Dick P) And as I'd made up my mind to steal a Cock, 
 (' Cock-a-doodle-doo /'), why not a Goose {' Hiss-s-s !^) or a 
 Turkey ? (' Gohhle-ohhle-ohhle P) I crept up to him, when all 
 of a sudden, a rascally Magpie (' Jack wants his dinner P) 
 flew out of a bush making such an abominable noise that 
 ALL the birds IN THE AiRf {general cry^ without moving 
 the hands) — took flight at once. Off went the Turkey 
 (' Gohhle-ohhle-ohhle !'') on one side, and the Cock {' Cock- 
 a-doodle-doo .'') on the other, scattering a complete flock of 
 Ducks. (' Quack ! Quack .'') There wasn't a single bird 
 in sight, except an Owl. (' To-whit ! to-whit ! to-whoo P 
 — All hands up. A forfeit given either hy the unlucky Bird- 
 catcher^ who has not succeeded in catching a hand, or hy a 
 bird whose hand he has caught. In either case, he who re- 
 mains or hecomes Birdcatcher continues:) — As I was saying, 
 the Owl {dead silence — all hands still up) suddenly began 
 making such an extraordinary noise, no doubt thinking 
 himself a Nightingale {the nightingale sings a few hars 
 from the ' Daughter of the Regiment f all hands down on 
 the knees immediately. Forfeits from those too late, or in 
 too great a hurry to replace them) that all the birds in 
 
 \ The Birdcatcher can generally secure a few forfeits by saying all 
 the birds in the hedge — in the field, &c,; the air only should be attended 
 to as a signal. 
 
FOR THE PEOPLE. 35 
 
 THE AIR {general cry) flocked round again to see what 
 could be the matter. Up came the Sparrow (' Chip ! 
 chip /') the CROW (' Caw ! caw /') the Raven (' Croak /' or 
 ' JVever more V as agreed on), the wild Duck, (' Quack I 
 quack /') even the farmer's Parrot, (' Pretty Poll /') — in 
 fact, ALL THE BIRDS IN THE FIELD (dead siknce). ' Oh ! ho !' 
 I said, ' now I shall put salt on some of your feathered 
 inexpressibles ; when, to my horror the beast of an owl 
 — " (' To-whit I to-whit ! to-whoo /'• — Jill hands disappear as 
 before. The Birdcatcher catches or doesn't catch, &c. &c.) 
 
 This game, which may be prolonged, ad infinitum, will 
 be found highly entertaining not only to the parties en- 
 gaged in it, but (if played in a front room, and conduct- 
 ed with proper spirit) to the boys in the street as well, — 
 not forgetting the policeman. 
 
 THE SPORTSMAN AND THE GAME. 
 
 The players take names of different birds and beasts of 
 the field, such as Hare, Rabbit, Fox, Partridge, Quail, 
 Woodcock, Boar, Stag, Wolf, Lion, &c. 
 
.36 HOME GAMES 
 
 One of the party is appointed the Sportsman, and 
 makes use of certain sporting terms — naming implements, 
 &c. connected with the various departments of the chase 
 • — to which when pronoucced, the different heads of game 
 reply by phrases agreed on. 
 Thus, when he names — • 
 
 The gun^ 
 All the players cry, '' Look out ! Look out I" 
 
 The greyhoundy 
 The Hare says, " Run 1 Run !" 
 
 The terrier. 
 The Rabbit says. To earth ! To earth !" 
 
 The snare. 
 The Wolf and the Fox say, " Not if I know it !" 
 
 The nets, 
 The Lion and all the birds exclaim, " Try it ! Try it 1'^ 
 
 A thicket, 
 The Boar says, " Mind my tusks 1" 
 
 The stag-hound, 
 The Stag says, " I have good legs !" 
 
 The horn, 
 The stag and the Fox say, '' Be alive !" 
 
 The hag, 
 All drop their heads on their chests, as if killed — with 
 the exception of the Lion, the Stag, and the Boar who 
 exclaim, " Who's afraid !" 
 
FOR THE PEOPLE. 87 
 
 Example. 
 
 The Sportsman. 
 Well, I expect a good day's sport. I've cleaned up 
 
 my gun 
 
 All. 
 " Look out ! Look out !" 
 The Sportsman. 
 James— unkennel the terriers. 
 
 The Rabbit. 
 To earth ! To eartli ! " 
 
 The Sportsman. 
 And take tlie greyhounds. 
 
 The Hare. 
 " Run ! Run !" 
 
 The Sportsman. 
 And go round to the other side of the wood to look at 
 the nets. 
 
 The Lion and all the Birds. 
 " Try it ! Try it !" 
 
 The Sportsman. 
 I haye no doubt I shall find something in the snare. 
 
HOME GAMES 
 
 The Fox and the Wolf. 
 " Not if I know it." 
 
 The Sportsman. 
 But what's that in the thicket ? 
 The Boar 
 " Mind my tusks." 
 
 The Sportsman. 
 A magnificent stag, I declare. John, take back my 
 
 gun. 
 
 All. 
 
 " Look out ! Look out !" 
 The Sportsman. 
 Saddle the horses, and bring out the stag-hounds. 
 The Stag. 
 " I have good legs." 
 
 The Sportsman. 
 Summon all the neighbours with a tremendous blast 
 of the horn. 
 
 The Stag and the Fox. 
 " Be alive !" 
 
 The Sportsman. 
 And here — I shan't want my bag 
 
FOR THE PEOPLE. 39 
 
 ^All, except the Lion, the Stag, and the Boar, drop their 
 heads.) 
 
 The Lion, the Stag, and The Boar. 
 
 "Who's afraid ?" 
 
 The Sportsman. 
 Look sharp, John — sound the horn. 
 The Stag and the Fox. 
 " Be alive !" 
 
 The Sportsman. 
 We shall never catch him. He's miles away. Let's 
 have a look at the snare. 
 
 The Wolf and the Fox, 
 " Not if I know it r 
 
 The Sportsman. 
 Nothing, I declare ! There's not enough left to dine a 
 terrier. 
 
 The Rabbit. 
 " To earth 1 To earth !" 
 
 The Sportsman. 
 I shall go home — there's no sport to be had, &c. &c. &c. 
 Any player neglecting to pronounce the word allotted 
 to the animal he represents, or to perform the action 
 agreed on, pays a forfeit. 
 
40 HOME GAMES 
 
 THE PAINTER AND THE COLOURS 
 
 This belongs to a large family, of wliicli The Birdcatcher^ 
 My Lady^s Toilet <, The Echo, ^c, will be recognised as 
 conspicuous members. 
 
 The leader of tlie game is the Painter. The rest of 
 the players are the Colours, — each taking a name, — 
 blue, green, orange, ^c. Beyond his own name (to which 
 the colour when called upon must reply, by mentioning 
 that of one of his comrades), there are four words which 
 must be answered in various ways. 
 
 The painter is supposed to have a commission to paint 
 a particular subject, on which he founds a discourse. 
 When he names the palette, all the players (except the 
 painter) cry out, " Colours I colours .''^ 
 
 If he speaks of colours in general, all say, " Here we are^ 
 If of his pencil, the answer exacted is, "Brush ! brush .'" 
 Finally, when he names turpentine^ gereral consterna- 
 tion is excited, and the colours with one accord exclaim, 
 " Help ! help r 
 
 We have already stated that any colour mentioned by 
 name must immediately name another of the party. The 
 latter replies simply, " Here sirJ^ Mistake or hesitation 
 in giving the replies as usual, to be punished by forfeits. 
 
FOR THE PEOPLE. 41 
 
 Example, 
 
 The Painter. I am commissioned by my noble patron^ 
 the Marquis of Car abas, to paint a picture of the finding 
 of the body of Harold. It is a yery impottant matter. I 
 have made my design, and shall commence setting my 
 palette. 
 
 All the Colours. Colours / Colours ! 
 
 The Painter. I intend astonishing the critics by the 
 brilliancy of my colours. 
 
 All. Here we are ! 
 
 Painter. I can't employ you all at a time — rather a 
 task for a single pencil. 
 
 All. Brush ! brush f 
 
 Painter. Silence ! or I'll exterminate you with a dose 
 of turpentine. 
 
 All. Help ! help I 
 
 Painter. Come be quiet, or I won't employ one of 
 you. I'll begin with the eyes of the fair Edith. Hang 
 it, I don't know what colour they were. They ought to 
 be black. ^ 
 
 Black. Green ! green ! 
 
 Green. Here, sir. 
 
 * If the painter names a colour not in the collection he pays a forfeit. 
 The same rule applies to the colours. 
 
42 HOME GAMES 
 
 Painter. No ; she was called Edith the Fair. They 
 must have been blue. 
 
 Blue. Orange !■ orange ! 
 
 Orange. Here, sir. 
 
 Painter. As she was in trouble, her cheeks ought to 
 be pale, almost white. 
 
 White. Purple and cherry colour. 
 
 Purple and Cherry {together.) Here, sir. 
 
 Painter. All the colours — 
 
 All. Here we are ! 
 
 Painter. ■ — Of the rainbow shall be employed to give 
 effect to the richness of her dress, as becoming a high- 
 born damsel ; and thanks to the delicacy of my pencil — ■ 
 
 All. Brush ! brush ! &c. &c. 
 
 Our authority for this game (which is of French ex- 
 traction) says that " the great art on the part of the 
 colour cited, is to fix upon another likely to make the 
 most ridiculous contrast with the subject of the picture." 
 We question the powers of art to produce any very strik- 
 ing results by those means. The humour of proposing 
 green cheeks, scarlet eyes, &c., is by no means brilliant. 
 The success of the game, like that of many others, will 
 therefore depend on the introduction of another species 
 of humour, to be supplied by the player. We allude to 
 good humour. 
 
FOR THE PEOPLE. 48 
 
 MAGIC MUSIC. 
 
 This game is an improvement on the old one known as 
 Hot boiled beans and very good butter. 
 
 In that obsolete entertainment, it will be remembered, 
 a bean, or other small object was concealed, and one of 
 the players (previously sent out of the room) summoned 
 to look for it, by the couplet — 
 
 *' Hot boiled beans and very good bntter, 
 Won't you please to come to supper?" 
 
 Ms only guide to the whereabouts of the hidden treasure 
 being as follows : — In proportion as he neared or receded 
 from it, he was said to be hot or cold, — the other players 
 telling him which, and in what degree. When close to 
 it, he was burning, in the fire, &c. When on an entirely 
 false scent, he y^d^'S, freezing, at the JYorth Pole, and so on, 
 till the bean was found. 
 
 All this was very obvious, and very contemptible. The 
 steam-engine, however, had its origin in a tea-kettle. 
 This simple invention - has laid the foundation of an en- 
 tertainment worthy of the enlightened age we live in. 
 
 The game as it now stands, is as follows : — 
 
 * The writer begs to state that he means the game, not the tea-kettle. 
 
44 HOME GAMES 
 
 A player is sent out of the room, as heretofore, but in- 
 stead of hiding a bean for him to find, the company think 
 of a task to be performed by him. This task may be 
 anything ; — to untie a ribbon, to sing a song, to displace 
 all manner of articles of furniture — the more fantastic 
 and out of the way the better. When they have decided 
 what it is to be, the patient is summoned in, and has to 
 set to work to discern and perform the work allotted to 
 him. Instead of the old hot and cold regulation, he is 
 guided in his experiments by the sounds of a piano or 
 other musical instrument^ played softly, or the reverse, 
 in proportion to his success, or the want of it. 
 
 Those who have never played at this game can have 
 no idea of the interest attached to it. The tasks that 
 may be divined and accomplished, with no other clue than 
 the threatening or encouraging tones of the music, would 
 appear incredible. The complete bewilderment of the 
 guesser, on first entering the room, as to what he is to 
 do ; his numerous experiments, all wide of the mark ; his 
 first catching at a hint, and gradual following of it up, 
 with various intervening discouragements, till he has ful- 
 filled his mission (as a player of ordinary intelligence 
 usually does) ; furnish entertainment of a by no means 
 unelevated description. 
 
 * In case of there being none in tte room, rapping against the tonga 
 ■with a pair of snu Ters or any other metalic implement will do. 
 
FOR THE PEOPLE. 45 
 
 Forfeits may be exacted in case of non-success. Their 
 assistance, however, is not required to make the game 
 interesting. 
 
 WHAT'S THE PRICE OF BAKLEY ? 
 
 The conductor of the game is called the Master. He 
 gives to the different players any names he likes, consist- 
 ing of simple words, such as — 
 
 1. 
 
 Jack. 
 
 2. 
 
 How much. 
 
 3. 
 
 What. 
 
 4. 
 
 Too much. 
 
 5. 
 
 Bravo. 
 
 6. 
 
 Fifty dollars. 
 
 7. 
 
 Fifty cents. 
 
 8. 
 
 One dime. 
 
 9. 
 
 Good. 
 
 .0. 
 
 JYonsense. 
 
 The game is carried on in dialogue, commencing with 
 the Master, in the following manner : — 
 
 Master. Jack ! 
 
 Player No. 1. Yes, Master. 
 
HOME GAMES 
 
 Master. What's the price of barley ? 
 
 No. 1. Fifty dollars. 
 
 Master. Good ! 
 
 No. 9. Yes, Master. 
 
 Master. What's the price of barley ? 
 
 No. 9. One dime. 
 
 Master. One dime ! JVonsense I 
 
 Nos. 8 & 10 {together). Yes, Master. 
 
 Master. How much ? 
 
 No. 2. Yes, Master. 
 
 Master. What's the price of barley ? 
 
 No. 2. Fifty cents. 
 
 Master. Fifty cents ! Bravo ! Jack ! 
 
 Nos. 7, 5, & 1 (together). Yes, Master. 
 
 What's the price of barley ? 
 
 Nos. 7, 5, & 1 {together). Fifty cents— Fifty dollars — 
 One dime (or as they may feel inclined). 
 
 Master. JVonsense ! 
 
 No. 10. Yes, Master, &c. (fee. 
 
 It will be seen by the above, that the duty of each 
 player is to answer, " Yes^ Master," on hearing the mas- 
 ter pronounce his adopted name. If he neglects this, he 
 pays a forfeit, as also on answering to his name when 
 pronounced by anybody else. 
 
FOR THE PEOPLE. 47 
 
 BIRDS FLY 
 
 A VERY simple game, in which all the players place a fin- 
 ger on a table, or on the knees of the conductor of the 
 game, to be raised in the air, when the conductor says, 
 " Birds Jly/^ " Pigeons (or any winged object in natural 
 history) j^y." 
 
 If he names a non-winged animal, and any player raises 
 his hand in distraction, the latter pays a forfeit — the same 
 in case of his neglecting to raise it at the name of a bird 
 or winged insect. 
 
 THE ELEMENTS. 
 
 The players form a semicircle round the king of the 
 game, who holds in his hand a ball of thread partially 
 unrolled and fastened by a knot, leaving a length of 
 thread sufficient for the ball to reach one of the players 
 he may choose to throw it to, and enable him to draw it 
 back immediately. The names of three animals — each 
 inhabiting a different one of the three elements — earth, 
 AIR, or WATER, must be first decided on ; such as dog, 
 salmon, pigeon. When the king touches a player with his 
 ball of the thread, saying earth, air, or water, the 
 
48 HOME GAMES 
 
 player must respond immediately with the name of the 
 animal inhabiting the element cited. 
 
 For instance, if the king says water, the person he 
 touches immediately replies salmon. Should he reply dog 
 or pigeon, he pays a fine — neither of these animals in- 
 habiting the water. 
 
 The king may also say fire. A dead silence must be 
 observed when he does so — fire not being inhabited by 
 any animal yet discovered. Should he say the elements, 
 all the players together must pronounce the names of the 
 three animals, in quick succession. 
 
 The game may be played without fixing on the names 
 of any particular animals ; in which case, when the king 
 names an element, the player he touches must respond 
 immediately with the name of an animal known to inhabit 
 it, and not mention the same animal twice, on pain of a 
 forfeit. 
 
 The former, however, is the most amusing method. 
 The frequent repetition of the three names generally 
 leading to great confusion. 
 
 THE RULE OF CONTRARY. 
 
 The rules of this game are not intricate. All the play- 
 ers, standing up, take hold of the sides of a handkerchief. 
 
FOE- THE PEOPLE. 49 
 
 The president of the game (taking hold with the rest) 
 makes mystic circles on the handkerchief with his fore- 
 finger, exclaiming, — 
 
 " Here we go round by the rule of contrary f' when I 
 say ' Hold fast,' let go ; when I say ' Let go,' hold fast." 
 
 He then says " Let go," or " Hold fast," as he may feel 
 inclined. When he says " Let go," those who do not 
 hold fast pay forfeits ; when he says " Hold fast," all vvdio 
 do not immediately let go are punished in like manner. 
 
 It may be thought by those who have never attempted 
 the game that few victims are to be caught by so simple 
 a contrivance. We advise all harbouring such opinions 
 to try it at the earliest opportunity. 
 
 THE TRADES. 
 
 Each player selects a trade, which he carries on in dumb 
 show, as follows : — - 
 
 The tailor stitches a coat. 
 
 The cobbler mends a shoe. 
 
 The laundress washes imaginary tubs full of shirts. 
 
 * We have played at this game in various societies. The word is always 
 pronounced coa-trairy. We don't know why — but it is so, and we are 
 not radicals enough to inquire into so important u matter. 
 
60 HOME GAMES 
 
 The painter paints a portrait. 
 
 The blacksmith hammers at the anvil, &c. &c. 
 * One of the party is chosen as King of the Trades, and 
 commences the game by exercising his own — setting an 
 example of industry to the others, who must work away 
 indefatigably at their various callings. When the king 
 takes it into his head to change his trade and adopt that 
 of one of the party, all leave off work at once, and re- 
 main inactive, except the player thus imitated, who im- 
 mediately takes up the trade of the king, which he con- 
 tinues to exercise till such a time as it shall please his 
 majesty to change again and take up somebody else's. 
 The individual honoured by this second choice then takes 
 up the king's trade and continues till a third change 
 takes place — the other players remaining idle, till the 
 king resumes his original occupation — the signal for all 
 to fall to work again. 
 
 Any player making a mistake pays a forfeit. 
 
 Not a bad name for this game would be MiJid you?- own 
 Business. 
 
 MY LADY'S TOILET ; OR, SIjLNNma THE 
 TRENCHER. 
 
 All the players adopt the names of various articles con- 
 
FOR THE PEOPLE. 61 
 
 nected with the mistery of a Lady's Toilet, — as Buckle, 
 JYecklace, Gloves ^ Bouquet ^ Handkerchiefs &c. &c. 
 
 A circle is formed of chairs, one less than the number 
 of players, — one of whom is consequently without a seat. 
 
 This excluded personage commences the game. He is 
 provided with a wooden trencher, or similar implement,^ 
 with which he advances to the centre, exclaiming, — 
 
 •' My lady is going to dress for a ball, and wants so and 
 so (her gloves, her ear-rings^ or any other of the articles 
 agreed on).'' 
 
 As he pronounces the word, he gives the trencher a 
 vigorous twist, and leaves it spinning on the ground. 
 The player called upon, immediately darts from his seat 
 (which is taken by the spinner), so as to catch the tren- 
 cher while spinning. Should it fall to the ground before 
 he reaches it, he pays a forfeit. 
 
 The second player then spins the trencher, announcing 
 that my lady is in want of another article. The person 
 named runs to catch it, — the last spinner taking his seat 
 as before ; and so on, ad infinitum. 
 
 To name an article not included in the games, costs a 
 forfeit. 
 
 The spinner may vary the proceedings occasionally, by, 
 instead of naming any particular article, making use of 
 
 * The best china plates ai'e seldom improved by being employed for 
 this purpose. Nor can we conscientiously recommend the punch-bow]. 
 
52 HOME GAMES 
 
 the word toilet. This is the signal for all to change 
 places, the speaker rushing at the nearest vacant chair. 
 Any one found after the scuffle in the same place as before 
 it, pays a forfeit, as must also the player who is left at 
 last without a seat at all, — who, moreover, takes the next 
 turn at the trencher. 
 
 He may also pronounce the word twilight^ as by saying, 
 '' My lady is going out this evening at twilight, &c., &c. f 
 on which no one is allowed to move, on pain of a forfeit. 
 The similarity of the two words generally leads to some 
 of the players, in the hurry of the moment, confusing the 
 opposite duties attached to them. 
 
 THE BOX OF SECRETS. 
 
 This game, which is very popular in France, under the 
 name of la boite d'amourette, is simply a means of collect- 
 ing forfeits. It is played as follows : — 
 
 The player who commences the game, presents a box to 
 his neighbour on the right, saying, " I sell you my box of 
 secrets ; it contains three — ivhoin I love, whom I will kiss, 
 and whom I will send about his {or her) business. 
 
 The neighbour re]3lies, — 
 
 " Whom do you love ? whom will you kiss ? whom will 
 
FOR THE PEOPLE. 53 
 
 you send about her business ?" (We assume the giver of 
 the box to be a gentleman.) 
 
 The first speaker names, in answer to each question, 
 the one of the players whom he loves, the one he intends 
 to kiss (why these should not be one and the same it is 
 not our business to inquire into) and the one he intends 
 to send about her business. 
 
 The person he intends to kiss is compelled to kiss him 
 on the spot. The one to be sent about her business pays 
 a forfeit. No notice whatever is taken of the loved one, 
 which we are at a loss to account for, except as a satire 
 upon professions of affection generally. In candour, 
 however, we are compelled to confess that we do not be- 
 lieve anything of the kind was ever intended — which is 
 a pity. 
 
 THE ALPHABET ; 
 
 OR, I LOVE MY LOVE WITH AN A. 
 
 Formerly, this game was confined to the players saying 
 in rotation, " I love my love with an A because he is 
 Amiable, Ardent, Aspiring, Ambitious," and so on, 
 through as many letters of the alphabet as might be ap- 
 proved of, each player having to invest his love with a 
 
64 HOME GAMES 
 
 quality beginning with the letter in question. Forfeits 
 were exacted, — firstly for the repetition of any quality 
 mentioned by a previous player ; secondly, for faults of 
 spelling. 
 
 As, however (thanks to the progress of education), peo- 
 ple are no longer in the habit of loving others because 
 they are Andsome, Onorable, or Helegant, the latter op- 
 portunity may l3e said to be almost obsolete. It has 
 therefore been decided to improve the former, by increas- 
 ing the difficulty of finding words. 
 
 The game, as it is at present played, will be understood 
 from the following specimens :■ — ■ 
 
 " I love my love with an A, because he is Affection- 
 ate, because his name is Augustus. I will give him an 
 Amethyst, I will feed him on Apple-tarts, and make him 
 a bouquet of Anemones." 
 
 " I love my love with a B, because she is Beautiful, 
 because the name is Beatrice I will give her a Brooch ; 
 I will feed her on Berries ; and make her a bouquet of 
 Blue-bells." 
 
 This form need not be strictly adhered to, we merely 
 offer it as a model. The leader of the game may vary it 
 as he thinks fit ; but whatever form he may choose to 
 adopt, the others must imitate closely (allowing for the 
 variation of sexes). Failure in this must be punished by 
 a forfeit ; the old regulation as to repetition and mistakes 
 
FOR THE PEOPLE. 65 
 
 in spelling (accidents which will happen, even now, in the 
 best educated families) still holdino- 2:ood. 
 
 The whole alphabet may be gone through in this man- 
 ner, if the interest of the game last long enough. It is 
 advisable, however, to exclude the letters K, Q, X, and Z, 
 which offer too many difficulties. 
 
 COME OUT OF THAT. 
 
 This game is not complicated, being confined to the fol- 
 lowing dialogue : — 
 
 " Gome out of that?'' 
 
 " What for ?'*' 
 
 " Because you have such or such a thing, and I have not." 
 
 Care must be taken not to name anything you really 
 possess yourself, or that has been mentioned by a previous 
 player ; that is, unless you wish to pay a forfeit. 
 
 PINCH WITHOUT LAUGHING. 
 
 In this game each player pinches the nose of his neigh- 
 bour, who must submit to the operation without laughing. 
 
56 HOME GAMES 
 
 If he as much as smiles, he pays a forfeit. Of course the 
 most strenuous exertions are made bj the operators to 
 cause him to lose his gravity. 
 
 We have heard of some designing persons in this game, 
 blacking the tips of their finger and thumb with burnt 
 cork, which leaves a very agreeable impression on the 
 pinched nose. If two or three unsuspecting individuals 
 happen to be victimi;:;ed in this way, they laugh heartily, 
 at each other ^ neither suspecting that he is an object of equal 
 ridicule — which is not only a fine moral lesson, but also 
 leads to the great accumulation of forfeits. 
 
 THE COMICAL COXCERT. 
 
 This game, when well played, is extremely diverting. 
 The players stand in a circle, and each one agrees to imi- 
 tate some instrument of music. One pretends to play 
 upon the violin, by holding out her right hand, and mov- 
 ing her left as if she were drawing a bow across it. 
 Those who have seen Mr. MaelzeVs little fiddler, icill knoio 
 how to do this to perfection. Another doubles up her two 
 hands, and puts them to her mouth, to imitate a horn ; 
 another moves her fingers en a table, as if she were play- 
 ing the piano : another takes the back of a chair, and 
 
PINCH WITHOUT LAUGHING. 
 
FOR THE PEOPLE. 51 
 
 toiiclies the rounds, as if tliey were the strings of a harp ; 
 another makes motions as if beating a drum ; another 
 holds a stick after the manner of a guitar, and pretends 
 to play upon it ; another appears to be turning a hand- 
 organ ; in a word, the players, if sufficiently numerous, 
 may imitate every instrument they ever heard of. This is 
 but half the game. Each musician, while playing, must 
 make a sound with her mouth in imitation of her instru- 
 ment, thus : 
 
 Rub-a-dub goes the drum. 
 
 Twang, twang, goes the harp. 
 
 Toot, too hoo, goes the horn. 
 
 Tweedle dee, tweedle dee, goes the violin, doC. 
 
 All this makes an odd jumble of movements and 
 sounds, which is very laughable, especially if each one 
 plays her part with animation. 
 
 In the middle of the circle stands one called the head 
 of the orchestra, whose business it is to beat time to the 
 movements of all the rest, which she does in as ridiculous 
 a way as possible, in order to make the others laugh. In 
 the midst of all the noise and fun, she suddenly stops, 
 and asks abruptly, " Why don't you play better," The 
 one she looks at must answer instantly, in a manner suit- 
 able to the nature of her instrument ; that is, the drum- 
 mer must say one of the drumsticks is broken ; the 
 harper, that the strings are too loose ; the person playing 
 
68 HOME GAMES 
 
 on the piano must say one of tlie dampers is broken, or 
 one of tlie keys makes a discord ; the flute player, that 
 the holes are too far apart for her fingers, &c. 
 
 If they hesitate a moment, or the answer is not such as 
 is suitable to the instrument, or if they repeat an excuse 
 that has been already made, they must pay a forfeit. 
 While one is answering, the other stop playing ; and all 
 begin again as soon as she has said her say, or paid her 
 forfeit. Then the head of the orchestra looks at some 
 other one, and asks why she don't play better ; and so it 
 goes on till they are weary of the game. Sometimes 
 they make it a rule, that any one who laughs so that she 
 cannot play her part, must pay a forfeit ; in this case 
 there would be plenty of forfeits. 
 
 FLY AWAY, PIGEON 
 
 The company are ranged in a circle, with one in the cen- 
 tre, who places the fore-finger of her right hand upon her 
 knee and all the others put their fore-fingers around it. 
 If the one in the centre raises her finger, saying, at the 
 same instant, " Fly away, pigeon!" or " Fly away, spar- 
 row !" the others must raise their fingers in the same man- 
 ner ; but if, for the sake of mischief, " she exclaims, 
 
FOR THE PEOPLE. 59 
 
 " Fly away, trout !" or " Fly away, elephant !" the others 
 must be careful not to move their fingers, else they must 
 pay a forfeit. That is, the fingers must all rise, if a crea 
 ture is mentioned that can fly ; and kept quiet, if a thing 
 which cannot fly is named. As it is done with great ra- 
 pidity, it requires quick ears and quick thoughts. Some- 
 times things which fly only by accident are mentioned ; 
 such as a feather, a leaf, a sheet of paper, thistle-down, a 
 veil, &c. In this case, all the players never make up 
 their minds soon enough ; some fingers will rise, and 
 some keep still ; and often debates will arise to determine 
 which is right. " I am sure a leaf don't fly," says one ; 
 " I am sure it does fly on the wind,'' says another, <fec. 
 The one in the centre decides all disputed questions. 
 This game brings laughing and forfeits in abundance. 
 
 JUDGE AND JURY. 
 
 A CIRCLE is formed, at the head of which are placed three 
 on elevated seats, called the Judge and Jury. Before the 
 game begins, all except these three have some name or 
 other assigned them. Thus one will be called necklace, 
 another bracelets, another sash, and so on. A tin or 
 wooden plate lies in the centre. When the judge says, 
 
60 HOME GAMES 
 
 " My lady is going out, and wants her necklace," the one 
 named necklace must jump up, and spin the plate round 
 like a top. But there are certain rules to be observed in 
 doing this, which are extremely difficult. She must not 
 make any motion, without first asking leave of the judge. 
 She must say, " May I get up ?" " May I walk ?" " May 
 I stoop?" " May I pick up the plate ?" "' May I spin 
 it ?" " Shall I break it, or shall I place it ?" (By break- 
 ing it, she merely means letting it fall bottom-upwards.) 
 If she is told to break it, and it does not happen to fail 
 that way she must forfeit. After the plate stops, she can- 
 not return without first asking, " May I walk ?" " May 
 I sit down ?" A forfeit is paid for every instance of for- 
 getfulness in these rules. The judge proclaims the for- 
 feits ; and after the circle have all tried their luck, the 
 jury go out of the room to decide in what manner they 
 shall be paid. I forgot to mention, that they do not rise 
 in succession : they wait for the judge to say, " My lady 
 wants her sash, or her bracelets," &c. 
 
III. GAMES OF MEMORY. 
 
 THE ECHO. 
 
 This game consists of a story told by one of the players, 
 interrupted by an echo from the others at the mention of 
 certain agreed-on words. These words should be the 
 names of different articles having reference to the sub- 
 ject of the story. 
 
 For instance, supposing the adventuees op a soldier 
 to be fixed on, it would be advisable to select such terms 
 as soldier, regiment, cannon, furlough, and the names of va- 
 rious military accoutrements — knapsack, shell-jacket, for- 
 aga-cap, bayonet, sv^ord, uniform, cartridge-box, musket, cross- 
 belt, ^x. ^c. Each player, (with the exception of the story 
 teller,) takes a name from the list. The story is com- 
 menced. When the narrator pronounces one of the 
 words agreed on, the player to whom it has been allotted 
 must echo it, in the following manner : — if pronounced 
 only once, he must repeat it twice ; if pronounced twice, 
 
62 HOME CxAMES 
 
 only once. A general word, such as accoKtrcmaits, should 
 be reserved to express a number of objects together, 
 "When this is pronounced, all the players (except soldier, 
 furlough, and all whose names do not apply to any arti- 
 cle forming a part of a military outht) must repeat it at 
 once, — subject to the rules of repetition (as to whether 
 once or twice) already given. 
 
 Examj)!e. 
 
 THE ADVENTURES OF CORPORAL SABERTASH. 
 
 Corporal Sabertash, a brave soliher — soldier (sol- 
 dier /) in the 245th regiment — {regiment, regiment /) hav- 
 ing returned from the wars, was allowed a month's fur- 
 lough {furlough, furlough). His heart bounded at the 
 prospect of revisiting Iiis native village, and pressing 
 once more to his bosom the being of whom he had never 
 ceased to think, even amidst the roar of the cannon — 
 CANNON {eannon), and the clash of the sword — sword 
 (sword). He hastily equipped himself in his unifrom 
 (ujiiform, unifor?n), polished up his musket {musket, iiius- 
 ket), and strapped on his knapsack — knapsack (knap- 
 sack). " Hang your shell-jacket (shell-jacket, shell-jacket), 
 and forage-cap — forage-cap (forage-cap),'^ said ho, " 111 
 leave them behind me and astonish them all, by appear- 
 
FOR THE PEOPLE. 63 
 
 ing before them in my full accoutrements {accoutrements, 
 accoutremen ts) . "''^" 
 
 He marched on for a few miles, when he made a halt. 
 " No hurry," said he, " now. I'm not with tlie regiment 
 {regiment^ regiment). I shall rest a little." So he un- 
 strapped his KNAPSACK — KNAPSACK (hiapsack), got rid of 
 the most cumbrous of his accoutrements (accoutrements , 
 accoutrements), and composed himself to a nap, under a 
 shady oak. 
 
 He was roused by the most piercing cries. With the 
 instinct of a soldier {soldier, soldier), he seized his musket 
 {musket, musket), and marched to the spot whence the 
 cries proceeded, with the speed of a cannon — cannon 
 (cannon) — ball. Judge of his horror, Avhen lie beheld a 
 young and lovely female, struggling with four masked 
 ruiiians, each with a drawn sword (sword, sword). They 
 were endeavouring to drag her to a carriage, which stood 
 at a little distance. Our brave soldier (soldier, soldier) 
 seeing their intention, attacked them with the butt end of 
 his musket — musket (musket). Two of the ruffians fell. 
 A desperate struggle ensued between our hero and the 
 remaining two. Unfortunately, having left his bayonet 
 (bayonet, bayonet) under the tree, his musket — musket 
 (musket), was of little service to him at close quarters. 
 
 * Spoken by all together with the exceptions already mentioned. 
 
64 HOME GAMES 
 
 He, however, seized a sword {sword, siuord) from one of 
 the prostrate villains, and defended himself manfully. 
 One fell bleeding to the earth, his scull cleft in twain. 
 The fourth escaped. Our hero was about to pursue him, 
 when the lady called on him to stay. 
 
 " For Heaven's sake, sir," she said, " incur no more 
 risk on my account. The recollection of his villany will 
 be sufficient punishment for him." 
 
 " That voice !" exclaimed our soldier {soldier, soldier), 
 *' can it be possible ?" 
 
 The maiden started, looked in his face, and, with a loud 
 scream, fell fainting in his arms. It was Margaret, the 
 object of his early love ! 
 
 " And who, dearest," inquired our soldier — soldier 
 {soldier), after the first rapturous greetings were over, 
 "were the ruffians from whom I rescued you — thanks to 
 this good SWORD {sword, swor-cT) V 
 
 " The three who lie there, I know not," answered Mar- 
 garet. '' But the one who has escaped, and was their 
 leader, I recognised in spite of his mask. He has long 
 annoyed me with his persecuting addresses, but I refused 
 to become his bride. Could I forget my own true sol- 
 dier — SOLDIER — {soldier) ?" 
 
 " His name — his rank ?" inquired our hero impetuously. 
 
 *' His exact rank I know not, but he is, like yourself, a 
 SOLDIER {soldier, soldier) — thougli in a far higher station." 
 
FOU THE PEOPLE. 65 
 
 " His name ?" repeated the corporal, clutching his mus- 
 ket — {musket) fiercely. 
 
 " Sir Reginald Mandeville !" 
 
 With a wild cry of despair our hero fell prostrate on 
 the greensward. 
 
 It was the name of the commanding officer of his regi- 
 ment {regiment, regiment) ! 
 
 •Jf -Sf ^ -^c- -K- •«• 
 
 Our ill-fated hero was tried by a court-martial, for as- 
 saulting his commanding-officer, and was condemned to 
 an ignominious death. The gallant soldier {soldier, sol- 
 dier), who had so often faced the cannon — cannon {can- 
 non) of the enemy, fell pierced by the musket {musket, 
 musket) shots of his comrades. The whole regiment — 
 REGIMENT {regiment) attended his funeral. His accou- 
 trements {accoutrements, accoutrements) were buried with 
 him. 
 
 And poor Margaret ! a weapon surer than the musket 
 {musket, musket), keener than the sword — sword {sword), 
 and more deadly than the bayonet — bayonet {bayonet), 
 Despair ! pierced her gentle bosom. She died of a broken 
 heart, crushed by the tragic events that marked the un- 
 timely close of the corporal's furlough {furlough, fur- 
 lough). 
 
 This touching history will serve as a model for an in- 
 
66 HOME GAMES 
 
 finity of others. The object of the narrator should be t© 
 impart so much interest to his story as to make his hear- 
 ers forget to give the echo at the proper time, or not the 
 right number of times — for either of which deviations 
 from the rule, forfeits must be rigidly exacted. 
 
 THE ANTS AND THE GRASSHOPPER. 
 
 Lots are drawn to decide which of the company shall first 
 undertake the part of the G-rasshopper. This important 
 matter settled, the chosen individual stands up, the other 
 players (who represents the Ants) seating themselves in a 
 circle round him. The Grasshopper writes on a piece of 
 paper the name of a particular grain — ^or other article 
 of food suitable to his species — to which he has taken 
 a fancy. This memorandum he conceals for the pre- 
 sent. He then advances, with a profound salutation, to 
 the Ants, whom he addresses something in the following 
 manner : — 
 
 " My dear and hospitable friends, I am very hungry. 
 Would any of you lend me a little provision of some kind 
 to be going on with ?" Then addressing some particular 
 Ant, " You, my dear friend, I know your goodness of 
 heart ; I am sure you will help me with a trifle ?" 
 
 J 
 
FOR THE PEOPLE. eY 
 
 The Ant addressed replies, " I liave notliing but a grain 
 of barley" (or any other grain according to fancy). 
 
 " Thank you, I don't care for it. And you, neigh- 
 bour," addressing another Ant, " is there nothing better 
 you can offer me ?" 
 
 " A grub." 
 
 " Thank you, I would rather not." 
 
 He begs from all the players in turn, who propose 2. fly, 
 a grain of wheat ^ oats^ hayseed, &c. — always an article 
 wliich a Grasshopper might be expected to eat, and which 
 has not been mentioned before. When he has gone all 
 round, without the article he has written been named by 
 any one, the Grasshopper pays a forfeit, and proceeds to 
 his second question. If, however, one of the Ants shoujd 
 hit upon the identical thing, " I will take it with pleasure, 
 neighbour," cries the Grasshopper, " and may Providence 
 reward you." He then produces his piece of paper, prov- 
 ing that the article proposed was the one he had thought 
 of ; the Ant pays a forfeit, and becomes Grasshopper in 
 his turn. Instead, however, of recommencing the game, 
 he continues it in the following manner : — " Neighbour, 
 (he says to an Ant) " I have eaten abundantly, thanks to 
 the kindness of your companions. I should like a dance. 
 What dance would you recommend ?" (The name of the 
 dance is written down secretly as in the case of the food). 
 
 The question goes round as before— the ants proposing 
 
HOME GAMES 
 
 various dances, sucL. as the polka, the fandango, the schof- 
 fishe, the minuet, the cachuca, &c.^ The Grasshopper treats 
 these suggestions (his own not being among them) with 
 the greatest contempt. Any player proposing a dance 
 previously named pays a forfeit. The Grasshopper of 
 course does the same, should the round terminate without 
 the dance of his memorandum being mentioned, and pro- 
 ceeds to write the third question. If, on the contrary, 
 an ant should hit upon the right dance, they change 
 places as in the first instance ; and the new Grasshopper 
 (having paid a forfeit) continues — 
 
 " Well, I will dance, my friends. But I see no fun in 
 dancing without music. What instrument would you 
 recommend ?" 
 
 The Ants recommend various instruments, such as the 
 violin, the piano, the cornet, the harp, &c.,t — subject to the 
 same conditions as the previous rounds. 
 
 The fourth Grasshopper (supposing an unlucky insect 
 to have hit on the identical instrument) takes up the 
 thread ; 
 
 * Not long ago in playing this game, \re heard two little boys, of ill- 
 regulated minds, propose the Kickeraboo and the Virginny hreak-dowii. 
 They were severely reprimanded by their elder sisters. 
 
 \ One of the little boys already alluded to suggested, in a low voice, 
 the hones. We were the only person who heard him, and we pledged 
 him on honour it should go no further. 
 
FOR THE PEOPLK 69 
 
 The Ants reply, each in his turn — mo.w, stubble, sand, 
 clover, a rose leaf, &c. &g. 
 
 At length the fifth and last Grasshopper puts the ques- 
 tion. 
 
 " My good friends, I should sleep very comfortably, but 
 for a slight misgiving. I am afraid of being pounced 
 upon by some hungry bird. "What bird do you think I 
 have most reason to fear ?" 
 
 Answeks : — The rook, the partridge, the pigeon, the lark, 
 &c. &c. 
 
 Should the bird whose name has been written down be 
 mentioned, the too prophetic Ant pays a forfeit, and the 
 game is finished. If not, the Grasshopper not only pays 
 a forfeit, but has to put the question round a second 
 time, then a third, and more still if necessary. Nor is 
 that all — from the commencement of the second round he 
 has to pay a forfeit for every answer till the identical bird 
 is named. The result is generally, that the Grasshopper 
 despairing of being able to redeem the number of forfeits, 
 exacted from him, cries for mercy ; the pitch of mental 
 anguish to which he is wrought keeping up the excite- 
 ment of the game to the very end. 
 
 This is not so good a game as the Birdcatcher. It be- 
 longs to the same school, but is of a higher class. And 
 we all know that in most schools there is seldom so much 
 fun going forward in the upper classes as in the lower. 
 
10 HOME GAMES 
 
 THE SCHOOLMISTRESS ; 
 
 OR, MY LITTLE FINGER. 
 
 This is, strictly speaking, a young ladies' game, tliough 
 the presence of one or two of the opposite sex would 
 rather increase than detract from its amusement. 
 
 The players seat themselves in a semicircle, in the cen- 
 tre of which is a seat more elevated than the rest, for the 
 Schoolmistress, who (having been chosen by lots or other- 
 wise) calls upon one of the " young ladies" to stand upon 
 a stool facing the rest of her companions, to answer cer- 
 tain grave accusations. 
 
 The regulations of the game will be understood from 
 the following specimen : — 
 
 MiSTEESS. You went out yesterday without my per- 
 mission ? Pray where did you go to ? 
 
 The Accused. For a walk with Miss (naming 
 
 one of the young ladies,"^ who must immediately reply, 
 " If you please, Governess," or pay a forfeit). 
 
 Mistress. I know where you went to. My thujnb has 
 told me. 
 
 * If there should be any gentlemen in the game they must on no ac- 
 count behave as such. All must be considered young ladies for the time 
 being, and be addressed as *' Miss." The manliest whisker cannot save 
 an individual from his temporary effeminization. 
 
FOR THE PEOPLE. 11 
 
 (At the word thumb, the accused replies, " He knows 
 nothing about it f an ansAver she must repeat to all 
 charges, so long as the Scholmistress does not name ano- 
 ther of her fingers."^) 
 
 Mistress. You went to the library, and purchased 
 The Haunted Shadow, or the Calahrian Brigand of Madagas- 
 car. I do not allow young ladies to read romances. 
 
 Accused. He knows nothing; about it. 
 
 Mistress. More than tlmt — you were seen copying 
 out the love-letter of Adeliza to Ferdinando, praying him 
 to rescue her from the cavern of the witch Dentata. 
 
 Accused. He knows nothing about it. 
 
 Mistress. You tore a leaf out of your copy-book to 
 write it on. My middle finger told me. 
 
 Accused. DonH believe him. (The answer to be ap- 
 plied as long as the middle finger is in question.) 
 
 Mistress. You meant me, by the " witch Dentata." 
 
 Accused. Don't believe him. Miss • knows to 
 
 the contrary (naming another young lady, who must im- 
 mediately reply, "If you please, Governess"). 
 
 Mistress. You changed the name of Adeliza to that 
 of your own, and Ferdinando to that of a young gentle- 
 man. 
 
 Accused. DonH believe him. 
 
 * Query. Ought a thumb to be considered a finger ? We have nothing 
 but au Irish Dictiona;i'y at hand. Consult Walker. 
 
12 HOME GAMES 
 
 Mistress. Your cousin, an abominable young officer, 
 with moustaches. 
 
 Ace USED . Don^t believe him . 
 
 Mistress. You sealed the letter with a thimble, and 
 sent it to the post. 
 
 Accused. Don't believe him. Miss , Miss ■ , 
 
 and Miss know better. (She names those who- ap- 
 pear most inattentive in preference to others. These 
 must reply, " If you please, G-overness," or pay forfeits.) 
 
 Mistress. To the post, I say. My little finger told me 
 all about it. 
 
 Accused. He is a storyteller. 
 
 All the young Ladies (together). — Oh ! the naughty 
 little finger ! 
 
 Mistress. He sticks to it, however. 
 
 Accused. He is a storyteller. Ask all my schoolfellows. 
 
 All, without speaking, hold out their hands in corrob- 
 oration of the statement. (The least hesitati(?ii costs a 
 forfeit. 
 
 Mistress. He says all these young ladies are story- 
 tellers. 
 
 All get up. Those who remain seated pay forfeits. 
 The accused enters the ranks. A new schoolmistress is 
 appointed who fixes on a fresh culprit, and the game re^ 
 commences. 
 
 If, however, the first schoolmistress, satisfied with the 
 
FOR THE PEOPLE. 78 
 
 attestatian of some of the young ladies who have not 
 moved from their seats (and have, in consequence, paid 
 forfeits), announces that the little finger has confessed 
 himself mistaken, she can bring forward fresh charges, 
 which the original accused must answer, on the principles 
 alread}^ shown. 
 
 MY GRANDMOTHER'S GARDEN. 
 
 A CIRCLE is formed, and the player best acquainted with 
 the game addresses his nearest neighbour as follows : — 
 
 " I have been to my grandmother's garden. My grand- 
 mother's garden is a beautiful garden. In my grandmo- 
 ther's garden there are four corners." 
 
 Each player in succession, repeats the same phrase, not 
 adding or omitting anything on pai» of a forfeit ; the 
 next player always taking up the word before he can have 
 time to correct an error. When the turn of the first 
 speaker comes round again, he repeats what has been 
 previously said ; adding to it, " In the first corner there 
 is a rose-tree. I love you to distraction." 
 
 The others repeat not only this, but also the original 
 phrase, paying a forfeit for each mistake. 
 
 The turn finished a second time, the leader repeats the 
 whole ; adding, " In the second corner there is a sun-flow- 
 er. I would kiss vou, but I am afi^aid." 
 
74 HOME GAMES 
 
 After the third turn, ho adds, " In the third corner 
 there is a peony. Tell me your secret." 
 
 Each player then whispers whatever he pleases in the 
 ear of his preceding neighbour. 
 
 The fourth repetition over, the leader makes another 
 addition. 
 
 " In the fourth corner there is a poppy. Repeat aloud 
 what you whispered to me just now." 
 
 As the oration (which has now reached its full growth) 
 goes round the circle, each player is compelled to divulge 
 the secret he had previously imparted to his neighbour, 
 in confidence — ^rather an embarrasing condition some- 
 times, for people not prepared for such an arrangement — 
 for the company are equally amused at the secrets which 
 are not very clear, as at those which are rather too much 
 so. 
 
 This game will *be recognised as only another version 
 of the old House that Jack built, — on the model of which 
 endless games may be formed, the leader relying upon 
 his own invention for the sayings to be repeated. 
 
 THE HORNED AMBASSADOR. 
 
 The leader of the game, having prepared a number of lit- 
 tle horns of paper that can be attached to the heads of 
 
FOR THE PEOPLE. 15 
 
 the players — curl-paper fasliion — commences by addres- 
 sing to the person seated on his left in a circle the discourse 
 which all the players must repeat after him word for 
 word, without the slightest alteration or addition, on pain 
 of receiving the name of Horned Embassador, instead of 
 that of Royal Ambassador, which all hold in right of the 
 game. The speech is as follows : — 
 
 " Good morning. Royal Ambassador — always Royal. 
 I, the Royal Ambassador — always Royal — come from his 
 Royal Majesty — always Royal (indicating his neighbour 
 on the right) to tell you that his eagle has a golden 
 beak.'' 
 
 The second and following players repeat this formula 
 as we have already stated. If any one makes a mistake, 
 he receives one of the paper horns for each blunder. 
 And in the following round, instead of saying, " I, the 
 Royal Ambassador — always Royal " he says, — " I the one 
 (two or three, according to the number he has received) 
 horned Ambassador — always hornedj^ &c. 
 
 By the same rule, when addressing the wearer of one 
 or more horns, instead of saying, " Good day, Royal Am- 
 bassador — always Royal/^ it is necessary to say, " Good 
 day, one (or more) liorned Ambassador — always horned^ 
 
 At the second round, the leader adds, and the others 
 repeat successively, a new quality, to that mentioned as 
 possessed by the king's eagle in the first' — such as brazen 
 
HOME GAMES 
 
 claws ; at the third, diamond eyes ; at the fourth, silver 
 flumes ; at the fifth, an iron heart, &c. The last act of 
 this game (which may be prolonged ad libitum) is the col- 
 lection of forfeits in proportion to the number of horns 
 that have been distributed, and the penalties exacted for 
 their redemption by the king of the Ambassadors — always 
 Royal — from their many horned brethren. 
 
 CROSS PURPOSES. 
 
 This game is a decided improvement on conversation 
 cards, as giving employment to a larger number of play- 
 ers, and being less troublesome in preparation. 
 
 Each player furnishes his neighbour with an answer^ 
 after the fashion of the hidden word."^ One of the party 
 stands at a little distance, so as not to overhear what is 
 said. 
 
 The office of this isolated individual (all the answers 
 being arranged) is to come forward and address a question 
 in turn to each player, who is bound to give the answer 
 that has been confided to him by his neighbour. The re- 
 sult is often highly amusing. 
 
 This game offers no difficulty whatever, beyond that of 
 
 * Pages 83, 115. 
 
FOR THE PEOPLE. 77 
 
 knowing how to put the questions so as to make thiin ap- 
 ply to all sorts of answers. * 
 
 Let us suppose that the members of a select company 
 have been provided with an answer each, and that the 
 interrogator (Charles) questions them, as follows : — 
 
 Charles. How do you find yourself to-day ? 
 
 Maria. With pepper and vinegar. 
 
 Charles. Are you fond of dancing ? 
 
 Ellen. On the table. 
 
 Charles. Are you fond of equestrian exercise ? ^ 
 
 Alexander. Trimmed with point lace. 
 
 Charles. What is your opinion of Tennyson ? 
 _ Lucy. Hot with sugar, &c. &c. 
 
 THE BOOK OF FATE. 
 
 The president of the game takes a pack of cards, two or 
 three of which he distributes to each player, reserving to 
 himself the remainder, which he is at liberty to consult 
 when necessary, — he having nothing to do with the game 
 beyond his office of superintendent. Each player con- 
 ceals his cards carefully from his neighbour. 
 
 The distribution concluded, the president asks the 
 nearest player, — 
 
ns HOME GAMES 
 
 " Have you read tlie Book of Fate?" 
 
 The player arxswers, — 
 
 " I have read the Book of Fate. 
 
 " What did you read in the Book of Fate ?" 
 
 " I read — so and so — " (naming whatever ca/'d he 
 pleases, provided it be not one of those in his hand). 
 
 The president consults his reserve pack. If the card 
 alluded to be in it, the player naming it pays a forfeit. 
 If not, the others examine their cards, and the one in 
 v/hose hand it is found, lays it on the table, and gives it 
 to the president. • 
 
 From this point, there are two methods of proceeding. 
 One is, that if the person naming a card, and the one in 
 whose liand it is found, be of different sexes, a kiss is 
 exchanged between them ; if not, both pay forfeits. 
 This, however, will subject the game to the restrictive 
 conditions to be found in our note, page 20. The simpler, 
 and wholly unobjectionable, method is, to make the 
 holder of the card pay a forfeit, and acquit the namer 
 of it. 
 
 In either case, the game continues ; that is to say, the 
 player previously interrogated becomes questioner in his 
 turn — inquiring of his neighbour on the left — " Have you 
 read, ^c," and so on, till all the cards have returned to 
 the hands of the president. 
 
 In the course of having to name so many cards, it is 
 
FOR THE PEOPLE. T9 
 
 enongli that there should be some repetitions ; in case of 
 which, the plaj^er so inattentive as to forget what have 
 been already named, and to clash with the nomination of 
 another, pays a forfeit. In consequence of this, and to 
 avoid endless disputes, the president should take care to 
 keep apart, from the rest of the pack, the cards already 
 named ; to conceal them from the players, so as to give 
 no hint of what has gone before ; and to consult them 
 every time a fresh card is named. 
 
 It must also be rigidly observed, that any card named, 
 and found in the hands of the speaker, costs him a forfeit 
 for his negligence or stupidity. As the cards become ex- 
 hausted, the players who have been relieved of theirs re- 
 tire from the game. Those must refrain from giving any 
 advice to the others, on pain of forfeit. 
 
 THE BUTTERFLY. 
 
 This is a game we have met with in the French work, so 
 often gratefully mentioned in these pages. The writer 
 introduces it with the followino' remark : — 
 
 "& 
 
 " A fine and delicate gallantry may render this game very agreeable to 
 the ladies invited to participate in it ; and the malice of their responses 
 contribute not indifferently to augment the charm of it." 
 
HOME GAMES 
 
 Eecommending the gentlemen who have any idea of 
 playing it to look up their stock of '" fine and delicate 
 gallantry/"' and tlie ladies on no account to fail in aug- 
 menting the charm by the necessary amount of " malice," 
 we will proceed to the description of the game. 
 
 All the gentlemen assume the characters of garden in- 
 sects, such as the Butterfly (who gives his name to, and 
 leads off the game) the Ant^ the Wasp^ tlie Beetle, the Bee, 
 the Caterpillar^" &c. &c. 
 
 The ladies represent different flower st — the Rose^ the 
 Honeysuckle, the Eglantine, the Geranium, the Violet, &c. &c. 
 
 The names being distributed and understood, the But- 
 terfly, as first speaker, commences talking about what he 
 pleases. It must be borne in mind that no one must pro- 
 nounce a name either of an insect or a flower that has not 
 been adopted ; and that each player must take up the dis- 
 course as soon as the last speaker has pronounced his or 
 her name, which he generally does, fixing his eyes on quite 
 another person, so as to mislead the real bearer of it. 
 
 A name cited by mistake — the speech taken up too soon 
 or too late — these are serious offences, to be punished in 
 
 * The Daddy-long-legs. {2Iarginal note hy a young gentleman who 
 looked over our 318. without our permission). 
 
 f " How nice !" {Marginal note by a young lady who looTced over our 
 MS, at our especial request). 
 
FOR THE PEOPLE. 
 
 81 
 
 the usual manner. It must also be observed, that the in- 
 sects c^n only cite the names of flowers, and vice versa. 
 
 Specimen. 
 
 The Butterfly {loquitor). HoYf embarrassing, to be 
 snre for a poor insect like myself to drop suddenly upon 
 a p-arden glowing with the loveliest flowers, each one as 
 beautiful as the other ! How am I to make my cnoice ? 
 Now allured by the delicious perfumes, breathing from 
 the half-opened lips of the budding 
 
 rose- 
 
 The Rose. Hold your tongue ! miserable insect 1 I 
 have not forgotten that, yesterday, your envenomed kisses 
 caused the death of the loveliest of my sisters ? I would 
 rather the meanest ant— 
 
 The Ant. Say you so, beautiful flower ? Since I have 
 your permission, I will climb even to the top of }^our 
 precious calyx before the sun'' has achieved one naii ot^ 
 his course. I will there seek shelter when the garde7ier^ 
 shall arrive armed with his watering-pot'' to add new brii- 
 
 ^ It is advisable to introduce novr and then the three y^ords-sunflow- 
 er-pot, and gardener. These for T^hich the players are less prepared than 
 tl/e name, oi flowers and insects, usually produce a great many forfeits. 
 The following are the by-laws with reference to the subject. At the men- 
 tion of the sun, all should rise from their seats; at the gardener, all the 
 flowers hold out their hands as if asking his assistance; and the znsects, 
 frightened, make a gesture as if they would shun his presence. Fmally. 
 
82 HOME GAMES 
 
 liancies to your beauty. I was up to this moment content 
 with offering my homage to a simple violet — 
 
 The Yiolet. At last then, I may enjoy a moment's 
 repose. In vain I strove to conceal my leaves among the 
 grass, — this contemptible insect has persecuted me as 
 cruelly as the noisiest and fiercest hee — 
 
 The Bee then takes up the word, and the game con- 
 tinues. 
 
 We question whether this game will ever become popu- 
 lar in America. As it is, however, rather our business to 
 provide than to criticise, and as we did not catch the but- 
 terfly with the intention of cruelly pulling him to pieces, 
 we leave him in the hands, of our readers, — trusting to 
 their discernment to find out any beauties he may possess. 
 
 when the watering-pot is mentioned, all the flowers start up to their feet 
 suddenly as if reanimated by the freshness of the water, and the insects 
 fall each on one knee, as if prostrated by the same effect. These differ- 
 ent postures only cease when the speaker has mer tioned the name of a 
 flower or an insect, who in turn, takes up the wor 1. 
 
III. CATCH GAMES. 
 
 DEPENDING ON THE ASSISTANCE OF AN ACCOMPLICE, OR 
 SECRET KNOWLEDGE FOR THE PURPOSE OF MYSTIFI- 
 CATION. 
 
 THE WITCH. 
 
 A TRICK to discover a given word by the assistance of a 
 confederate, who enacts the witch. Having entered the 
 room, and taken your seat, you are addressed by his 
 witch (who makes mystic passes, &c., over you with a 
 wand) in different sentences, each commencing with a con- 
 sonant in the word, in rotation. These sentences she di- 
 vides by waving her wand over your head. The vowels 
 are expressed by thumps on the floor with her wand — 
 thus : a single thump for A ; two for E ; three for I ; 
 four for ; and five for U. 
 
 Example. 
 
 The word chosen is Boatman. The witch commences ; — 
 " 5-6 prepared, my trusty spirit, to answer my questions. 
 
84 HOME GAMES 
 
 (Thump, thump, thump ! — a wave of the wand — thump ! 
 T-o answer my questions, spirit, so mind — (a wave of 
 the wand) M-md what you are about {thump). JY-ow ex- 
 pound the oracle." 
 
 The mystification of the audience may be increased by 
 fixing on the second or third letter instead of the first. 
 
 THE WIZARD. 
 
 The wizard, as may be supposed, is a near relation of the 
 witch. In this, however, you do not profess to name the 
 article fixed on without having heard it, but simply to 
 detect which it is when named amongst others. 
 
 The secret is this : your confederate takes care to name 
 it after an object having four legs, as a quadruped or an 
 article of furniture. 
 
 Example. 
 
 The word agreed on is lamp. The confederate com- 
 mences his interrogation : 
 
 Q. Is it a flower ? 
 A. No. 
 
 Q. Is it an inkstand ? 
 A. No 
 
FOR THE PEOPLE. 85 
 
 Q. 
 
 Is it a table-cloth ? 
 
 A. 
 
 No. 
 
 Q. 
 
 Is it a table ? 
 
 A. 
 
 No. 
 
 Q. 
 
 Is it a LAMP ? 
 
 A. 
 
 Yes. 
 
 A table having four legs, the word following it is 
 known to be the right one. 
 
 THE WHISTLE. 
 
 A WHISTLE is attached to the skirts of an unsuspecting 
 individual. He is then placed in the middle of the play- 
 ers (all standing up) having been previously shown ano- 
 ther whistle, which he is told is to be passed round the 
 company, and sounded while his back is turned — his office 
 being to detect the player. The person on whom he has 
 turned his back adroitly takes hold of the whistle at- 
 tached to him, and blows on it. The victim turns round 
 quickly at the noise. The other, no less quick, has let 
 go the whistle, and — while he is watching closely to de- 
 tect its presence in this quarter — he hears it sounded at 
 his back. He turns round again — whenever he looks for 
 the whistle it is sounded behind him. It is as well to 
 
86 HOME GAMES 
 
 put a stop to the game at the first signs of insanity ex- 
 hibited by the bewildered victim. This, however, is quite 
 optional. 
 
 THE KING AND HIS SLA YE. 
 
 A KiNG"^ is chosen, and conducted with much pomp to a 
 throne atone end of the room. Though elected by popu- 
 lar acclamation, this monarch is vested with powers 
 scarcely less absolute than those of an hereditary despot. 
 
 The first act of his reign is to make a slave of one of 
 his subjects. He fixes upon any one he likes. The slave 
 submits — 'he had better ! and is requested to seat himself 
 at the foot of the throne. 
 
 The king then calls on one of the company by name, 
 " , approach, my subject.'' 
 
 If the player called upon be unacquainted with the eti- 
 quette of this powerful court, he will in all probability 
 approach the presence rudely and without ceremony. He 
 immediately pays a heavy forfeit into the royal treasury, 
 and takes the place of the slave. This terrible punish- 
 ment is inflicted, without the culprit being told the nature 
 
 * Or Queen. 
 
FOR THE PEOTLK 87 
 
 of his offence. As we have alread}^ said, the monarch is 
 absolute and irresponsible. 
 
 If, on the contrary, the subject honoured by the royal 
 summons should happen to know his duty, he says, — 
 " Sire, may I dare V 
 
 The king is graciously pleased to reply, " You may.'' 
 The subject then approaches, and says, — 
 " Sire, I have obeyed ; I await your royal orders," 
 The king then orders him to take from the slai^e any 
 ornament or superfluous article of dress he may think fit. 
 But the subject (under the same penalties as before) must 
 not proceed to execute the royal command without pro- 
 nouncing the formula^ '• Sire, may I dare V to which the 
 king, with the same enormous amount of condescension, 
 again replies, " You may." 
 After the execution of the edict, the player repeats — 
 " Sire, I have obeyed ; I await your royal orders." 
 The king either commands him to take something else 
 from the slave, or says, " Return to your place." This, 
 however, the player must take care not to do at once, on 
 pain of taking the slave's place, and paying a forfeit. 
 He must first say, '' Sire, may I dare ?" as usual ; and not 
 think of quitting the presence until the king says, " You 
 may." 
 
 The articles taken from the slave are claimed by the 
 state as forfeits, It is seldom, however, he is stripped of 
 
88 HOME GAMES 
 
 many of Ms ornaments. This spoiler is almost sure to 
 neglect the necessary formula, previous to executing one 
 or other of the royal commands, and become an object for 
 plunder himself. 
 
 The king is elected for an unlimited period, but may 
 abdicate whenever he pleases, with the privilege of ap- 
 pointing his successor. With all his absolute power, he 
 had, however, better take care. We have seen unpopular, 
 partial, and especially stupid monarchs dethroned at a 
 moment's notice. 
 
 THE COOK WHO DOESN'T LIKE PEAS. 
 
 The leader of the game puts the following question to 
 the assembled players in succession : — 
 
 " My cook doesn't like peas ; what shall we give her to 
 eat?'' 
 
 A player suggests " turnips," " potatoes," " a piece of 
 bread," " chops," " a penny roll," " pork," &c. 
 
 To all these, the questioner replies, " She doesn't like 
 them (or it) — pay a forfeit." 
 
 Another proposes " carrots," " dry bread," " beef," 
 '* mutton," <fec., the answer to any of which is, — 
 
 " That will suit her," and the questioner pays a forfeit. 
 
THE CLAIRVOYANT 
 
FOPw THE PEOPLR 89 
 
 If only two or three are in the secret, the game pro- 
 ceeds for some time to the intense mystification of the 
 players, who have no idea what they have said to incur 
 or escape the penalties. It depends upon a play of words. 
 The cook not liking " P'^," the players must avoid giving 
 an answer in which that letter occurs. As the same pro- 
 position must not be repeated twice, those even who are. 
 in the plot are sometimes entrapped ; the answer they had 
 resolved on being forestalled by another player ; they 
 have no time for consideration. 
 
 THE CLAIRYOYANT BEHIXD THE SCREEN. 
 
 A Player from whom it is considered desirable to ex 
 tract as many forfeits as possible, is placed behind a 
 screen, or a door in an adjoining room. All the rest con 
 ceal themselves from his sight, and the conductor of the 
 game cries but, 
 
 " We are ready, are you there ?'" 
 
 '' Yes." 
 
 "So let us begin. Do you know Miss Such-a-one" 
 (naming one of the ladies of the company) ? 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 *' Do you know how she is dressed ?" 
 
90 HOME GAMES 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " Do you know her gown ?" 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " Her bracelets ?" 
 
 ''Yes." 
 
 " Good. Do you know her sleeves ; the lace on her 
 scarf?" 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " Her chatelaine ; her watch ?" 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 '' ^nd her watch chain ?" 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " In fact you know all her external decorations ?" 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " Her gloves ; her bouquet ?" 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 The questioner adds as many objects, and varies his 
 inquiries as often as he pleases. The other replies 
 " Yes," invariably. 
 
 " Well, as you know so much about it, tell me by which 
 of the articles I have mentioned, I now take hold of her." 
 
 If the clairvoyant be not au fait to the game, he will, 
 doubtless, name an infinity of things before hitting on the 
 right one, and will pay a forfeit for each mistake. He 
 also pays one in case of his naming an article not pre- 
 viously mentioned by the questioner. 
 
FOR THE PEOPLE. 91 
 
 If acquainted with the secret of the game, he would 
 say (the questions above given having been put to him), 
 
 " You have hold of Miss by her imtch-chain^^ — 
 
 that being the sole article to which the questioner had 
 prefixed the conjunction and — the word of recognition 
 for the initiated clairvoyant. 
 
 When the object is to victimize any particular individ- 
 ual (always a laudable one in any case) in this manner, 
 the plan is to fix on two or three clairvoyants, in the 
 secret, to precede him. These, of course, pretend to be 
 mistaken a few times to evade suspicion. When the last 
 of them has guessed correctly (as he might have done at 
 once had he wished), the clairvoyant being entitled to 
 nominate his successor, he fixes on the innocent lamb 
 doomed, from the commencement, to sacrifice. 
 
 THE SCISSORS. 
 
 A PAIR of scissors, or any other object to represent one, 
 is passed from hand to hand — each player saying as he 
 presents it to his neighbour, " I make you a present of 
 my scissors, open or shut" (as he may choose). 
 
 In the first case the player must cross either his arms 
 
92 HOME GAMES 
 
 or legs carelessly, so as not to attract attention ; in tlie 
 second lie must take care to keep them separate. 
 
 Many people from the want of attention, are made to 
 pay forfeits for a long time without knowing why, their 
 surprise and perplexity being the chief amusement of the 
 game. 
 
 THE MOLE m THE FARMER'S FIELD. 
 
 One player addresses another : — " Have you seen the 
 mole in the farmer's field ?" 
 
 The other replies, — 
 
 " Yes, I have seen the mole in the farmer's field," 
 
 " Do you know what the mole does ?" 
 
 " Yes, I know what the mole does." 
 
 " Can you do as he does ?" 
 
 The secret is to shut your eyes every time you answer 
 (all the answers being echoes of the questions in the affir- 
 mative). Failing in this, you pay a forfeit. 
 
 FYE BEEN TO MARKET. 
 
 The company being formed into a circle, one of the play- 
 ers says to his neighbour on the left, — 
 
FOR THE PEOPLE. 95 
 
 " IVe been to market." 
 
 The neighbour inquires — 
 
 " What have you bought ?" 
 
 " A coat, a dress, a nosegay, a shoe :" in fact anything 
 that may come into the head of the customer , provided he 
 be able, on pronouncing the word, to toiLch an article such 
 as he has named. Whoever neglects or is unable to per- 
 form this ceremony pays a forfeit. Naming an article 
 previously indicated is similarly punished. 
 
 HOT COCKLES FOR TWO. 
 
 This game is executed apparently in the same manner as 
 Hot Cockles, only that there are two confessors, who re- 
 ceive on their laps the heads of two patients. One of 
 these must be acquainted with the trick of the game ; the 
 other without the slightest suspicion of it. The former, 
 (when both have concealed their faces,) quietly gets up, 
 and strikes the hand of his companion with his own ; then 
 returns to his place, and appears to rise at the same time 
 as the other. 
 
 It will be believed that the victim may go on guessing 
 for ever, without hitting upon the right person. The 
 other, at the end of a few turns, nam.es, according to his 
 
94 HOME GAMES 
 
 own choice, any member of the company, who imme- 
 diately affects to be detected fairly, and takes his place. 
 This is done to avoid awakening suspicions. The game 
 is continued till the victim gives it up in despair, and de- 
 clares himself at the mercy of the company, who ruin him 
 in forfeits for his want of perception. 
 
V. GAMES. 
 
 REQUIRING THE EXERCISE OF FANCY, INTELLIGENCE, 
 EYEN IMMAGINATION. 
 
 THE STOOL OF REPENTANCE ; 
 
 OR, THE COURT OF JUSTICE. 
 
 One of the party, by lots, or his own choice, is fixed upon 
 to occupy the Stool of Repentance, as culprit. Another 
 takes the office of President of the Court. The remain- 
 der form the judges. 
 
 The legal proceedings are commenced by the President 
 in the following manner : — pointing to the culprit, he 
 inquires of the judges — 
 
 " My lords, do you know why the prisoner, J , has 
 
 been sentenced to solitary confinement on the Stool of 
 Repentance T^^ 
 
 The judges answer — '• We do.'' 
 
 * We are not answerable for this startling Law Reform which makes 
 the coxirt sit in judgment on a culprit after sentence has been carried out. 
 
HOME GAMES 
 
 They then advance, one by one, and whisper, in the 
 President's ear, whatever reasons they may think fit to 
 give, consisting of the most ridiculous accusations against 
 the prisoner. 
 
 All the depositions being made, they resume their 
 places, and the President addresses the culprit : — 
 
 " Prisoner on the Stool, you are accused of"- — (here he 
 repeats the various accusations). " Can you tell me who 
 it is that has brought forward these serious charges 
 against you?" 
 
 The prisoner then repeats all the charges ; naming, to 
 each, the particular judge lie suspects of having made it. 
 If he should fail in fixing any one upon the right person, 
 he pays a forfeit for each mistake, and continues to occu- 
 pj the stool, that he may meet a fresh ground of accusa- 
 tions. Should he name one correctly, the detected judge, 
 whoever it may be, pays a forfeit, and occupies the stool 
 of repentance in his place. Proceedings are immediately 
 commenced against the newly-caught prisoner. 
 
 Simple as this game appears, it cannot be thoroughly 
 enjoyed without the exercise of three important qualities — 
 memory, sprightliness, and delicacy. The first is neces- 
 sary to the President, who has to receive the various ac- 
 cusations from the judges, and remember them distinctly, 
 so as to be able to identify eacli with its author when the 
 guessing on the part of the culprit commences : the se- 
 
FOR THE PEOPLK 0'? 
 
 cond and third to the judges — one to enable them to in- 
 vent charges of an appropriate and amusing character, 
 the other in order that those charges may be so construct- 
 ed as to avoid all possibility of wounding tlie feelings of 
 the culprit. 
 
 With regard to the latter necessity, we cannot do bet- 
 ter than to quote a little French work (to which we have 
 been greatly indebted in the course of our labours on 
 various occasions) on the subject."^ 
 
 "This game requires great attention ou the part of the accusing 
 judges. They have to consider the age, the sex, the physical and mental 
 qualities of the person before them on the stool of repentance [sellette). 
 When the object is to pay him a compliment, care should be taken to 
 avoid citing a quality not possessed by him, or of which the possession 
 by him is exaggerated, the mention of which would be construed into 
 unpleasant irony. If it be a question of a fault or ridiculous quality, it 
 were much better to make the accusation entirely fictitious than to base 
 it upon an actual failing, any allnsiofl to which would convey an impres- 
 sion of ill-breeding. As a rule it is as well to avoid excess in all cases, 
 and to observe scrupulously the decencies of society, the forgetfulness of 
 which often leads to ill feeling, in games of play, as in all other social 
 relations." 
 
 The homely good sense of this exhortation is too ob- 
 vious to need the slightest comment. 
 
 * Almanack des Jeux de Sociiti, 1853. 
 
9S - HOME GAM c:S 
 
 ACTING RHYMES. 
 
 A WORD is fixed upon to which all the players in succes- 
 sion have to express a rhyme in dumb show. 
 
 Example. 
 
 We will suppose the given word to be 7'oot. 
 
 The first player elevates his leg, tugging at the air, and 
 making faces of pain, as if undergoing the agony of pul- 
 ling on a tight boot. 
 
 The second points an imaginary gun to shoot. 
 
 The third looks sentimentally up at a picture-frame, as 
 to a lady's casement, and, assuming the aspect of a des- 
 pondent lover, appears to be playing the lute. 
 
 The fourth makes violent and angry faces, thumping 
 his palm as if in the height of a dispute. 
 
 The fifth turns his shirt-collar down," rocks his chair 
 back, puts liis heels on the mantelpiece in American 
 fashion, " whittles" the arm of his chair with a knife, and 
 winks knowingly, with his finger to his nose, by way of 
 indicating that he is ^cute. 
 
 The sixth twists up a roll of paper, and puts it up to 
 his mouth, making the grimaces usually attendant on the 
 early studies of the Jiute, &c. &c. 
 
FOR THE PEOPLE. 
 
 Forfeits may be exacted for imperfect or badly-ex- 
 pressed rhymes. 
 
 The amusement of the game, of course, depends on the 
 nature of the rhymes selected by the players, and their 
 powers of expressing them humourously. 
 
 THE SECRETAKY. 
 
 This game, for which — in company with many others in 
 this collection, not to mention numerous original five-act 
 comedies and three-volume novels — we are indebted to the 
 French — may be played after two methods. 
 
 For either, it is necessary that the players should seat 
 themselves round a table, provided with a sufficient num- 
 ber of pens, inkstands — in fact, as they say in the early 
 copies of the original English comedies we have alluded 
 to — tout-ce quHl faut pour ecrire. 
 
 The Secretary (so the presiding genius of the game is 
 called) distributes to each a blank piece of paper. 
 
 Supposing the old manner of playing the game to be 
 the one decided on ; each player writes his name distinct- 
 ly at the top of his piece of paper — which he hands back 
 to the Secretary. The Secretary shuffles (as the secre- 
 taries of more important societies will do sometimes) the 
 
100 HOME GAMES 
 
 papers, and then distributes them at random among the 
 players — each being ignorant of the name that has fallen 
 to the lot of his neighbour. Each player then, and with- 
 out the slightest constraint or reserve, writes under the 
 name he has got hold of, what he thinks of the person 
 bearing it ; folds up his production, and hands the paper 
 a second time to the Secretary, who, having received all 
 the contributions, shuffles them once more, and then reads 
 aloud the various criticisms — without permitting any one 
 to inspect the handwritings. 
 
 We confess that we never played at this game (a thing 
 we can say of few games of the kind — English or 
 French), but we fancy a good deal of fun might be got 
 out of it 5 and cannot see any danger in its being pursued 
 by people who know how to conduct themselves. 
 
 With our thin-skinned neighbours across the Atlantic, 
 however, the case appears to be different. Our authority "^^ 
 informs us, that at the conclusion of the reading it is 
 necessary to adopt the most stringent measures ; 
 
 " All the papers are thrown into the fire, in order to avoid the quar- 
 rels that the malicious insinuations contained in them might give rise to, 
 if the authors were know^n." 
 
 Even this regulation does not seem to have placed 
 things on a safe footing. We are told that — 
 
 * The Almmiach des Jeux de Societ6, already alluded to. 
 
FOR THE PEOPLE. 101 
 
 " As this game frequently degenerates into personalities — dangerous 
 from their results — a new method has been invented, not subject to the 
 same inconveniences." 
 
 The new method is certainly safe enough — even we 
 should think, for Frenchmen. It is as follows : — 
 
 When the Secretary has distributed his bits of paper^ 
 each player assumes any name he thinks proper — as appli- 
 cable to his character or to any qualities with which he 
 may choose to invest himself, which he writes down after 
 his real name, without letting his neighbours see the name 
 he has adopted. This done, the Secretary collects all the 
 names, and makes all possible haste to write out upon a 
 similar number of pieces of paper, the adopted name of 
 any one person he may think lit to select. These he dis- 
 tributes among the players, each of whom — in a state of 
 frenzy to find out the person to whom the name belongs — • 
 writes a fancy sketch of character, which he signs with 
 his own adopted name. In this manner, says the authority 
 already quoted, 
 
 "You frequently eulogise a person you would not have cared to com- 
 pliment had you known whom you were addressing, — or literally pull to 
 pieces another to whom you would have wished to say something agree- 
 able. From this results a series of qxdd-'pro-quos, all the more amusing 
 from the fact that the Secretary having read aloud all the criticisms, 
 tears away the mask from each writer, and no one has the right to feel 
 annoyed at the affront, or flattered at the compliments, accidentally 
 heaped upon him." 
 
102 HOME GAMES 
 
 Albeit we admit the new method to be 
 variety, we must own to a preference for the old one, — 
 which we cannot regard in any other light than a harm- 
 less opportunity for good humoured quizzing. We can 
 only thank our neighbours, the French, for inventing 
 delightful games for us — regretting that their " touchy'^ 
 dispositions should prevent their participation in our en 
 joy men t of them. 
 
 THE GAME OF DEFINITIONS. 
 
 Many of our readers will remember a delightful little 
 work by Mr. Wallbridge Lunn, published a few years ago, 
 entitled " The Council of Four, or a game of definitions.'^ 
 This purported to be the result of certain spare evenings 
 hanging on the hands of four friends, who, finding nothing 
 else to do, amused themselves in the following manner : — 
 
 A word was given, of which each of the party wrote 
 an epigrammatic definition, — all four being given in 
 anonymously, and subsequently read aloud. 
 
 The uniform excellence of the published definitions 
 has led to the suspicion, that Mr. Lunn himself was the 
 author of them all ; — in fact that, to quote Mrs. Mala- 
 prop, he was like Mr. Cerberus (beating that individual, 
 
FOR THE PEOPLE. 103 
 
 it sliould be observed, by a head), ^^ four gentlemen ai 
 once." Be this as it may, liis unobtrusive little book has 
 suggested a means of passing away a very agreeable 
 hour ; for which we, for one among many, have often had 
 occasion to feel grateful. 
 
 We should remark, that this being purely an intellec- 
 tual exercise, and depending entirely upon the inter- 
 change of thought, should not be attempted in a haz- 
 ardously mixed company. It should only be proposed 
 among friends of certain elevated and even literary 
 tastes, w^ell acquainted with each others capabilities. To 
 all such we unhesitatingly recommend it. 
 
 The following specimens, strung together at random, 
 are our recollections of the game as played on various 
 occasions : — ■ 
 
 ELECTPJCITY. 
 
 Fettered lightning. 
 
 The musician of the spheres who beats Time. 
 
 PARLIAMENT. 
 
 The national kitchen, where everytliing that's good 
 goes to the cook's cousin. 
 
 The waiting-room of the Opera. 
 
 GAS. 
 
 The evening edition of the Sun. 
 
 A regular flare-up, given by Old King Coal, 
 
104 HOME GAMES 
 
 IJLOOMERISM. 
 
 A preliminary to sliaviiig the ladies. 
 
 STEAM. 
 
 A daring liigliwayman — stopping all the mail coaches. 
 
 The surgeon's vade mecum. 
 
 The world's hare — the telegraph's tortoise. 
 
 PROVERBS. 
 
 One of the party is sent out of the room : the rest busy- 
 ing themselves with thinking of a proverb, a poetical 
 quotation, or any known sentence — to be discovered by 
 him on his return. 
 
 To effect this, he is entitled to ask questions from the 
 company all round, beginning with the person on his left. 
 The question may be whatever he pleases, but the answer 
 from the first person must contain tlie first word of the 
 proverb; from the second, the second; and so on, each 
 player taking a word in succession, going round the com- 
 pany as many times as may be necessary, till the proverb 
 be completed. 
 
 The great skill of the game is to contrive the answers 
 so that the fatal word may not be conspicuous. 
 
FOR THE PEOPLK 105 
 
 ExciTriple. 
 
 The proverb chosen is, " ^ bM in the hand is wcrtli two 
 in the bush/' 
 
 Question, No. 1. What do you think of the weather ? 
 
 Answer. I think it will be A fine day to-morrow. - 
 
 Q. No. 2. Hum ! What do you think — do you think 
 we shall have rain ? 
 
 A. I have no corns. I am neither a jackass, a pea- 
 cock, nor a barometer ; nor any BIRD, beast, or mathe- 
 matical instrument, to indicate the weather. 
 
 Q. No. 3. What is your opinion of the domestic poli- 
 cy of the Peruvians ? 
 
 A. I think they behaved very well IN the matter of 
 the Lobos Islands. 
 
 Q. No. 4. What is the difference between fish alive 
 and live fish ? 
 
 A. THE difference there is between a cow and an 
 oyster-knife. 
 
 Q. No. 5. What is the opinion of Pythagoras respect- 
 ing wild-fowl ? 
 
 A. I have not a copy of Shakspeare at HAND at 
 present. 
 
 Q. No. 6. Do you think there is any prospect of a war 
 between Jerusalem and Madagascar ? 
 
 A. I am inclined to think there is. 
 
106 HOME GAMES 
 
 Q. No. 7. If a herring and a half costs three cents, 
 what is the price of mackerel in the height of the season ? 
 
 A. The question is not WOETH answering. 
 
 Q. No. 7. Do you think I shall solve this difficult 
 problem ? 
 
 A. Probably, in the year Nineteen hundred and fifty- 
 TWO. 
 
 Q. No. 9. Come, you'll help me to find it out, won't 
 you? 
 
 A. Not if it's IN my power to avoid so doing. 
 
 Q. No. 10. Do you feel inclined to work me a pair 
 of braces ? 
 
 A. Not in THE least, I assure you. You don't de- 
 serve it. 
 
 Q. No. 11. Can't you do anything to assist me in my 
 experiments ? 
 
 A. I am not to be caught with salt. I know how 
 many beans make five. I object to beating about the 
 BUSH ; and you may catch a weasel asleep, if you have 
 the power. 
 
 The player may make his answer as long as he likes, 
 but must be able to repeat it word for word, if called 
 upon to do so. In the example we have given, the word 
 hush (however artfully overlaid) would probably lead to 
 detection, from the rarity of its occurrence in ordinary 
 
FOR THE PEOPLE. 107 
 
 conversation, and the well-known character of the pro- 
 verb. It is therefore advisable to select proverbs or quo- 
 tations composed of the most ordinary phrases. The 
 guesser may be allowed some time for deliberation ; but 
 if compelled to give it up finally, must leave the room 
 again and try another. 
 
 HOW. WHEN, AND WHERE. 
 
 This, like Proverbs^ Magic, Music, &c., is a trial of skill 
 between one player and all the rest : on his side to dis- 
 cover a secret, — on theirs to prevent or render difficult 
 its discovery. In this case he has to find out a word 
 (the name of some article) they have thought of during 
 his absence, by asking all round, three questions : — 
 
 " How do you like it ?" 
 
 " When do you like it ?" 
 
 " Where do you like it ?" 
 — to all of which, they are compelled to give reasonable 
 answers, with the privilege (and of course the object) of 
 leading the questioner as far astray as possible. 
 Example. 
 There are eight players (exclusive of the questioner). 
 The word agreed upon is box. 
 
108 HOME a AMES 
 
 The first question, — " How do you like it ?" is put to the 
 players all round. The following answers are elicited by 
 ii in succession : — 
 
 1. Lined with satin. 
 
 2. Strong. 
 
 3. Gentle. 
 
 4. Made of Gold. 
 
 5. With a pretty girl in it. 
 
 6. Full of jewels. 
 
 7. With stabling for two or three ponies. 
 
 8. About a foot high. 
 
 To the second question, — " JVken do you like it .?" 
 
 1. When I want to keep awake. 
 
 2. In December. 
 
 3. In June. 
 
 4. In September. 
 
 5. When there's anything worth seeing. 
 
 6. When I'm travelling. 
 
 7. On Thursdays. 
 
 8. When I have not to open it just before bedtime. 
 To the third question, — " Where do you like it .?" 
 
 1. In the Highlands. 
 
 2. In my waistcoat pocket. 
 
 3. At Castle Garden. 
 
 4. On the lawn. 
 
 5. Ii my purse. 
 
FOR THE PEOPLE. 109 
 
 6. On anybody else's head but my own. 
 
 7. Behind four horses. 
 
 8. Opposite the Crystal Palace. 
 
 It will be seen that the various definitions of Box — 
 Christmas box, Coach box, Box on the ear, Box at the opera, 
 Snuff box, Pill box, Box wood, have been intended in the 
 foregoing answers. It is alvv^ays advisable to select a 
 word capable of receiving as many meanings as possible. 
 
 If compelled to " give it up," the questioner is told 
 what the word was, and punished for his stupidity by 
 having to find out another. Should he succeed in gues- 
 sing it, he changes places with one of his late adversaries, 
 for whom a fresh word is fixed upon. 
 
 YES AND KO. 
 
 This game, which is of the same class as the preceding, 
 was formerly called Animal, Vegetable, and Mineral. A 
 player was sent out of the room, and a word (or rather 
 thing) thought of. The player was called in, and pro- 
 ceeded to ask certain members of the company to which 
 of the three kingdoms — animal, vegetable, or mineral — the 
 object in question belonged. They were bound to tell 
 him; and if composed of productions of two or more 
 
;10 HOME GAMES 
 
 kingdoms, to give liim full particulars. For instance, if 
 the object were a saddle^ in whose manufacture leather, 
 wood, and metal are employed, he was told that it 
 belonged to all three. He then proceeded to ask other 
 questions, to which the players were only compelled to 
 answer " Yes" or " No," as the case might be, and to 
 take no notice whatever of questions not admitting of 
 either of those very straightforward answers. 
 
 The game is now much simplified, being confined to the 
 latter regulation. The guesser enters the room, and be- 
 gins asking what questions he likes, the players only an- 
 swering " Yes" and " No." He may ask if the article 
 belongs to either of the three kingdoms, as well as any 
 other question, and will receive a direct answer. But if 
 its composition should belong to more than one (as in the 
 case of the saddle) the player is not obliged to tell him 
 unless directly questioned. 
 
 We will give our readers a specimen of how this game 
 IS carried on, and of the method in which the detection 
 of the most out-of-the-way objects is usually arrived at. 
 
 We will suppose the article thought of to be the light- 
 ning conductor on Barnum^s Museuin,- — a thing it would 
 seem almost impossible to hit upon, without any clue 
 beyond that afforded by the rules of the game. 
 
 The questioner begins by asking if it is animal. 
 
 " No." 
 
FOR THE PEOPLE. Ul 
 
 " Is it vegetable ?" 
 
 "No." 
 
 " Is it mineral ?'' 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 Mineral ! There is one important point gained. 
 
 •' Is it a particular object ?" 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " I mean not merely a particular class or description 
 of objects ?" 
 
 "No." 
 
 Something more definite ! 
 
 " Have I ever seen it ?" 
 
 "Yes." 
 
 " Is it in this house ?" 
 
 " No." 
 
 " Is it in New York ?" 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " In the city ?" 
 
 " No." 
 
 " In the west end ?" 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " In a house ?" 
 ' ''No." 
 
 " In a street ?" 
 
 "No." 
 
 " In a public place ?" 
 
112 HOME GAMES 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " In one of tlie parks or squares ?'' 
 
 " No." 
 
 He is a little at fault. The knowledge of the locality, 
 however, is a great thing for him to hold on by. He 
 continues : — 
 
 " Is it in the most fashionable part of the west end ?" 
 
 ^' No." 
 
 " Near Broadway ?" 
 
 '' Yes." 
 
 " Top ?" 
 
 " No." 
 
 " Bottom ?" 
 
 "Yes.." 
 
 The Avhereabouts being now so nearly ascertained, he 
 returns to the nature of the article. 
 
 " Mineral, you say ; is it metal V' 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " A precious metal ?" 
 
 " No." 
 
 " Iron ?" 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " Iron ! and in a public place ; neither in a house, a 
 street, a park, or a square. Near the bottom of Broad- 
 way." 
 
 He is now so clearly on the scent that it is needless to 
 
FOR THE PEOPLE. 118 
 
 accompany liim further. It will be seen that a system of 
 first generalizing, then gradually centralizing the various 
 heads of information, is the one to be pursued. 
 
 ACTI^^a PROVERBS. 
 
 This is a more complicated version of the Rhymes. 
 Each player must represent, by dumb show, a proverb, or 
 well-known quotation or saying, in a sufficiently intelli- 
 gible manner to enable at least one of the company to 
 repeat it aloud. As, however, the performance may some- 
 times happen to be too obscure for the highest capacity, a 
 president should be elected — (well up in the game) — em- 
 powered to demand an explanation of the actor's inten- 
 tions from himself, when the riddle has been given up by 
 the entire company, and to put it to the vote whether 
 such explanation shall be admitted or not. 
 
 In case of its being pronounced satisfactory, the au- 
 dience pay forfeits for their dulness of perception in not 
 finding out the proverb. In case of its rejection, the per- 
 former pays one, as the penalty for his inability to ren- 
 der himself intelligible. 
 
 Examples. 
 
 Proyerb No. I. — The performer takes something to 
 
114 HOME GAMES 
 
 represent a large stone, and rolls it for a considerable 
 distance. He then picks it up, looks at it as if expect- 
 ing to find something on it, and appears disappointed. 
 He rolls it again, picks it up again and shows it to the 
 company, appearing (by appropriate action) to think its 
 nakedness a singular phenomenon. 
 
 The explanation of this proverb ^vill soon be given. — ■■ 
 "A rolling stone gathers no moss." 
 
 No. II. — A gentleman tries to make himself up for the 
 character of a male bird of the barn-door species as 
 nearly as possible. He opens the performance by appear- 
 ing to be at roost, with his head tucked under the side of 
 his wing and one leg in the air. Gradually he awakens 
 and appears to be snuffing the morning air. He crows ; 
 but, not being thoroughly awake, drops off again. He 
 awakens a second time, shaking his imaginary feathers 
 and crowing prodigiously, as if it were really time to rouse 
 himself. He does so, and indicates as well as may be 
 that he wants his breakfast. He seeks for it on the 
 ground for some time, but without success. At length he 
 sees something. He flaps his wings with delight and 
 stoops to pick the article up with his beak. He secures 
 and swallows it up with much gusto, and crows repeatedly 
 by way of expressing his delight and assisting digestion. 
 
 Explanation, — " It's the early bird that picks up the 
 
FOR THE PEOPLE. 115 
 
 No. in.' — The player represents (as well as lie can) a 
 barber, who appears anxious to operate on something 
 with the razor which he is supposed to brandish in his 
 hand. He gives an imitation of the grunting of a pig."^ 
 He approaches the suppositious animal — lathers and 
 shaves it — the pig appearing to make great vocal and 
 muscular resistance. The barber looks at his razor and 
 is in despair at finding nothing on it. 
 
 Explanation. — " Much cry and little vv^ool — as the bar- 
 ber said Yfhen he shaved the pig." 
 
 No. TV. — The performer assumes the interesting pecu- 
 liarities of an infant of tender years, just able to walk 
 alone. The dear child, anxious for a little innocent 
 amusement, takes hold of the poker by the wrong end — 
 screams as having burnt its dear little hand, and dances 
 round the room in agony. The blessed infant, on once 
 more coming near the fireplace, starts back in terror, and, 
 appearing to recollect that its misfortunes came from that 
 quarter, runs away howling. 
 
 Explanation. — " A burnt child dreads the fire." 
 
 THE HIDDEN WORD. 
 
 Each player whispers in the ear of his neighbour (on 
 
 * Inarticulate sounds of this description ara admitted. Human speech 
 only is prohibited. 
 
116 HOME GAMES 
 
 the right) a word — whatever one he pleases ; but, in order 
 to make the game more interesting, it is advisable that 
 this should be of an out-of-the-way and marked descrip- 
 tion. The advantages of this will soon be obvious. 
 
 When every one knows his word (which he must keep 
 to himself), the player who gave the first word turns 
 round and commences the game by asking a question of 
 his neighbour on the left, who is obliged in his reply to 
 introduce the word given to him by his neighbour. This 
 he must do (on the principle of the Proverbs^') so adroitly 
 as to prevent the questioner's detecting it from the words 
 by which it is surrounded. 
 
 Example. 
 
 We will suppose the word given to be Mackintosh; 
 and that the questioner asks — 
 
 " Are you fond of poetry ?" 
 
 There is as little connexion between poetry and a mac- 
 kintosh as between any two articles we can think of. 
 The answer, hov/ever, may be constructed as follows : — 
 
 " I love poetry with all my soul ; but, in this bustling 
 age of steam, factories, electricity. Mackintosh and" gutta 
 percha, I fear the voice of the Muse has little chance of 
 making itself heard." 
 
 If the questioner does not detect the word at once 
 
 * See page 113. 
 
FOR THE PEOPLE. IIY 
 
 (two attempts not being allowed) lie pays a forfeit. If he 
 guesses correctly, tlie other pays, as a punishment for not 
 having suf&ciently bewildered his interrogator. 
 
 COMPLIMENTb. 
 
 Playing at compliments may justly be considered a very 
 old game indeed. The following, however, is a new form 
 of that popular species of entertainment. 
 
 A circle is formed of ladies and gentlemen placed al- 
 ternately. Politeness demands that a lady should com- 
 mence the game ; politeness also demands that the lady 
 may be allowed to let it alone if she likes ; so that the 
 regulation is immaterial. 
 
 However, supposing a lady does commence, she does it 
 by saying,— 
 
 " I should like to be such or such an animal" (the more 
 ridiculous or disagreeable the animal, the more difficult 
 will be the compliment she is entitled to expect — founded 
 on her wish). 
 
 We will suppose, for example, she has fixed upon a 
 hlack-heetle. She asks of her neighbour on the left, what 
 reason she could have had for wishing to be anything so 
 absurd. 
 
118 HOME GAMES 
 
 Tlie neiglibour on the left, wlio is not expected to pay her 
 a compliment^ replies, " because she has a taste for the 
 kitchen ;" " because she likes treacle," or v/hatever ho 
 pleases. 
 
 The lady then turns to her neighbour on the rights and 
 asks him the same question. 
 
 Neighbour No. 2 replies gallantly, " That you might 
 lose all traces of your present beauty, which, from the 
 mischief it does, your tender heart looks upon it in the 
 light of a calamity.'' 
 
 If No. 1 has said what may be construed into a com- 
 pliment, and No. 2 what cannot, both pay forfeits. 
 
 It is now the turn of No. 2 (the payer of the compli- 
 ment or the forfeit) to express a wish. He says, for ex- 
 ample, that he would like to be a goose^ and asks the lady 
 whom he has just complimented, why she thinks he would 
 like to be that (except under apple-sauce circumstances) 
 contemptible bird. 
 
 The lady, unmindful of his recent civility, ungratefully 
 replies, " Because you are perfectly satisfied with your- 
 self, and have no wish to change your condition. '^ He 
 then seeks a more flattering explanation of his motives 
 from the lady on his right, who replies, " Because the 
 dearest hope 'of your heart is to save your country, as 
 the geese did in the Capitol of Rome." 
 
 Once round is quite enough for this game, which would 
 
FOR THE PEOPLE. 119 
 
 soon become fatiguing. It is right, though, to finish the 
 round, if only for the sake of giving every player a 
 chance of hearing something civil said to him, which he 
 may not often meet with. 
 
 THE BOUQUET. 
 
 Each player composes in his turn a bouquet of three dif- 
 ferent flowers which he names aloud to the conductor of 
 the game. 
 
 The conductor writes down the names of the flowers, 
 adding to each the name of a person in the company, — 
 saying nothing to anybody of such addition. He then 
 inquires of the supposed manufacturer of the bouquet 
 what he intends doing with the flowers he has chosen. 
 The player announces his intentions, whatever they may 
 be, and the conductor applies them to the three persons 
 whose names he has written. 
 
 Example. 
 
 The Conductor. Miss Arabella, have the kindness to 
 choose three flowers. 
 
 Arabella. The rose, the dahlia, and the camelia. 
 
 Conductor. I have taken note of them carefully. 
 Now tell me what you mean to do with the rose ? 
 
120 HOME GAMES 
 
 Arabella. I will put it in water. 
 
 Conductor. And the Dalilia ? 
 
 Arabella. I will throw it out of the window. 
 
 Conductor. And the Camelia ? 
 
 Arabella. I will wear it in my waistband till it dies. 
 
 Conductor. Good. You have put Mr. Jenkins in 
 water, thrown Mrs, Thompson out of the window, and 
 must wear Mr. Heavysides in your waistband till he dies. 
 
 Now Mr. Walker, you have the kindness, &c. &c. 
 
 THE BOUQUET INTERPRETED. 
 
 This is a method of paying a compliment, or the reverse, 
 by means of the Language of Flowers. The player, 
 having intentions either way, selects three fxowers of 
 various meanings applying to the individual for whom 
 they are designed, ties them round with a string, and 
 appears to place them in a vase, for which he improvises 
 an appropriate inscription. Lastly, the bouquet is pre- 
 sented to the person for whom it Avas intended. 
 
 Examples. 
 
 A young lady fatigued with the importunate attentions 
 of a disagreeable young gentleman, or pretending to be 
 
FOR THE PEOPLE. 121 
 
 SO with a young gentleman whom she adopts this method 
 of assuring she does not consider at all disagreeable 
 (such inexplicable means, we are assured, being some- 
 times resorted to), expresses herself as follows : — 
 
 " I choose a poppy, an Indian pink, and a thistle. 
 
 " The poppy is the emblem of weariness leading to 
 sleep ; the Indian pink of false pride ; and the thistle the 
 most appropriate present that can be given to a certain 
 species of quadrupeds, 
 
 "I tie up my bouquet with a halter. 
 
 " I place it in a leaden vase, on which I inscribe, ' Give 
 every man his deserts, and who shall escape whipping V 
 
 " Finally, I present the whole to Mr. Swellington, who 
 need not trouble himself to thank me." 
 
 A young man, under certain despondent circumstances, 
 would rush at the opportunity of at last making himself 
 understood in the following impassioned manner : — 
 
 " I select a rose, a pansy ^ and a lily of the valley. 
 
 " The rose is the emblem of beauty : the pansy, while 
 in one sense it means thought, and is the emblem of mind, 
 in another expresses a hearfs ease that should know no 
 interruption : the lily is purity itself. 
 
 " I tie them up in a true lover's knot — symbol of my 
 unyielding constancy. 
 
 " I place them in a vase of gold, on which I inscribe 
 — ' Sweets to the sweet ;' and I present them on my 
 knees to Miss Swansdown." 
 
122 HOME GAMES 
 
 TRANSFORMATIONS. 
 
 This game appears to have been founded on the Stool of 
 Repentance^ — than which it is scarcely less entertaining. 
 
 The player with the best number undertakes the office 
 of Master of the Ceremonies. 
 
 All the members of the company are transformed in 
 turns ; that is to say, they fix on some piece of furniture, 
 or other article, which they say they would like to be. 
 It is usual to commence the game with a lady. 
 
 We will suppose a lady has decided on a mirror. She 
 says, " I should like to be a mirror." The master of the 
 ceremonies then goes round the company and addresses 
 to each player, in succession, the following questions : — 
 
 " If Miss So-and-so were a mirror, what would you do 
 with her ? What would you think of her ? or what 
 would you wish to be V The players return to one or 
 more of these questions whatever answers may suggest 
 themselves ; whispered in the ear of the master of the 
 ceremonies. When he has received them all, he advances 
 to the transformed, and repeats them aloud to her ; her 
 office being to identify their authors. As many as are 
 found out, pay forfeits ; if none, it is the transformed 
 who pays ; and a second transformation is proceeded 
 with. 
 
FOR THE PEOPLE. 123 
 
 The finesse of this game consists in applying pointed 
 and facetious observations to the character of tiie trans- 
 formed, — having reference, also, to the article he has 
 chosen to represent. 
 
 For instance, in the case already given of the mirror, 
 allusions would be made to the lady's brilliancy^ and 
 strong powers of reflection ; one would like to liang her 
 up in his room ; another would like to have his arms 
 transformed into a golden frame for her, &c. &c. 
 
 Supposing a gentleman to represent a sideboard, he can 
 be said to be empty ; woodeii ; hollow ; he wants to be 
 trusted ivith the spirits ; he has an eye to the spoons and 
 plate ; he is no ornament to any room, ^x. 
 
 With the exercise of a little humour and imagination 
 it will be easy to form on these models apropos of a suffi- 
 ciently amusing description. 
 
 THE SONG ON A GIVEN SUBJECT. 
 
 This is a condition seldom imposed, except on a lady 
 or gentleman not only possessed of an agreeable voice — 
 but also of some impromptu power — either of invention 
 or application. 
 
 If the penitent be able to extemporize a song, so much 
 the better ; but if not, he should endeavour to choose one 
 from his collection, whose bearing on the subject given 
 will be marked bv some deo:ree of taste and intelligence. 
 
124 HOME GAMES 
 
 The alteration or parodying of an occasional name or 
 passage, may be introduced with effect. 
 
 As a rule, a single verse will be found sufficient. If 
 the song chosen should happen to contain more than one, 
 it is always safe to stop at the conclusion of the first. If 
 the audience require any more, you may rely upon their 
 telling you so. 
 
 PROVERBS. 
 
 See the game Proverbs in Action, in this collection. 
 The only difference is that, in this case, the acting is con- 
 fined to the person condemned to perform one or more 
 for the redemption of his forfeit. 
 
 THE WILL. 
 
 The player ordered to make his will, bequeaths to each 
 of his companions something he possesses — either an ar- 
 ticle of property, or any moral or physical quality. This 
 is, of course, an inexhaustible source of compliments or 
 sarcasms ; in dispensing the latter of which, however, 
 we need scarcely advise our readers to use as much deli- 
 cacy and discrimination as possible, so as to avoid inflict- 
 ing a wound in a too susceptible quarter. 
 
 THE BOUQUET. 
 
 See the game bearing the same title ; the act of pen- 
 ance is performed in the same manner, with the exception 
 that it does not go round the company. 
 
FOR THE PEOPLE. 125 
 
 GOOD ADVICE. 
 
 The penitent gives — either in whispers or aloud, ac- 
 cordiDg to the order he has received — any piece of ad- 
 vice that may come into his head, to one or all of the 
 company. 
 
 COMPAPJSOXS. 
 
 You are ordered to compare a lady (or a gentleman) 
 to some object or other — and explain in what respect she 
 (or he) resembles that object, and in what differs from it. 
 
 For instance — a lady compares a gentleman to a sheet 
 of white paper ; 
 
 The resemblance exists in the facility with which both 
 receive a first impression — the difference, in the prompt- 
 ness with which the gentleman alone can receive impres- 
 sions in quick succession, one after another, which are as 
 quickly effaced. 
 
 A gentleman compares a lady to a chimney clock ; 
 
 Like that article of furniture, she ornaments the room 
 wherein she is placed ; but, unlike it, makes us forget the 
 hours as they fly, instead of calling attention to them, &c. 
 
 THE EMBLEM. 
 
 Not differing from the comparisons, except that it is 
 confined to the resemblance portion. 
 A gentleman suggests as the emblem of a certain lady 
 
126 HOME GAMES 
 
 - — let US saj, a salamander. The lady asks him " Why ?''' 
 ^' Because," is the gallant reply, " you live unscathed 
 in the midst of those fires which consume all who ap- 
 proach you." 
 
 A lady pronounces a well to be the emblem of a man 
 of learning — not given to be communicative. " He is pro- 
 found," she says, " but it is rather troublesome to draw 
 out the good contained in him." 
 
 THE DOOR CHEEK. 
 
 The player (a gentleman, we will assume) condemned 
 to this act of penance, stands up with his back against a 
 door. Thus placed, he calls on a lad}^ to come and stand 
 face to face with him. The lady complies, and then calls 
 upon a gentleman, who has to come and stand with his 
 back to hers ; and so on with the whole of the company 
 ■ — care being taken that the last couple of the row be 
 placed back to back. The row being complete, the crier of 
 the forfeits gives a signal, at which every one turns round 
 and kisses the person with whom he now finds himself 
 face to face. The result is that the original penitent has 
 nothing to kiss but the door cheek, on which he is bound to 
 bestow a salute as tender as those whose echoing smacks 
 reverberate behind him. 
 
 THE PRIVATE OPINION. 
 
 This act scarcely diJffers from that of Good Advice — ■ 
 
FOR THE PEOPLE. 127 
 
 only that instead of sage counsels you impart (aloud or 
 in whispers, as may be agreed on) to all the players your 
 private opinion of them. 
 
 THE SECRET. 
 
 This consists in whispering a secret to each member of 
 the company. 
 
 THE TELEGRAPHIC MESSAGE. 
 
 If ordered to send a message round the room, by Elec- 
 tric Telegraph, you arrange all the players in a circle, 
 alternately composed of ladies and gentlemen. You then 
 whisper whatever you like in the ear of your next neigh- 
 bour, who repeats it to the next, and so on round the cir- 
 cle, till the message comes back to you. You are then 
 compelled to declare aloud if it has been faithfully trans- 
 mitted ; and, if not, in what particulars it has been al- 
 tered. Some alterations may generally be relied on, from 
 the number of speakers the message has to be intrusted 
 to, added to the amour propre of some who may feel 
 touched in some tender point by its nature, and who will 
 naturally be tempted to make some slight deviations. 
 
 THE CONFIDENTIAL ANSWER. 
 
 Founded on the principle of Conversatinii Cards, Cross 
 Purposes, &c. The penitent places himself last in a row 
 of three persons, the first of which whispers whatever he 
 
128 HOME GAMES 
 
 likes to the second. The penitent has heard nothing, but 
 is obliged to whisper to the aforesaid second person an 
 answer to the observation of the first. The " middle 
 man" then repeats aloud what has been confided to him 
 on either side. The result is generally an amusing spe- 
 cies of cross-reading. 
 
 THE DECLARATION OF LOVE. 
 
 The penitent is ordered to make a declaration of love 
 to a lady pointed out to him, or one he may fix upon of 
 his own free will, in impromptu verse. 
 
 Example, 
 
 " If loving you be criminal, than I 
 
 Where lives the wretch more justly doomed to die ? 
 Slay me at once, and further wrong prevent, 
 Since never of my crime can I repent." 
 
 In the dearth of invention, considerable latitude may 
 be allowed in the matter of plagiarism from popular au- 
 thors. 
 
 Example. 
 
 " If you loves me as I loves you, 
 ISTo knife can cut our loves in two." 
 
 THE PERFECT WOMAN. 
 
 The player commanded to manufacture a perfect wo- 
 man, selects from each lady present some particular 
 
FOR THE PEOPLE. 129 
 
 charm of mind or person possessed by her. All these 
 admirable qualities being combined in one imaginary in- 
 dividual, the necessary pitch of female excellence is sup- 
 posed to be attained. 
 
 THE ACROSTIC. 
 
 This feat is a sort of appendix to the game entitled the 
 Alphabet — in which the player says, '' I love my love with 
 an A, &c." 
 
 A lady inquires of the penitent why he loves and hates 
 her with«6uch or such a word. He replies by giving her 
 a list of her good qualities, and also one of her imperfec- 
 tions, each list to form an acrostic on the given word. 
 
 Examples. 
 
 The gentleman is supposed to love and hate (we are 
 not responsible for the contradictory nature of the pro- 
 ceeding) with RAPTURE. 
 
 The following good and bad qualities are offered in 
 explanation : — 
 
 Good, Bad. 
 
 The lady is Rosy. She is Rancorous. 
 
 " Amiable. " Artful. 
 
 ** Pleasing. " Proud. 
 
 " Tender. *' Treacherous. 
 
130 HOME GAMES 
 
 The lady is Unswerving. She is UGLY.t 
 
 " Rich.* " Ruthless, 
 
 " Elegant. " Envious. 
 The word given is Despair. 
 
 She is Devoted. She is Deceitful. 
 
 " Enlightened. " Extravagant. 
 
 " Sprightly. " Slovenly. 
 
 " Penetrating. " Poor (shame I) 
 
 " Ardent. " Absolute. 
 
 '' Incomparable. " Idle. 
 
 " Rare. " Rapacious. 
 
 the three words. 
 
 However out of the way they may be, the penitent is 
 compelled to declare, on the spot and with some sort of 
 connexion, the use he would make of three words, that 
 may be named to him. 
 
 Example, 
 
 A lady asks of a gentleman, — 
 
 "Can you employ in my service, three things that I 
 am about to name to you ? " 
 
 " Madame, I can." 
 
 " We shall see. What would you do with a locomotive, 
 a Jlower-pot, and a tooth pick ? " 
 
 * We cannot approve of this. f This is iKipossible. 
 
FOR THE PEOPLE. 131 
 
 " I would leap astride tlie locomotive (holding on by the 
 funnel), and heedless of the stoker's admonition, would 
 put it to its utmost speed to carry me to your side. I 
 would wrap the flowerpot carefully round with whity- 
 brown paper, — for it should contain the Daffy-down- 
 dilly, to be presented to you as an emblem of my love. 
 And — inadequate as would be the weapon, — should no 
 larger be at hand, I would make the toothpick reach my 
 heart in case of your refusing to hear me.'' 
 
 THE FIRST LETTERS. 
 
 A certain number of letters are given to you, on which 
 you are expected to found a speech (complimentary or 
 the reverse, as may be desired) to the person furnishing 
 them, — using «ach letter, in succession, as the commence- 
 ment of a word. 
 
 The following are specimens ; the same collection of 
 
 letters being employed with opposite intentions : — 
 
 W, 2/, 71, t, y, m, g, i, 
 
 " With, youv 7iew triumphs, you mo-j grow impatient." 
 
 " Fish you not ^hat you way get it?" 
 
 T, s, s, n, y, s, 
 
 " The 5un chines. ^ No, '^is your smile !" 
 
 " There's some satisfaction now ^hat i/ou're silent." 
 
 * Contractions of this description may be tolerated as one word. 
 
1S3 HOME GAMES 
 
 THE TORN LETTER. 
 
 A lady presents to a gentleman a paper containing 
 certain injurious phrases whicli he is accused of having 
 written about her, and asks him if he can justify his infa- 
 mous conduct. In order to do so, he proves that the 
 letter has been torn in half, by adding to the end of each 
 line certain other expressions, which he declares were to 
 be found in the original manuscript, and which quite 
 alter the meaning of the letter to one highly favorable to 
 the lady. 
 
 Example, 
 
 " I confess to a great contempt for 
 
 Miss , whom I consider 
 
 the most ridiculous person 
 in the world. She is entirely 
 without sense, heart, or beauty, 
 The man whom she may 
 love is much to be pitied : the 
 man who could love her 
 if any such exist, is 
 entitled to our execration." 
 
 To make this somewhat scurrilous production pala- 
 table, the penitent has only to add to each line (in their 
 place) the following words : — 
 
 — the idiots ivho cannot admire 
 —charming. Otherwise 1 should he 
 
FOR THE PEOPLR 188 
 
 — breathing. She is without eqtial 
 — 'faultless. Only those who, being 
 —feel envious, could detract from her. 
 — prefer, and who caiinot appreciate her 
 — crime of separating Iter from the 
 — sincerely, few would be responsible for ; 
 — not so much selfish thoughtlessness 
 
 By placing which in proper connection with the lines 
 given, the letter will be found to read as follows : — 
 
 " I confess to a great contempt for the idiots who cannot admire Miss 
 whom I consider charming. Otherwise I should be the most 
 
 ridiculous person breathing. She is without equal in the world. She is 
 entirely faidtless. Only those who, being without sense, heart, or beauty, 
 feel envious, could detract from her. The man whom she m.Sij prefer, a7id 
 who cannot appreciate her love, is mucli to be pitied : the crime of sepa- 
 rating her from the man who could love her sincerely, few would be 
 responsible for ; if any such exist, is not so much selfish thoughtlessness 
 entitled to our execration ? 
 
 BOUTS RIMES. 
 
 This being a French Penitence, by no means naturali- 
 zed in this country, we have preserved the original title, 
 for which we have no very good equivalent. 
 
 The facility of rhyming in the French language (so 
 much greater than in our own) has given rise to several 
 agreeable games depending upon the exercise of this fac- 
 ulty. Few of these would bear transplanting to English 
 
134 HOME GAMES 
 
 soil. The following, however, as a means of redeeming 
 forfeits, is as well suited to this side of the Atlantic as 
 the other. 
 
 A certain number of words, rhyming with each other, 
 in pairs, are given to the penitent, who is expected to 
 extemporize a corresponding number of verses, making 
 use of the rhymes given for their termination. Care 
 should, of course, be taken, to select words of the most 
 disconnected meaning, so as to make the task as difficult 
 as possible. 
 
 Examples. 
 
 The words given by a lady are, 
 
 THIEF, HABIT, 
 
 GRIEF, EABBIT, 
 
 The gentleman extemporizes : — ^ 
 
 " Lady, I fear not to attack a thief, 
 Bolder than brass, but now I own with grief, 
 (Yon having stol'n my heart) my Yal'rous hahit 
 Fails, and I feel as timid as a rabbit. 
 
 HOT, WHAT, 
 
 TALKER, WALKER. 
 
 " My task makes me feel rather hot, 
 Being but an indifferent talker, 
 
 * A few minutes may be allowed for preparation. The improvisatore 
 is not, however, allowed to keep supper waiting many hours in getting 
 up his impromptu. 
 
FOR THE PEOPLE. 135 
 
 So for words, meanings, rhymes, in short what^ 
 You demand, I refer you to Walker. '"^ 
 
 These are, of course, silly enough, as such things must 
 always appear, if considered apart from their legitimate 
 object, that of contributing to the good humour of a 
 society. 
 
 THE COMPLIMENT. 
 
 This is addressed, according to the orders received, 
 to one or more, or even all persons in the room. If 
 demanded in prose, it should be composed impromptu ; 
 if in verse, an extract from any song, applying to the 
 person to be complimented, or the general tone of the 
 society, will be sufficient. 
 
 THE EXCLUDED VOWEL. 
 
 The penitent is ordered to pay a compliment without 
 making use of the letter A. The following is a spe- 
 cimen ; — 
 
 " Either shut Miss Tomkins's eyes or put out the 
 lights — both being superfluous." 
 
 Without E ;— 
 
 * "We beg to state distinctly, that the individual here intended is the 
 author of the popular educational works on the English language, — not 
 the shadowy person whose name is sometimes used to express incredu- 
 lity or derision. 
 
136 HOME GAMES 
 
 " Madam, yours is a divinity which no man could fail 
 to worship." 
 
 Without I ; 
 
 " Talk of Clara, and not allude to eyes ! Rather 
 hard that ! No matter — her eulogy may yet be pro- 
 nounced with ease (E's).'' 
 
 Without ; 
 
 " What I intend saying is alike new and striking. 
 Miss ^s beauty is unequalled save by her wit." 
 
 Without U ; 
 
 " Lady by all the stars I vov/, 
 To love tliee dearest— then as now." 
 
 CHARADES. 
 
 You are expected to compose, upon a word given you 
 secretly, a charade in prose, or (as is preferable) in verse. 
 
 Examples, 
 
 My first is useless without my second, which is of little value unless 
 comprising the qualities of my whole, — House-wife. 
 My ^rs^ is very often reckon'd 
 A name adapted to my second, 
 But for the meaning of each loord, 
 I leave you to consult my third. 
 
 John-son. 
 
 In the Eastern land where the nights are calm, 
 Where the rain is dew, and the air is balm — 
 When the silver moon is high, 
 
FOR THE PEOPLE. 121 
 
 Roused by the note the Bulbul sings 
 To the sleeping rose — my first upsprings 
 From her leafy couch, and on gossamer wings 
 Sails through the clear blue sky. 
 
 "When the autumn blasts through the valleys sweep, 
 And the brown leaves lie on the path knee deep, 
 
 And the echoing woods, all day, 
 Ring with the crack of the gunshot fell — 
 Of pheasant or partridge plump the knell, 
 Woe to the wretch who in glade or dell 
 
 May come in my seco7id's way 
 
 A thoughtful boy, with a wild sea-shell, 
 Busies himself, as a mystic spell 
 
 Its mysteries to unroll — 
 With a weapon sharp to extract what lies 
 Hidden within it — he gains the prize ! 
 Model of patience to all the wise 
 
 Who wish to get at my whole ! 
 
 Peri-Winkle. 
 
 The last is, of course, of two complicated a nature to 
 be expected on an impromptu occasion. 
 
 The amusement may be prolonged by making all who 
 " give up," or guess incorrectly the charades, pay fresh 
 forfeits. 
 
FORFEITS.* 
 
 The interest of a game of forfeits is often marred at its 
 
 conclusion, by the want of variety in the tasks set for 
 the redemption of the various pledges. Those should 
 not be of a commonplace or unmeaning description. 
 There is very little amusement to be got from ordering a 
 gentleman to kiss such or such a lady — to sing a song — 
 to stand on one leg, &c. &c. 
 
 In " crying forfeits," not only should some degrees of 
 intelligence or whimsicality be displayed in inventing the 
 different acts of penitence ; they should also be adapted 
 to the capacity of the indiviuals selected to execute 
 them. 
 
 We will endeavour to indicate a considerable number 
 
 * As a great number of the following acts of Penitence depend upon 
 the introduction of " kissing," to which, properly, an objection will exist 
 in many societies, the writer begs to call attention to the note attached 
 to the game of The Wolf and the Lambs (page 14,) and to repeat seriously 
 what was then said in jest, — viz., that such amusements are only intended 
 for societies where relationship or extreme intimacy will warrant such 
 familiarity. It has not been considered expedient to separate them from 
 the rest — a confidence in the good taste and sense of propriety of our 
 readers rendering such a proceeding unnecessary. 
 
FOR THE PEOPLE. 139 
 
 that will be found no less amusing in the carrying out, 
 than the games which have given rise to them. 
 
 BLOWING OUT THE CANDLE. 
 
 A candle is passed rapidly backwards and forwards 
 before the mouth of the penitent, who has to blow it out 
 during its passage. This is a more difficult feat than 
 may be imagined. 
 
 THE CHAM OF TARTARY. 
 
 The penitent takes a candle — placing another in the 
 hands of a person of different sex. Both advance to the 
 extremity of the room. Then, they assume a lugubrious 
 aspect and advance with measured steps towards each 
 other. When they meet they raise their eyes to the ceil- 
 ing, say a few words in the most sepulchral tone, and 
 change places with each other — the most miserable and 
 dejected expression of countenance being indispensable. 
 
 This ceremony is repeated as many times as there are 
 phrases in their dialogue — which is as follows : — 
 
 The Gentleman. — Know you the dreadful news ? 
 
 The Lady. — Alas ! 
 
 Gent. — The Cham of Tartary is dead. 
 
 Lady. — Alas ! Alas ! 
 
 GeTi^.— Buried. 
 
 Lady. — Alas ! Alas ! Alas ! 
 
140 HOME GAMES 
 
 Gent. — Alas I Alas I A thousand times alas I 
 
 He cut his head off with a sword of brass I 
 Both finish their promenade quite overcome by their 
 feelings, and resume their seats as gaily as they please. 
 
 THE PARROT. 
 
 The giver of a forfeit is supposed to be transformed to 
 a parrot. The conditions of his situation are as follow : — 
 
 He must go round to all the players, and ask one after 
 the other, — 
 
 " If I were your parrot, what would you teach me to 
 say?" 
 
 Each player answers as his fancy may dictate. If a 
 lady say, " Kiss poor Polly,'' the supposed parrot puts 
 the suggestion in practice, and his ordeal is at an end. 
 If not, he must repeat exactly every answer before pass- 
 ing on to another person. 
 
 DUMMEY. 
 
 This consists in executing the acts of penitence or- 
 dained you by each member of the company, without 
 speaking a word. 
 
 THE STATUE. 
 
 The penitent is placed, by each person in succession, in 
 an uncomfortable or ridiculous posture — which he is not 
 
— tV V-^'JgERi, 
 
 f^IS8ING TUK CANDLESTICK. 
 
FOR THE PEOPLE. 141 
 
 allowed to quit, except to assume another, till he has 
 completed the round. 
 
 A condition is sometimes added to this act — rather 
 troublesome for the statuary. It is to use, for the pur- 
 pose of placing the statue in the desired position, the 
 hand opposite to that employed by his predecessor for 
 the same purpose. Anybody neglecting this formality 
 becomes statue himself. 
 
 KISSING THE CANDLESTICK. 
 
 When ordered to kiss the candlestick, you politely 
 request a lady to hold the candle for you. As soon as 
 she has it in her hand, she is supposed to be the candle- 
 stick ; and you, of course, kiss her. 
 
 THE DISAPPOINTMENT. 
 
 A. lady advances towards the penitent as if to kiss 
 him ; and when close to him, turns quietly round and 
 allows the expected kiss to be taken by her nearest 
 neighbour. 
 
 THE SPIRIT OF CONTRADICTION. 
 
 Do the direct contrary to what the different members 
 of the company order you to. 
 
 THE BEGGAR. 
 
 A penitence to be inflicted on gentlemen only. The 
 
142 HOME GAMES 
 
 penitent takes a staff, and approaches a lady. He falls 
 on his knees before her, and, thumping his staff on the 
 ground, implores " Charity." The lady, touched by the 
 poor man's distress, asks him — "Do you want bread?'' 
 " Do you want water ?" " Do you want a half-cent?" 
 &c. &c. ; to all questions such as these the beggar replies 
 by thumping his staff on the ground, impatiently. At 
 length the lady says, " Do you want a kiss ?" At these 
 words, the beggar jumps up, and kisses the lady. 
 
 THE PILGRIM. 
 
 The Pilgrim is very like the Beggar. A gentleman 
 conducts a lady round the circle, saying to each member 
 of it, if a gentleman, " A kiss for my sister, and a morsel 
 of bread for me !" If a lady, " A morsel of bread for my 
 sister, and a kiss for me !" The bread is of no particu- 
 lar importance, but the kiss is indispensable. 
 
 SULKS. 
 
 A lady is ordered to sulk. She whispers in the ear of 
 the Forfeit Crier the name of the person she chooses to 
 kiss. All the gentlemen of the company then present 
 themselves before her. She turns her back upon them 
 all, in a pouting manner, until the arrival of the fortu- 
 nate individual, whom she kisses. 
 
 We should remark, that gentlemen may sulk as well as 
 ladies. 
 
FOR THE PEOPLE. 143 
 
 LANGUISHING. 
 
 The penitent is ordered into a corner to languish. 
 This is done by simply saying, " I languish." She is 
 then asked, " For whom do you languish ?" and answers 
 by naming any player of the opposite sex he may please, 
 who is obliged to come and kiss him. The lady then 
 languishes for a gentleman, who approaches her, and lan- 
 guishes for another lady, and so on, till all the players 
 have been called from their places and form a line of a 
 lady and a gentleman placed alternately. When the line 
 is complete, the original languisher turns round, and 
 goes to his seat, stopping on the way to kiss all the 
 ladies in the row. The lady left at the top does the 
 same to all the gentlemen — and so on, down to the last 
 player, who, having no one to kiss, had better return to 
 his seat as quietly as he came from it. 
 
 so MANY YARDS OP KISSES. 
 
 The penitent is ordered to give so many yards of 
 kisses to a lady or gentleman (as the case may be). This 
 is done by taking the lady (or gentleman) to the centre 
 of the room, Both then take hold of each other's hands, 
 and extend them to their full length, as if " measuring 
 ribbon," exchanging a kiss each time, to the number 
 appointed. 
 
M4 HOME GAMES 
 
 THE CLOCK. 
 
 A player is condemned to transformation to a clock. 
 He stands before the mantelpiece, and calls a player (of 
 the opposite sex) to him. The person thus called upon, 
 asks the " clock" what time it is. The clock replies, 
 whatever hour he likes, — claiming the same number of 
 kisses as he names hours of the day. 
 
 If approved of, the player who has asked the time 
 takes the place of the clock, and calls upon another ; the 
 original ceremony being repeated in turns by all the 
 players of the company. 
 
 THE ARBOUR OP LOVE. 
 
 The lady (or gentleman) commanded to perform this 
 act, conducts a person of the opposite sex to the centre 
 of the room, where they join both hands, raising their 
 arms in the form of an arbour. The lady then calls upon 
 a gentleman, and the gentleman upon a lady, who must 
 pass together under the arbour. But when they are just 
 under it, the arms are lowered to bar their passage, and 
 they are kept prisoners till they have kissed each other. 
 This done, the arms are raised, and the imprisoned 
 couple continue their routes then stop, and forming a 
 second arbour, call upon another couple. This third 
 couple pass under both arbours — paying the tribute 
 
FOR THE PEOPLE. 145 
 
 already mentioned at eacli — and form a tliird arbour, 
 calling upon another couple, and so on, till all the mem- 
 bers of the company have been summoned. The last 
 arbour being formed, the feat terminates, and all retire 
 to their seats. 
 
 KISSING UNDER THE CANDLESTICK. 
 
 This consists in kissing a person over whose head you 
 hold a candlestick. 
 
 TO KISS YOUR OWN SHADOW. 
 
 Place yourself between the light and the person you 
 intend kissing, on whose face your own shadow will 
 be thrown. 
 
 TO KISS THE ONE YOU LOVE BEST WITHOUT ITS 
 BEING NOTICED. 
 
 Kissing all the ladies in the company one after another 
 without any disti'iction. 
 
 THE CHANCE KISS. 
 
 The peniten . tr^es from a pack of cards the four kings 
 and the four q"'' de'.s, shuffles them, and, without looking 
 at them, dist'^l.b'.ces them to a proportionate number of 
 ladies and gentlemen. The gentleman finding himself 
 possessed of the king of hearts kisses the lady holding 
 the queen, and so on with the rest. 
 
146 HOME GAMES 
 
 This is unsatisfactory and tantalizing enough for the 
 poor penitent. He can, however, derive some little sat- 
 isfaction from spoiling the fun of the others, by giving 
 the kings to the most self-satisfied young gentlemen of 
 the company, and the queens to any of their venerable 
 female relations who may be present. 
 
 THE KNIGHT OF THE RUEFUL COUNTENANCE. 
 
 There are two ways of executing this penance. One 
 consists simply in the penitent holding a lady on his 
 knees for another gentleman to kiss. 
 
 The other is as follows : — 
 
 The knight is provided with a squire — in the person 
 of a gentleman in tlie company, whom he leads round the 
 assembled circle — the knight holding a candle and the 
 squire a handkerchief. 
 
 The squire kisses all the ladies in turn, and after each 
 kiss politely wipes the lips of the knight — a helpless and 
 inactive spectator of his servant's satisfaction. 
 
 Ariadne's leopard ; or, the hobby horse. 
 
 The penitent, on his hands and knees, is obliged to 
 carry round the room a lady who is seated on his back, 
 and whom all the gentlemen (himself excepted) are privi- 
 leged to kiss in turns. 
 
FOR THE PEOPLE. 147 
 
 THE SOFA. 
 
 The penitent places himself in the same position as for 
 " Ariadne's Leopard," that is to say, on all fours. He, 
 however, remains stationary, receiving on his back a 
 lady and a gentleman, who sit comfortably down and 
 exchange a kiss. 
 
 THE EXILE. 
 
 The penitent sent into exile takes up his position in 
 the part of the room the most distant from the rest of 
 the company — with whom he is forbidden to communi- 
 cate. From there, he is compelled to fix the penance 
 to be performed by the owner of the next forfeit, till the 
 accomplishment of which he may on no account leave his 
 place. This may be prolonged for several turns. The 
 last penitent, as soon as he has acquitted himself satisfac- 
 torily, taking the place of the exile, and passing sentence 
 on the next. 
 
 TO BE AT THE MERCY OF THE COMPANY. 
 
 This consists in executing whatever task each member 
 of the company may like to impose upon you. 
 
 JOURNEY TO ROME. 
 
 The person whose forfeit is called, must go round to 
 every individual in the company to tell them that he is 
 
148 HOME GAMES 
 
 going on a journey to Rome, and to assure them if they 
 have any message or article to send to his Holiness the 
 Pope, he will feel great pleasure in taking it. Every 
 one must give something to the traveller, no matter how 
 cumbrous it may be or awkward to carry, (indeed the 
 more inconvenient the articles are the more it increases 
 the merriment,) until he is literally overloaded with pre- 
 sents. When he has gathered from all, he walks to a 
 corner of the room, puts the articles down, and so his 
 penance ends. 
 
 THE CUSHION. 
 
 The owner of the forfeit takes a cushion, and gives it 
 to one of the company, who then kneels down on the 
 floor, holds the cushion a little before him, and requests 
 the bringer to kneel down on it ; as the latter attempts 
 to kneel, the former slides the cushion away, so that the 
 unlucky wight kneels on the carpet instead ; should he, 
 however, be fortunate enough to kneel on the cushion at 
 once, he takes it to the next player 5 but if not, he must 
 continue his attempts until he is successful. The cushion 
 is to be given to every one in the room in rotation, and 
 the kneeling penance above described repeated before 
 each. 
 
 THE STATUE OF LOYE. 
 
 The player who owns the forfeit cried, takes a candle 
 
FOR THE PEOPLK 149 
 
 in Ms hand, and is led by another to one end of the room, 
 where he must stand and represent the Statue of Love ; 
 one of the players now walks up, and requests him to 
 fetch some lady, whose name he whispers in Love's ear j 
 the statue, still holding the candle, proceeds to execute 
 his commission, and brings the lady with him ] she in turn 
 desires him to fetch some gentleman, and so it continues 
 till all have been summoned. The players brought up by 
 Love, must not return to their seats, but stand in a group 
 round Love's standing-place, until he has brought the last 
 person in the company, when they liiss him most vigor- 
 ously, and the forfeit terminates. 
 
 THE COUNTRY TABLE. 
 
 In this penance, the owner of the forfeit selects some 
 one to be secretary, then kneels down upon his hands and 
 knees on the floor, to represent the table, and his secre- 
 tary takes his stand beside him. One of the company 
 next dictates to the secretary, who should move his hand 
 on the back of the kneeling player, as if he were writing 
 a letter ; the dictator must call out " comma !" when he 
 wishes that stop to be made, which the secretary responds 
 to by making a motion with his finger on the " country 
 table," resembling that stop ; a " semicolon," by giving 
 a knock with his fist on the table and making a comma ; 
 a " colon," by giving two knocks ; and a " full stop," by 
 
150 HOME GAMES 
 
 one. For tlie sake of losing as little time as possible in 
 one forfeit, It is not necessary to request more than the 
 points or stops to be made on the " country table." 
 
 IN-DOOR SPORTS. 
 
 THREAD THE NEEDLE. 
 
 A number of boys all join hands, and the game is be- 
 gun by the outside players at each end of the line hold- 
 ing the following dialogue : — ^" How many miles to Baby- 
 lon ?" " Three score and ten.'*' " Can I get there by 
 candlelight ?'' " Yes, and back again." " Then open 
 the gates without more ado, and let the king and his men 
 pass through." The player and the one next to him at 
 the end of the line opposite the last speaker then raise 
 their joined hands as high as they can, to allow the 
 speaker to run under, and the whole line follow him, still 
 holding hands. This should be done, if possible, with- 
 out breaking the line by letting the hands go, and is 
 styled " threading the needle." When all the boys have 
 passed through, the dialogue is repeated, except that the 
 player who before replied, now asks the question, and 
 runs between the opposite players, the others following 
 as before. 
 
FOR THE PEOPLE. 151 
 
 THE GENTEEL LADY. 
 
 Those who make a mistake in this difficult game must 
 have a paper horn twisted fantastically, and so placed in 
 their hair that it will shake about at the least motion. 
 Two mistakes receives two horns, three mistakes three 
 horns, &c. When a large number of twisted papers are 
 prepared, one begins the game by saying to the one who 
 stands at her right hand, " Good morning, genteel lady, 
 always genteel ; I, a genteel lady, always genteel, come 
 from that genteel lady, always genteel (liere she points to 
 the left), to tell you that she owns an eagle with a golden 
 beak." The next one attempts to repeat the phrase, 
 word for word, only adding, " an eagle with golden 
 beak and silver clavjs.^' If she make the slightest mistake 
 in repeating the sentence, she must have a paper horn put 
 in her hair ; and her next neighbour takes up the phrase 
 thus, to the one on her right hand : " Good morning, 
 genteel lady, always genteel ; I, a genteel lady, always 
 genteel, come from that homed lady, always horned 
 (pointing to the one on her left), to say that she has an 
 eagle with golden beak, silver claws, and a lace skra%^ 
 Perhaps this one will make three mistakes before she gets 
 through the sentence, if so, the next says, " Good morn? 
 ing, genteel lady, always geuteel ; I, a genteel lady, al- 
 ways genteel, come fron^ that three horned lady, always 
 
162 HOM-E GAMES 
 
 three horned, to say that she has an eagle with a golden 
 beak, silver claws, lace skin, and diamond eyes.^' If she 
 should happen to receive four horns for as many mistakes, 
 her next neighbour would say, after repeating the first 
 part of the sentence, " I come from the four horned lady, 
 always four horned, to say that she has an eagle with a 
 golden beak, silver claws, lace skin, diamond eyes, and 
 purple feathers J' 
 
 Thus it goes round the circle ; but the second time it 
 goes round, it is still more difficult and more droll. By 
 that time, the chance is everybody will have a greater or 
 less number of horns ; and those who repeat, must re- 
 member exactly, or else they obtain another horn. Thus, 
 if your left hand neighbour has two horns, you have 
 three horns, and your right hand neighbour has four, 
 you must say, " Good morning, four horned lady, always 
 four horned ; I, a three horned lady, always three 
 horned, come from that two horned lady, always two 
 horned (pointing to the left), to say that she has an 
 eagle," &c. 
 
 By the time the game is finished, the children's heads 
 are generally ridiculous enough. To make it more funny, 
 the speaker sometimes pretends to cry when she calls 
 herself three horned, and laughs when she calls her neigh- 
 bour four horned. This is a French game, played both 
 by boys and girls. 
 
FOR THE PEOPLR 158 
 
 THE BIRD-SELLER. 
 
 The company are seated in a circle, one only standing 
 in the centre, and she is called the bird-seller. She 
 stoops down to each one, and they whisper in her ear the 
 name of whatever bird they choose to take for them- 
 selves. These she must carefully remember. If she fears 
 she shall forget them, she must write them with a pencil. 
 Then she must repeat them aloud, thus : " Gentlemen and 
 ladies, I have in my collection an Eagle, a Swan, a Bird 
 of Paradise, a Crow, a Wren, a Magpie," &c. &c. If 
 the lists are written down, she must be careful not to read 
 them in the same succession she wrote them ; if she does, 
 the players will easily conjecture to whom the name be- 
 longs, and that would not be fair. After the list is read, 
 the Bird-seller must ask each one, " To which of my 
 birds will you make your bow ? To which will you tell 
 a secret ? From which will you pluck a feather ?" Each 
 one replies according to her taste ; perhaps she will an- 
 swer, " I will bow to the eagle, tell my secret to the Bird 
 of Paradise, and pluck a feather from the Jay." Those 
 who happen to have a feather plucked from them, must 
 pay a forfeit ; the one to whom a secret is to be imparted, 
 has something whispered in her ear ; and a bow is made 
 where a bow is promised ; little girls sometimes substi- 
 tute a courtesy for a bow, when there are no boys in the 
 
164 HOME GAMES 
 
 game. No one must make her bow, or tell a secret, or 
 pluck a feather, from the bird whose name she has chosen 
 for herself. A forfeit must be paid, if any one names a 
 bird that is not in the list. The forfeits are not paid, and 
 the bows are not made, &c. until the Bird-seller has asked 
 her questions all round the circle ; if she cannot then 
 remember what each one has chosen, they must put her 
 in mind of it. If one escapes without having a feather 
 plucked, she becomes the Bird-seller of the next game. 
 If nobody is lucky enough to escape, the one who sat at 
 the right hand of the Bird-seller, before she rose, is 
 chosen. 
 
 THE FRENCH ROLL. 
 
 In the beginning, some one is chosen to perform the 
 part of purchaser. She stands apart, while the others ar- 
 range themselves in a long file, one behind the other, each 
 taking hold of her neighbour's sleeve. The little girl 
 who happens to be at the head is a baker ; all the others 
 form the oven, with the exception of the last one, who is 
 called the French Roll. The taker does not keep her 
 station long, as you will see. As soon as the file is 
 formed, the purchaser comes up to the taker, and says, 
 " Give me my roll." The baker answers, " It is behind 
 the oven." The purchaser goes in search of it, and at 
 the same moment the little girl at the end, who is called 
 
FOR THE PEOPLE. 155 
 
 the roll, lets go her companion's sleeve, and runs up on 
 the side opposite the purchaser, crying when she starts, 
 " Who runs ? who runs ?" Her object is to get in front 
 of the baker before the purchaser can catch her. If she 
 succeeds, she becomes baker, and the little girl who stood 
 next above her becomes the roll ; if she does not succeed, 
 she has to take the place of the purchaser, and the pur- 
 chaser becomes baker. This play is a very active, and 
 rather a noisy one. When the company get fully en- 
 gaged in it, there is nothing heard but " Give me my 
 roll !" " It is behind the oven." '' Who runs ? who 
 runs ?" As they do not run very far, they can run very 
 quick, without fatigue ; and as they are changing places 
 all the time, each one has a share of the game. Some- 
 times they make it a rule, that every one who is caught 
 in trying to get before the baker, shall pay a forfeit ; but 
 when they stop to pay forfeits, the game is not so ani- 
 mated. 
 
 CHAIRING THE LEG. 
 
 Having put your left foot on the lowest back rail of a 
 strong chair, firmly placed so as not to be liable to slip, 
 carefully try to pass your right leg over the back of the 
 chair, and bring it to the floor between your left leg and 
 the chair : in performing this trick, it is not allowable to 
 touch the chair with your hands. 
 
150 HOME GAMES 
 
 PROSTRATE AND PERPENDICULAR. 
 
 Cross your arms on your body, lie down on your back, 
 and then get up again, without using either your elbows 
 or hands in the feat. 
 
 THE STOOPING STRETCH. 
 
 Chalk a line on the floor, and place on it the outer 
 edge of the right foot, at a little distance behind which, 
 put the left heel on the line. Bend down and pass the 
 right hand between your legs, under the right knee, and, 
 with a piece of chalk in your right hand, draw a line on 
 the floor, as far from the former line as you possibly can ; 
 yet not so far but that you can easil}^ recover yourself 
 without touching the ground with your hands, or remov- 
 ing your feet from the line. Provided you keep your 
 feet properly placed, your body may project beyond the 
 chalked line. 
 
 THE TANTALUS TRICK. 
 
 Let a person stand with his back and heels close to a 
 wall, then place a shilling on the floor, at a little distance 
 in front of him, and tell him he shall have the money if 
 he can take it up without advancing his heels from the 
 wall. Although at first sight it appears very easy to 
 perform this trick, yet it is impracticable ; as it is impos- 
 sible to stoop in consequence of the proximity to the wall. 
 
FOR THE PEOPLE. lot 
 
 ANOTHER TANTALUS TRICK. 
 
 Place the left leg and foot, and left cheek, against 
 a wall ; then lift the right leg slowly, endeavour to touch 
 the left knee with it, and stand steadily in that position. 
 
 KNUCKLE DOWN. 
 
 Place the toes against a line chalked on the floor, kneel 
 down and get up again without using the hands, your 
 feet having the same position as at first. 
 
 DOT AND CARRY TWO. 
 
 This feat is to be performed by three players — whom 
 we will name, A, B, C, — in the following manner : — Let 
 A stand between B and C, and stooping down, pass his 
 right hand behind the left thigh of B, and grasp B's right 
 hand ; he should next pass his left hand behind the right 
 thigh of C, and grasp his left hand ; B and C should 
 then each pass an arm round the neck of A, who, rising 
 by degrees, will be able to lift the others from the floor. 
 
 THE TRIUMPH. 
 
 This is a very excellent feat, and requires great prac- 
 tice to perform it adroitly : put your arms behind you 
 and bring the palms of your hands together, the fingers 
 downward, and the thumbs next your back ; then turn 
 
168 HOME GAMES 
 
 your hands, keeping the tops of the fingers close to your 
 back, and the palms still together, until the ends of the 
 fingers are brought between your shoulders, pointing to- 
 ward your head, and the thumbs outside. 
 
 TO TAKE A CHAIR FROM UNDER YOU WITHOUT FALLING. 
 
 To perform this feat, lie along on three chairs, the 
 middle chair being lighter than at each end. Throw up 
 your chest, keep your shoulders down, and your limbs as 
 stiff as you possibly can ; then take the centre chair from 
 under your body, carry it over, and replace it under your 
 body on the opposite side. 
 
 THUMB SPRING. 
 
 Place the inside of the thumb on the edge of a table, 
 taking care that neither the fingers nor the palm of the 
 hand touch it ; next move your feet as far back as you 
 possibly can, and then taking a spring from the thumb, 
 recover your standing position, without shifting your feet 
 forward. It will facilitate the spring, if you rock your- 
 self to and fro, three or four times, before you take it. 
 
 THE FLYING BOOK. 
 
 Hold between your ancles and the inner side of your 
 feet a book ; then by kicking up backward with both your 
 feet, jerk the book over your head. 
 
FOR THE PEOPLK 159 
 
 LEAP BEFORE YOU LOOK. 
 
 Take a strong chair, with so narrow a back, that you 
 can bestride it without difficulty : stand on the seat, put 
 your hands on the top rail of the back, and rest your 
 knees against the middle rail ; then push the chair for- 
 ward until it rest only on its hind legs, and before you 
 lose your balance, jump from the seat, so that when you 
 alight on the floor, you still hold the back rail in your 
 hand. In all feats with chairs, it is necessary to use 
 great caution in making the first attempts. 
 
 THE LONG REACH. 
 
 Chalk a line on the floor, and place the toes of both 
 feet on it, being careful that they are not beyond it ; 
 then, throw forward either the right or left hand, so far 
 that you can easily spring back and regain your upright 
 position without eitiier moving the feet from the line, 
 touching the floor with the hands in throwing them for- 
 ward, or in springing back. Having thus stretched as 
 far forward as you possibly can, whilst supporting the 
 body upon one hand, with the otiier chalk a line on the 
 floor. You may, in order to bring your body lower, move 
 your feet backward from the line marked on the floor, 
 and by so doing you will be enabled to make a much 
 greater stretch than you could otherwise have done. If 
 
160 HOME GAMES \J 
 
 you can chalk two lines, your own length apart, it is a 
 tolerably good stretch ; but with a little practice, you 
 may chalk much further. Some persons, in performing 
 this feat, rest upon their elbows instead of their hands. 
 
 THE CRADLE OF LOVE. 
 
 This little game has exercise and graceful movement 
 to reconmiend it. All, except two, take their places as 
 in a contra-dance ; the two who are thus left out join 
 hands, and attempt to dance between the couple at the 
 foot ; the couple join hands and inclose them ; and the 
 prisoners are not allowed to escape, till each has turned 
 round and kissed the one behind her. In this way they 
 dance through every couple in the set. "When performed 
 with ease and animation, it is very pleasing. Some- 
 times this is used as a forfeit. 
 
 THE END.