Part 7 (1/2)

”I LOVE MY LOVE WITH AN A.”

To play this game it is best for the players to arrange themselves in a half circle round the room. Then one begins: ”I love my love with an 'A,' because she is affectionate; I hate her with an 'A,' because she is artful. Her name is Alice, she comes from Alabama, and I gave her an apricot.” The next player says: ”I love my love with a 'B,' because she is bonnie; I hate her with a 'B,' because she is boastful. Her name is Bertha, she comes from Boston, and I gave her a book.” The next player takes ”C,” and the next ”D,” and so on through all the letters of the alphabet.

CONSEQUENCES

One of the most popular games at a party is certainly ”Consequences;”

it is a very old favorite, but has lost none of its charms with age.

The players sit in a circle; each person is provided with a half sheet of notepaper and a pencil, and is asked to write on the top--(1) one or more adjectives, then to fold the paper over, so that what has been written cannot be seen. Every player has to pa.s.s his or her paper on to the right-hand neighbor, and all have then to write on the top of the paper which has been pa.s.sed by the left-hand neighbor (2) ”the name of the gentleman;” after having done this, the paper must again be folded and pa.s.sed on as before; this time must be written (3) one or more adjectives; then (4) a lady's name; next (5), where they met; next (6), what he gave her; next (7), what he said to her; next (8), what she said to him; next (9), the consequence; and lastly (10), what the world said about it.

Be careful that every time anything has been written, the paper is folded down and pa.s.sed on to the player on your right. When every one has written what the world says, the papers are collected and one of the company proceeds to read out the various papers, and the result may be something like this:

(1) The horrifying and delightful (2) Mr. Brown (3) met the charming (4) Miss Philips (5) in Lincoln Park; (6) he gave her a flower (7) and said to her: ”How's your mother?” (8) She said to him: ”Not for Joseph;” (9) the consequence was they danced the hornpipe, and the world said (10), ”Just what we expected.”

EARTH, AIR, FIRE, AND WATER

[Ill.u.s.tration]

To play this game seat yourselves in a circle, take a clean duster or handkerchief, and tie it in a big knot, so that it may easily be thrown from one player to another. One of the players throws it to another, at the same time calling out either of these names: Earth, Air, Fire, or Water. If ”Earth” is called, the player to whom the ball is thrown has to mention something that lives on the earth, as lion, cat; if ”Air” is called, something that lives in the air; if ”Water,”

something that lives in the water; but if ”Fire” is called, the player must keep silence. Always remember not to put birds in the water, or animals or fishes in the air; be silent when ”Fire” is called, and answer before ten can be counted. For breaking any of these rules a forfeit must be paid.

CRAMBO

One of the party leaves the room, and on his return he is asked to find a word which has been chosen by the other players in his absence; and in order to help him, another word is mentioned rhyming with the word to be guessed. Questions may then be asked by the guesser, and the players must all introduce, as the final word of their answer, another word rhyming with the word chosen. For instance, suppose the word ”way” is selected. The guesser would then be told that the word chosen rhymes with ”say.” He might then ask the first one of the party: ”What do you think of the weather?” and the answer might be: ”We have had a lovely day.” The second question might be: ”Have you enjoyed yourself?” and the answer might be: ”Yes; I have had lots of play.” The game would proceed in this way until the guesser gave the correct answer, or one of the party failed to give the proper rhyme, in which case the latter would then be called upon to take the place of the guesser.

LOST AND FOUND

A very similar game to ”Consequences” is that of ”Lost and Found,”

which is played in an exactly similar manner, but the questions are quite different: (1) Lost, (2) by whom, (3) at what time, (4) where, (5) found by, (6) in what condition, (7) what time, (8) the reward.

The answers may be something like the following: (1) Lost a postage-stamp, (2) by sister Jane, (3) at three in the morning, (4) at St. Louis, (5) it was found by a policeman, (6) rather the worse for wear, (7) at dinner-time; (8) the reward was a kiss.

”ANIMAL, VEGETABLE, OR MINERAL?”

This is a capital game for a large party, for it is both instructive and amusing. Two sides are picked, one has to guess what word or sentence the remainder of the company has chosen. They go out of the room, and when the subject has been decided upon, return and ask a question of each of the other side in turn. The answer must be either ”Yes” or ”No,” and in no case should more words be used, under penalty of paying a forfeit. The first important point to be found out is whether the subject is ”Animal,” ”Vegetable,” or ”Mineral.” Supposing, for instance, the subject chosen is a cat which is sleeping in the room by the fire, the questions and answers might be like the following: ”Is the subject chosen an animal?” ”Yes.” ”Wild animal?”

”No.” ”Domestic animal?” ”Yes.” ”Common?” ”Yes.” ”Are there many to be seen in this town?” ”Yes.” ”Have you seen many this day?” ”Yes.” ”In this house?” ”No.” ”Have you seen many in the road?” ”Yes.” ”Do they draw carts?” ”No.” ”Are they used for working purposes?” ”No.” ”Is the subject a pet?” ”Yes.” ”Have they one in the house?” ”Yes.” ”In this room?” ”Yes.” ”Is it lying in front of the fire at the present time?”

”Yes.” ”Is the subject you all thought of the cat lying in front of the fire in this room?” ”Yes.” The subject having been guessed, another one is chosen and the game proceeds. The questions are limited to twenty, but it is hardly ever necessary to use that number.

HUNT THE SLIPPER