Part 25 (1/2)
ALPHABET GAME
Cut alphabet from newspaper and sprinkle on surface of water; letters floating may spell or suggest name of future husband or wife.
NEEDLE GAME
Each person floats greased needle in basin of water. Impelled by attraction of gravitation, needles will act very curiously; some cling together, others rush to margin and remain. The manner in which one person's needle behaves towards another's causes amus.e.m.e.nt, and is supposed to be suggestive and prophetic.
APPLES AND FLOUR
Suspend horizontally from ceiling a stick three feet long. On one end stick an apple, upon other tie small bag of flour. Set stick whirling.
Each guest takes turn in trying to bite apple-end of stick. It is amusing to see guests receive dabs of flour on face. Guest who first succeeds in biting apple gets prize.
CYNIVER
Each girl and boy seeks an even-leaved sprig of ash; first of either s.e.x that finds one calls out cyniver, and is answered by first of opposite s.e.x that succeeds; and these two, if omen fails not, will be joined in wedlock.
WALNUT BOATS
Open English walnuts, remove meat, and in each half sh.e.l.l fasten short pieces of differently colored Christmas candles, each of which is to be named for a member of party and, after lighting, set afloat in large pan or tub of water. The behavior of these tiny boats reveals future of those for whom they are named. If two glide on together, their owners have a similar destiny; if they glide apart, so will their owners.
Sometimes candles will huddle together as if talking to one another, while perchance one will be left alone, out in the cold, as it were.
Again, two will start off and all the rest will closely follow. The one whose candle first goes out is destined to be old bachelor or maid.
These nut-sh.e.l.l boats may also be made by pouring melted wax into halves of walnut-sh.e.l.ls in which are short strings for wicks.
WINDING YARN
Throw a ball of yarn out of window but hold fast to one end and begin to wind. As you wind say, ”I wind, who holds?” over and over again; before end of yarn is reached, face of future partner will appear in window, or name of sweetheart will be whispered in ear.
SNAPDRAGON
1. The dragon consists of half a pint of ignited brandy or alcohol in a dish. As soon as brandy is aflame, all lights are extinguished, and salt is freely sprinkled in dish, imparting a corpse-like pallor to every face. Candied fruits, figs, raisins, sugared almonds, etc., are thrown in, and guests snap for them with their fingers; person securing most prizes from flames will meet his true love within the year.
2. Or, slips of paper on which verses are written are wrapped tightly in tin-foil and placed in dish. Brandy is poured on and ignited. The verse each person gets is supposed to tell his fortune.
Place burning dish in middle of bare table, for drops of burning spirits are often splashed about.
NECKLACE
Make barrel-hoop into necklace of bread, candies, red peppers and candle-ends, and hang horizontally from ceiling. Set hoop whirling and try to grasp its freight with your teeth. Accordingly as you like your first bite will you enjoy married life.
WINNOWING CORN