tp p. 1 c , on UCSB LIBRA** LIBRARY V. . . . ;. THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SANTA BARBARA PRESENTED BY Mr. Robert E. Easton ^~sr< ?> -, Boys 5 Own Book OF NEW YORK : LEAVITT & ALLEN, Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1848, by GEORGE S. APPLETON, In the office of the Clerk of the District Court of the United States n and for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. PREFACE. THE boy's libury is not considered complete without a Book of Sports. The little fellows like to have a printed authority for the laws of the game; and they take delight in reading descriptions of those games and amusements which afford them recreation in the intervals of labour find study. Our little volume describes the most popular amusements, and will undoubtedly suggest to most of its juvenile readers some sports with which they were previously unacquainted. We have confined ourselves to those sports which prevail in our own country those which all may participate in, with- out inconvenience ; believing it to be quite superfluous to give any account of those which are wholly foreign and un- practised by American boys. And if our efforts have been instrumental in instructing, improving, or amusing any of our youthful readers, we need scarcely affirm, that it will prove a source of real and un- mixed gratification to their well-wisher and friend, UNCLE JOHN, (3) CONTENTS. M1JNUK SPOKTS. PA0B PAG Buff with the Wand . 26 Bonces . 9 Jingling . . . 27 Spanning 9 Hunt the Slipper . . 27 The Regiment of Soldiers . 10 Hunt the Whistle . 28 Chip Halfpenny 10 Puss in the Corner . .. 29 Hockey or Shinney . 10 Thread the Needle . 29 I spy I . 11 The Huntsman . 80 Masters and Men . 11 The Game of the Key . . 31 The Graces 12 The Two Hats . 32 The Bandilor . 12 Penances for Forfeits . . 34 Cup and Ball . 18 Schimmel, or the Bell and Nine Holes . . 13 Hammer . . . 36 Rackets .... 13 Dibs . 38 15 The Game of Fingers 39 Foot-Ball 16 Dumb Motions . 40 Golf, or Cambuca . 17 Snap-Apple . . . 41 Hurling .... 17 Snap-Dragon . 41 Stool Ball . . 18 Drawing the Oven . . 41 Trap, Bat, and Ball . 19 Hopping Bases . 42 Rounders . 20 Whoop . 42 Pall Mall 21 French and English . 43 Quoits . 21 Tag or Touch . . 43 Bowls .... 22 Cross-Touch . 43 Hop Scotch . 23 Hunt the Hare . . 44 Blindman's Buff 25 Baste the Bear . 44 Shadow Buff . 26 Hide and Seek . 44 CONTENTS. Duck Stone . Saddle my Nag Buck . Prisoner's Base Rushing Bases Stag Out . Warning . . See-Saw . Leap-Frog . Fly the Garter Duck and Drake . King of the Castle PAG . 45 47 . 48 49 . 51 51 . 52 53 . 53 54 . 55 56 Dropping the Handkerchief 56 Hop, Step, and Jump . . 57 Casting the Ball . . 57 Two to One . . .57 Long Rope ... 58 The Snow Statue . . 58 Snow and Ice Houses . 60 Follow my Leader . . 61 Hippas .... 61 Walk! my Lady, Walk! . 62 The Swing ... 62 The Pulley . . .63 Sliding .... 63 "Jack! Jack! show a Light" 64 GYMNASTIC EXERCISES. Training . . . 65 Running . . . .65 Walking . . .65 Jumping . . . .65 The High Leap . . 66 The Long Leap . . .66 The High Leap with the Pole 66 The Long Leap with the Pole 66 The Deep Leap with the Pole 67 Lifting at Arm's length . 67 The Rope . . . .67 The Javelin ... 67 The Long Chalk . . .68 The Hand Spring . . 68 Spring from the Thumb . 68 The Stooping Reach . .69 The Triumph . . .69 The Feat with the Finger 70 The Feat with the Poker 70 Kneeling Down . . 70 To remove a Chair from under you without falling 71 Breast to Mouth . . .71 Walking on Stilts . . 71 CRICKET. 73 ARCHERY. The Bow . . . .74 Arrows .... 75 The String . . . .75 The Quiver ... 76 The Tassel . . . .70 The Glove ... 76 The Brace . . . .77 The Belt, Pouch, &c. . 77 CONTENTS. PA0K The Ascliam . . .77 Butts .... 77 Targets . . . .78 Position .... 79 Roving . . . .79 Distance or High Shooting 80 Clout Shooting . . 80 Stringing the Bow . . 81 ANGLING. Rods .... 84 Lines 85 Hooks .... 85 Floats 85 Baits .... 85 Articles requisite for An- glers . . . .86 Salt Water Angling . 86 Observations . . .87 SWIMMING. To begin to learn to Swim 88 To return back again in Swimming . . .89 TD float or swim with the face toward the sky . 90 How to turn in the Water . 90 The Turn called Ringing the Bells . . . .91 Another way. of Turning 91 To swim backwards . 92 FAM To turn one's self lyiag along 92 To make a Circle . . 93 To turn, being in an upright position . . . 93 To advance Swimming with the hands joined together 94 To swim on your Side . 94 To swim on the Face holding both hands still . . 95 To carry the left Leg in the right Hand , . . 95 To swim like a Dog . . 95 To Beat the Water . 96 To keep one Foot at liberty 97 To show both Feet out of the Water . . .97 Suspension by the Chin . 98 To tread Water . . .98 Changing Hand and Foot 99 To creep .... 99 To sit in the Water . 100 To swim holding up your Hands . . . .100 The Leap of the Goat . 100 To Dive . . . .101 The Perpendicular Descent 101 To swim under Water . 102 To come to the top of -the Water after Diving . 10< To make a Circle 1ft. Till CONTENTS. SKATING. PAO MM The Bridle ... 137 Construction of the Skate 105 To Mount . . .139 Dress of the Skater 107 Walking ... 141 Preliminary and General Trotting . . . ,142 Directions 108 Cantering . . . 143 The ordinary Run 110 Galloping . , 143 The Forward Roll . 111 Leaping . . . 144 Figure of Three . 113 What to Remember . 145 Inside Edge backwards . 114 Conclusion . . . 151 ROWING. SLEIGHT OF HAND, MAGIC, The Boat 120 &c. 153 Starting .... Sculling Pulling with the Oar 121 122 123 ENIGMAS, RIDDLES, &c. Enigmas . . . 167 Charades . .170 Feathering . 124 Conundrums . . .172 To back Water 124 Key .... 177 Crossing Passing .... 125 125 Geographical Play . .180 Story-Play . . . 181 Meeting rp* i 125 Capping Verses . . 182 Tides .... 126 Landing 126 MISCELLANIES. What to Pemember . 127 To Polish Shells . . 185 What to Avoid . . 127 Noise in Shells . . 187 Sea Rowing . . . 130 How to grow an Oak in a Terms used in Boating 132 Hyacinth Glass . 187 A Few Final Remarks 133 Glass from Straw . .188 To extract the Perfume cf RIDING. Flowers . . 189 The Hrse 135 Vegetable Skeletons . 189 The Saddle . 136 Rosin Gas . . . 190 The Stirrups . 137 To write Black with Water 192 THE BOOK OF SPORTS AND GAMES, MIJSTOE SPOKTS. BONCES. HAVING provided yourselves with marbles, called bonces, let the one agreeing to commence the game, roll his marble a short distance. His adversary then shoots at it, and so on in rotation until one or other wins it, by striking the marble the number of times agreed upon. SPANNING. This is played with any kind of marble. The one agreeing to commence, shoots his marble as far as he likes. His opponent then shoots in his turn, endeavouring to strike the one first shot, or shoot it so close that he can touch both at a span ; if he can, he wins ; and so on in succession, until one or other wins. (9) 10 MINOR SPORTS. THE REGIMENT OF SOLDIERS. According to the number of players, let each put dowe two or three marbles, and having placed them in a straight line, draw another line about two yards from where the marbles are, to play from, which is done by shooting at them in rotation; and all the marbles knocked off the line become the property of the pl-.ycr. CHIP HALFPENNY. To play at this, you must provide yourself with a small wooden spoon, as well as your top. J)raw a line, on which place the two halfpence. The first player then spins his top, and taking it up in his spoon, tries to chip his half- penny towards the goal or winning place ; his opponent then does the same, and so on ti]J ono or other wins. HOCKEY, OR SHINNEY. It will be necessary in this game, to provide yourselves with a vine stick having a hook at one end, and also a ball ; or a good sized bung, is the best to play with. The players must be equal in point of numbers, on each side. The bung is then placed in the centre of the playground, and the party winning the right of striking first, attempts to strike it to touch his opponent's goal, and he must be well backed by his party to enable him, if possible, to succeed. This game affords excellent amusement and sport when the game MASTERS AND MEN. 11 18 played by skaters, but they must be good ones, or it is dangerous. This is called in Scotland, &c., shinney, from the players striking each others' shins, in trying to knock the bung from between their legs; but this I trust my young readers will not attempt, as it invariably produces much ill feeling, which should not exist between little boys. I SPY I. This game is best played where there are a number of convenient places to hide. Sides are chosen, and one party goes out to hide while the other remains at " home." One of the players who are out hiding, calls "warning" and then quickly hides himself. The other party at home, then sallies out to find them, but if two of the hiding party can reach home before one has been discovered, they cry out "all home," and then go and hide again. The seekera must find two of the opposition before they are entitled to go out and hide. MASTERS AND MEN. This is a game that admits of great variety, and will afford as much amusement to the spectators as to the players. In fact, if properly played, they may well be called juvenile charades. The party is divided into two ; one to be called the masters, and the other the men. The latter, who com- mence the game by agreement, must try and keep the mas- 12 MINOR SPORTS. ters out of work as long as they can. The men must make a choice of some trade they can easily imitate, such as a carpenter, mason, doctor, &c., and one of them must tell the masters the first and last letters of the trade; and endeavour to depict the actions of men employed in the trade chosen. If the masters guess the proper answer, they take the place of the men. If after some time they do not, they begin a new trade. THE GRACES. This game is played by any number of persons standing apart from each other, and requires two wands, and a hoop covered with leather, which may be procured at any toy shop. The wands are held firmly in each hand, and the hoop is placed on them. The wando trust then be crossed, and sharply drawn asunder, trying to urive the hoop, so that another with whom you are playing may catch it. THE BANDILOR. This toy is made of wood, somewhat in the shape of a ship's pulley, with a string wound round the centre. To bring this into action, the end of the string must be held between the finger and thumb, allowing the bandilorto fall; the string will then unwind itself, and on checking its fall, will instantly rewind itself. This is a nice plaything, and may be easily procured. RACKETS. 13 CUP AND BALL. This toy must be procured at some toy shop. They are made of wood and ivory; the latter is the best, as it is not 60 liable to chip or splinter. You must hold the stem of it between the finger and thumb of the right hand, and jerk the ball upwards to enable you to catch it in the cup, turLing the ball round in the jerk. When you have attained some proficiency in catching it in the cup, you can then endeavour to catch it on the pointed end, or stem, though it will require some practice to accomplish this. NINE HOLES. This game is played as well with leaden bullets as with marbles. They are to be bowled along a level course, at a board having arches cut in it, with numbers marked over each arch ; viz., supposing there are eight arches, they may be numbered thus, 20510430. If the bowler strikes the side of the arch, he loses his marble, but receives as many from the owner of the board as the number over the arch through which his marble passes. RACKETS. This game is played in a clear space of ground, having a high wall painted black, and the ground divided into four equal parts with chalk, two divisions near the wall, and two behind them. The latter are occupied by the out players 14 MINOR SPORTS. At the height of forty inches from the ground, a broad lin is drawn with chalk on the wall, and the ball must strike the wall above this line. It can be played by either two or four players. When two play, each must cover two com- partments j but when four are playing, each player takes one of the divisions. Those occupying the divisions nearest the wall, are called " in hand" players ; those in the others, " out hand" players. The ball must not weigh more than one ounce, and as the eye cannot well follow it in the game unless it is rendered discernible by being frequently rolled in white chalk, it should be changed often for that purpose, as it then forms a strong contrast to the black wall played against. The ball is driven forward against the wall, with a racket, formed of a strong catgut net work. The rules are as follow : After deciding who begins the game, it is commenced by the " in hand" party striking the ball against the wall ; if it strikes under the line, or goes over the wall, or does not rebound into the " out hands" spaces, or goes beyond the bounds of the racket ground, the striker is " out," and the " out hand" takes his place. Should none of these occur, when the ball has rebounded into the out-spaces, and risen from the ground, it is driven back to the wall again, to rebound into one of the in-spaces, and so on alternately. The art consists in driving the ball in such a manner against the wall, that in its rebound, your opponents shall be unable to pick it up or hit it ; when this FIVES. 15 occurs, the one who struck the ball counts one point, and the game is so continued, until one side scores eleven or fifteen as agreed upon. FIVES. Sometimes called hand tennis, or palm play, from being once played with the naked hand, afterwards with a lined glove, or cords bound round the hand. Fives can be played singly or with partners. A wall should be selected with a good level hard piece of ground before it. A line is then drawn on the wall three feet from the ground ; another on the ground two yards from the wall ; and another describ- ing three sides' of a square, of which the wall makes the fourth, to mark the bounds. The winner of the choice of commencing, begins by dapping his ball on the ground, striking it against the wall above the line drawn, so that it may rebound far enough to fall outside the line on the ground. The other player then strikes it in the same man- ner before it has touched the ground more than once. The first player then prepares to strike it as it rebounds, and the game is thus continued until one of the players fails to lift the ball before it has rebounded from the ground more than once, strikes it below the mark, or drives it out of bounds. If the player does either of these, he loses his innings ; if the other, then the in-player scores one on each occasion towards the game, which is fifteen. The rules are 16 MINOR SPORTS. the same when partners are playing, each side keeping up the ball alternately, and the partners taking it in turns for innings as the other side goes out. After the ball is first played out at the commencement, it is not necessary to make the ball rebound beyond the ground line, which is used only to make the player who is in give out the ball fay-ly, when he first takes the innings, or plays out the ball after he has vson a point. FOOT BALL. This game was formerly much in repute in England, until the reign of Edward the Third, when it was succeeded by the more delightful amusement of archery, the practice of which was enforced by a public edict, as foot-ball was found to impede the progress of the latter accomplishment, and its being properly learned. The game should be played in a large field, having at each end a boundary mark or home for the contending armies, which may consist of any number equally divided ; and is played with a bladder filled with wind, or an India rubber ball covered with seal skin. The ball is placed in the centre of the field, and the con- tending parties endeavour to kick it into their opponent's boundary. The party which first succeeds in doing this, wins the game. This is a game that will afford excellent amusmeut, and is highly conducive to health. GOLF, OB CAMBUCA. 17 GOLF, OR CAMBUCA, So called in the reign of Edward the Third, from a crooked elub or bandy-bat used in playing. In Scotland it is much practised, and is sometimes called bandy-ball. This game may be played by any number, each player being provided with a bandy made of ash, four feet and a half long, with a curve or hook affixed to the bottom, made of horn, and backed with lead. The ball should be small, made of feathers covered with leather, and very hard. The game consists in driving the ball into holes made in the ground at certain distances ore from the other, and he who succeeds in doing so in the fewest number of strokes wins the game. Between the first and last holes a space of two miles may intervene; the number of holes between which are optional. The ball must be driven into each hole and not beyond it. There is a golf club in London composed of Scotchmen, who meet once a year to play a grand match. They appear in Highland costume, which forms a very picturesque exhibition. HURLING. The number of players must be even, and divided into pairs, and when the game commences, each pair become individual opponents. They should be well matched as to size and strength. Two poles are fixed in the ground ten feet apart, and opposite them two more (the game distance 18 MINOR SPORTS. apart) about two hundred and fifty paces off. Thv, ampire, who does not take a part in the game, tbon throws up a ball, and whoever can catch it, and c?rry it through his opponent's goal, wins the game. Thy point of the game consists in the holder of the ball retaimug it long enough ; for his antagonist endeavours to po??esn himwlf of the ball, and impede the holder's progress. Tho law of the game is that they may hurl the ball fron: ruz playai to another, but two must not attack one, nor cax ike holder of the ball hurl it to any of his party who m?,y be nearer his opponent's goal than himself. STOOL BALL Is played by two persons, oae taking his place in front of stool placed upon the gr ju?.d, the other taking his pl?.ce at a distance. The latter tosses the ball, endeavouring to strike the stool, and it is the business of the other to beat it away with his hand to prevent this ; and he reckons one to the game for every time he strikes the ball away. If on the other hand, the stool should be struck, the players change places; the one winning the game who drives tho ball away from the stool the greatest number of times. This game may be played by several persons placing stools in the form of a circle, a single player to each stool ; when the ball has been struck, each one changes his place, running from stool to stool, and ?f the feeder recovers the ball in TRAP, BAT, AND BALL. 19 time to strike any of the players before he arrives at the etool to which he is running, they change places, and the one touched becomes feeder until he succeeds in striking another. TRAP, BAT, AND BALL. A boundary is placed at given distances on each side of the trap, through which the ball must pass, and a line is fixed fifteen or twenty feet from the trap, and eight or ten feet high, over which the striker must send the ball, or he is out. The game may be played by any number. The one who is to commence places his ball in the spoon of the trap ; he then touches the tongue, and as the ball rises he strikes it. The other players endeavour to catch it, and k he one who succeeds before the ball has struck the ground becomes the batman. If the ball is not caught, the player into whose hands it comes, bowls it at the trap from the place where he picked it up. If he hits the trap, the striker is out, and he takes his place.. If he misses it the batsman scores one towards the game. The tongue of the trap should not be struck too violently ; and it is well to catch the ball with" your left hand once or twice before calling " play," and striking it. This will enable you to judge what is the best position to stand in, so as to strike the ball in a direction where there is the least chance of its being caught. By allowing the ball to rise to its greatest height it will enable you to take a good aim at it as it is falling 20 MINOR SPORTS. BOUNDERS. This and the above game rank next to cricket for amuse- ment, and being healthy and invigorating exercises. It is played with a round stick two feet in length, and a hard bench ball. Four or five stones or posts are placed rn the form of a circle, one of which is called the " home" and the others "bases." After partners on each side have been chosen and the innings determined, the out players are scattered over the field, one taking his place as "-feeder" in front of home, and one behind to return the ball to the feeder. The in player who commences then strikes at the Dall. If he succeeds he runs from base to base, and another takes up the bat. If any strike at a ball and miss it, they are out; or if any are struck with the ball while running from base to base, they are out ; and the feeder may pre- tend to toss the ball, to induce a player to leave a base he is standing at, to obtain a chance of striking him and put- ting him out. Each in player takes the bat in rotation as he arrives at home. If all are out but two or three, and those are at the bases, and one be not able to reach home before the home is crowned by the ball, all are put, or if one of the strikers sends his ball so that it is caught, all his party are out. If all are out but two, the best player is allowed, with the consent of the others, to have two feeds or hits for the rounder, and if he gets home without being Struck, or the home being crowned, all his party are in QUOITS. 21 again, and continue as before; if not, the opposite party goes in. PALL MALL. The Mall in St. James's Park derived its name from this game being constantly practised there during the reign of Charles the Second, by Charles himself, and his courtiers, but of late years it is scarcely heard of. The game is played with a piece of box and a mallet in an alley having an iron arch at each end, and he who drives the ball through the arch in the fewest number of strokes wins the game. QUOITS. An iron hob or pin is driven into the ground, to within four or five inches of the head ; and at a distance of 14, 16, 20, or more yards, accor ling to the age and strength of the players, a second pin is driven in, in a similar man- ner, and those who are contending in the game stand at one of the pins, and each throws an equal number of quoits to the other pin. The player who rings his quoit, or puts it nearest to the pin, scores one point to the game ; but if A. puts a quoit nearest the pin, and B. places one second, and A. then places the remainder of his quoits nearest the pin after B., he still scores only one, as by B. putting his one quoit second, it prevents the other quoits being reck- oned; but if B. does not succeed in placing a quoit to cut 22 MINOR SPORTS. out those of A., each of A/s quoits counts as one. By having two pins the players can proceed from one to the other to determine 'the state of the game, and play on to each pin. This game is much practised in England, seve- ral grand quoit matches coming off annually. As an exer- cise, it is highly conducive to health. Strutt, in his Sports and Pastimes, says, that " the quoit seems evidently to have derived its origin from the ancient Discus." BOWLS May be played by sides of two or three each, or single players. Two balls are taken by each player, and the one who commences casts a smaller ball, frequently painted white, and called a jack, to any distance that suits him. He then delivers a ball towards the jack, each player follow- ing his example until all the balls are used; one of each side delivering a ball alternately. The position of the balls is then examined, and the one lying nearest to the jack scores one to the player, and if his other ball (or presuming the game is played with partners, either of their balls), should be nearer the jack than any ball delivered by his or their opponents, then they can score as many more -towards the game as they have balls thus placed. The game should be played upon a closely shorn grass lawn, perfectly smooth nd level. The balls played with are not perfectly round, being what is called biassed, having some, mark at the thick HOP SCOTCH. 23 end, which end must be held towards the bowler's left hand. The aim of the player is to drive his opponent's ball away from the jack, or the latter away from the former, and at the same time place his ball as near the jack as he can. The terms used in the game are, " to bowl wide," which is when the bias is good, or is not strong enough; " narrow," when it is too strong ; " finely bowled," when the ball passes close to the jack ; " yard over," is when the jack is moid&] ; " over bows," when the ball passes beyond the jack. A ball is sometimes placed by a player purposely within his reach to obstruct the one who follows him, and is called " laid at hand ;" placing the nearest ball to the jack, is called "bowl best at jack;" "drawing a cast," is to win by bowling nearest the jack, without touching a ball. A ball "rubs" when retarded in its motion by some impedi- ment; and is "gone" when it passes far beyond the jack; a " lurch" is when one side scores eleven before their oppo- nents have scored five, and is game. HOP SCOTCH. Draw on the ground a figure resembling a window arched at the top. The beds are formed in the following manner. At the end farthest from the arch a line is drawn from side to side, which is bed 1. Another like it, divided in the centre, forms beds 2 and 3. Bed 4 is like the first. The 24 MINOR SPORTS. next bed must be wider, with a cross drawn diagonally from corner to corner, for beds 5, 6, 7, and 8. Bed 9 is like the first, and 10 and 11 are like 2 and 3. Bed 12, at the arch, is called the cat's head. The one who commences throws an oyster shell into No. 1, he then hops into that bed, and with the foot on which he falls, drives it out. He then throws it into 2, steps into 1, hops into 2, drives the shell from 2 to 1, and then from 1 out of the figure. The shell is now thrown into 3, and the player steps into 1, jumps astride into 2 and 3, one foot in each base, springs o* one foot into 3, drives the shell into 2, from 2 to 1, and out as before. He now throws the shell into 4, steps into 1, jumps astride 2 and 3, and alights upon one foot in No. 4, picks up the shell, and placing it on the front of his foot off the ground, jerks it upwards with a motion of the leg, and catches it in his hand. He then jumps back, repeating the same jumps as when he advanced. He throws the shell now into 5, and passing through the beds as before, alights on one foot in No. 5, drives the shell into 4, catches it, and returns as before. He now throws the shell into 6, drives it to 5, and then to 4, catches it and returns. When he is in 7, after jumping astride 6 and 7, he drives the shell into 6, 5, and 4 ; then out as usual. From 8 to 7, 6, 5, and 4, consecu- tively, returning as at first. In 9 he catches the shell from his foot, and returns as from 4. In 10 he drives it to 9. In 11, after jumping astride, he drives it into 10, then BLINDMAN'S B-UFF. 25 into 9, catching it and returning aa before. He now throws the shell into the cat's head, on arriving at which, he catches the shell three times from his foot, and then drives it with the foot he stands on, through all the beds, returning as usual out. BLINDMAN'S BUFF Consists in one person having a handkerchief bound over his eyes, so as to completely blind him ; and thus blindfold, he is called "Buff," and chases the other players either by the sound of their footsteps, or their subdued merriment, as they scramble away in all directions, endeavouring to avoid being caught by him; when he succeeds in catching a player, and guesses his name rightly, the player caught must in turn be blindfold, and the game be recommenced. In some places, it is customary for one of the players to inquire of Buff (before the game begins) " How many horses has your father got ?" to which inquiry Buff responds 11 Three." " What colours are they ?" " Black, white, and gray." The questioner then desires Buff to " turn round three times, and catch whom you may," which request he complies with, by trying to capture one of the players. It is often played by merely turming the blindfold hero round and round, without questioning him, and then beginning. The handkerchief must be tied on fairly, so as to allow no aieana for Buff to see ; and whenever he approaches any 26 MINOR SPORTS. thing that may hurt him, he should be warned, as by the cry of " table/' " chair/' &c. SHADOW BUFF. Shadow buff differs very materially from blindman'a buff, but it is equally amusing. A sheet or table-cloth should be fastened neatly up at one end of the room, so that it hang free from wrinkles. Buff (not blindfold) seats himself on a low stool with his face to the sheet ; a table, on which is a lighted candle, should be placed about four or five feet behind him, this being the only light in the room. Buff's play-fellows next pass in succession, between the candle and him, distorting their features in as grotesque a manner as possible, hopping, limping, dressing themselves in bonnets, shawls, cloaks, or other disguises, and perform- ing various antics, so as to make their shadows very unlike themselves. Buff must then try to guess to whom the shadows belong; and if he guess correctly, the player whose shadow he recognises, takes his place. Buff is al- lowed only one guess for each person, a'nd must not turn his head either to the right or left, to see who passes. BUFF WITH THE AY AND. The several- players join hands, and form a circle around Buff, who stands in the middle, blindfold, and bearing a long wand or stick. The players then sing some chorus, JINGLING. 27 and dance once round, when they stop, and Buff stretches forth his wand, which the person touched must take by the end. Buff then cries out three times, and the player caught answers in a counterfeit voice ; but, if Buff guess his name rightly, they change places. Should, however, Buff guess wrong, the wand is released, and he continues to guess until he names some one correctly. Sometimes Buff pays a forfeit on each failure, as does each player on being caught and named. JINGLING. This is a west-country sport, and may be played in a large apartment, or out-of-doors; if the latter, within a rope ring. A player has a bell fastened to his elbow, or holds one in his hand, which he keeps jingling, and whence he is called the jingler : he endeavours to avoid the several other players, who are blindfold, and who strive to capture him ; the jingler may jump from and shun the others as he best may ; whilst they follow the sound of the bell, and, not being able to see, tumble against, and over each other, thus affording great amusement to the spectators. Whoever catches the jingler within an agreed time, generally twenty minutes or half an hour, wins the prize; but if after this time the jingler be not caught, he is accounted the winner. HUNT THE SLIPPER. This old-fashioned pastime need scarcely be described 28 MINOR SPORTS. Several boys seat themselves in a circle on the ground, and another, who stands within the ring, gives a slipper to ;>ne of the players, by whom it is secretly handed to one of his neighbours ; it is then passed round from one sitter to an- other, so as to completely perplex the " hunter," (or player standing in the middle), in his endeavours to find the slipper, and who must continue his search until successful ; the player in whose possession it is found, must in his turn " hunt the slipper," whilst the former hunter joins the sit- ters. Sometimes, to mislead the hunter, a player raps the slipper on the ground, and instantly passes it on. HUNT THE WHISTLE. To a whistle should be attached a piece of string, and a bent pin for a hook. The players seat themselves on the floor in a circle, as for the Slipper, except one lad who has never before seen the game, and is to be the hunter. He conceals his face in a player's lap, whilst another hooks the whistle on to his jacket, then blows it, and dexterously lets it fall so that another player may as quickly pick it up, and blow it. The hunter naturally turns towards the player whence the whistling proceeds, but no sooner is it heard in one place than it is repeated in another; and thus the hunter is perplexed to find the possessor of the whistle, although it be hanging at his own back. THREAD THE NEEDLE. 29 PUSS IN THE CORNER. Four players take their stations in the four corners of a room, and a fifth called " Puss" places himself in the mid- dle of it; the players in the corners then change their posi- tions in a regular succession, and the Puss endeavours to gain one of the vacant corners before the successor can reach it ; if he can do so, the player left out becomes Puss. THREAD THE NEEDLE. A number of boys all join hands, and the game is begun by the outside players at each end of the line holding the following dialogue : " How many miles to Babylon ?" " Threescore and ten." " Can I get there by candlelight ?" "Yes, and back again." "Thnn open the gates without more ado, and let the kinjr and his men pass through." The player and the one next to him at the end of the line oppo- site the last speaker then rai.e turir joined hands as high AS they can, to anow the speaker to run under, and the whole line follow him, still holding hands. This should be done, if possible, without breaking the line by letting the Lands go, and is styled " threading the needle." When ail 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. 80 MINOR SPOUTS THE HUNTSMAN. This game is one of the liveliest winter's evening pas- times that can be imagined : it may be played by any num- ber 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 huntsman, has its representative. As many chairs as there are players, excluding the "hunts- man," 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 !" 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 summoned, tho 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 scats as they best can. Of course, ne must be left standing, there being one chair less than the number of players, and the player so left must pay a THE GAME OP THE KET. 31 forfeit. The game is continued until all have paid three forfeits, when they are cried, and the punishments or pe- nances declared. The huntsman is not changed throughout the game, unless he gets tired of his post. 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 others' hands, as if for the pur- pose 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. Meanwhile, 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 it whose hand it is found, after paying a forfeit, must take bin 32 MINOR SPORTS. 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 his search until he succeeds. When a player has paid three forfeits, he is out. THE TWO HATS. This is a Neapolitan game, and from the contradictory nature of its words and actions, resembles the child's pas- time of "the rule of contrary." The rules are that, if three mistakes be made by the person who responds to the inquiries of the player bringing the hats round, and whom, for distinction's sake, we will call the Questioner, he must pay three forfeits, and be out of the game ; when the ques- tioner desires the respondent to be seated, the latter must stand up ; when he begs him to put his hat on, he must take it off; when he requests him to stand, he must sit; and in every point, the respondent must do the reverse of what the questioner tells him. The questioner may sit down, stand up, put his hat on, or take it off, without desiring the respondent to do so, or giving him the least intimation of his intention ; the latter must, therefore, be always on hia guard, so as to act instantly to the contrary, else he incurs a forfeit. These rules being settled, the game is simply this : a player places a hat on his head, takes another in his hand, and gives it to one of the company ; he then be- THE TWO HATS. gins conversing with him, endeavouring both by words and actions to puzzle him, and cause him to forfeit. The fol- lowing is a specimen of a dialogue, and the accompanying movements of the hats, in which A. is the questioner, B. the respondent : A. (taking his hat off".) A very beautiful evening, sir. B. (putting his hat on.} Yes, indeed, a most lovely one. A. (putting his hat on and sitting down, B. instantly taking his off' and getting up.} Pray be seated, sir ; I really cannot think of sitting while you stand ; (gets up, and B . sits down.} Have you been out of town this year ? (takes off his hat.} B. (putting his on.} I have not yet, but I think I shall before (A. sits down and B. gets up) the beauty of the sea- son has entirely passed away, venture a few miles out of town. A. (putting his hat on.) I beg ten thousand pardons, you are standing while I am sitting; pardon me, your hat is on, you must pay a forfeit. It generally happens, that before the dialogue has been carried thus far, the respondent has incurred three forfeits, and is, of course, out; the questioner then goes in succes- sion to the others, and the same scene is repeated by each; the conversation, it is almost needless to add, should be va- ried as much as possible, and the more absurd the better. 8 54 MINOR SPORTS. PENANCES FOR FORFEITS. A