Entertainments for Home, Church and School Part 16

"Three score and ten."

"Will we be there by candle light?"

"Yes, and back again."

"Open your gates and let us through."

"Not without a beck (courtesy) and a boo (bow)."

"Here's a beck and here's a boo, Here's a side and here's a sou; Open your gates and let us through."

All the players in the first line say: "Here's a beck and here's a boo," as they suit the action to the word. As they do so, they also drop hands and each makes a courtesy, with hands at the hips for the "beck," and straighten up and make a deep bow forward for the "boo"; a.s.suming an upright att.i.tude, then, and bending the head sideways to the right for "Here's a side," and to the left for "Here's a sou."

The partners clasp hands, and all run forward ten steps, keeping time with the rhythm of the words. Then all pa.s.s under the upraised hands, which represent the city gates. This is done in four running steps, making twelve steps in all. The couples who made the gate then turn around in four running steps, until they face the first line, when they repeat the dialogue as given above, etc.

PUSS IN THE CORNER

Corners are selected by some of the players; the others remain in the center of the room. The puss in a corner calls to the other puss in a corner, "Puss, puss," and they try to get to each other's corner before these can be taken by the others.

When this is played outdoors, trees or the corners in a fence may be utilized as were the corners of a room.

CHAPTER XVII

INDOOR GAMES FOR YOUNG CHILDREN.

PATCH WORK--PEANUT GAME--SOAP BUBBLES--CANDY PULLS--COOK AND PEAS--MAGIC MUSIC--ZOOLOGY

PATCHWORK

The hostess cuts pictures into four parts and mixes them in a box, or loosely places them in the center of a table. Then each guest takes four and puts them together as a picture. The effect is very funny at times. Some of the children's picture blocks may be used for this game, using four sets at a time.

QUOTATIONS

The girl or boy host gives each guest, on a slip of paper, the beginning of a quotation. All go about the room looking for the end of the quotations, which are hidden in different places in the room; or, if older children are playing this game, pencils and paper are given them, and they write the full quotation.

TABLE GAME

A penny party furnishes amus.e.m.e.nt for an evening. With the invitations is sent a request for each guest to bring a penny, not for an admission fee, but for use. For each guest there are provided two cards and a pencil; one card is blank; the other has a list of the things to be found on a penny. The list is numbered, and each person is expected to name as many as he can, prizes being awarded for the best and poorest list.

Find-- 1. Top of hill.

2. Place of worship.

3. An animal.

4. A fruit.

5. A common fruit.

6. Links between absent friends.

7. Union of youth and old age.

8. A vegetable.

9. Flowers.

10. What we fight for.

11. Metal.

12. A messenger.

13. A weapon of defense.

14. A weapon of warfare.

15. A body of water.

16. A beverage.

17. What young ladies want.

18. The most popular State.

19, What men work for.

20. Sign of royalty.

21. A jolly dog.

The answers are: 1. Brow.

2. Temple.

3. Hare (hair).

4. Date.

5. Apple.

6. Letters.

7. 1894 (The date of the penny).

8. Ear.

9. Tulips (two lips).

10. Liberty.

11. Copper.

12. One cent (sent).

13. Shield.

14. Arrow.

15. Sea (c).

16. Tea (t).

17. Beau (bow).

18. United States (matrimony).

19. Money.

20. Crown.

21. A merry cur (America).

Usually a half hour is allowed for filling out the blank cards, and after that some time for correcting the lists and awarding prizes.

A DOLL SHOW

This is a form of entertainment always liked by the younger children.

It can be made amusing, as well as instructive, by having those representing the show to take the part of dolls of the different nations. When the invitations are sent out, it should be specified what part each little guest will take. Some of the guests may be the audience if they prefer, or adults may be the on-lookers. Each little guest receives a doll as a souvenir.

Another form of doll party is where the children bring dolls dressed by themselves. The doll whose gown is most neatly made receives a prize.

There may also be dolls made of beets, carrots, potatoes, tomatoes, etc., by using sticks, cloves, etc., with the vegetables named. The results are very funny. These are put on exhibition on the table and an umpire decides for which prizes are to be given.

PEANUT GAME