Part 8

Put two baskets at the end of a room, each basket lined with wadding, and containing a dozen of eggs. Opposite these baskets on the other side of the room, have two empty ones lined in a similar manner. Two persons step forward, and at the ringing of a bell start to put the dozen of eggs, without cracking, into the empty basket, the one who succeeds first being victor.

_The Game of Cluck._

Perhaps this is the jolliest game of all, and it is essentially for boys. Whoever gives the party should ask each of his friends to bring a chicken—a real live chicken—and if he is sure he would not recognize her when with a barnyard of others, he must tie a ribbon around her neck; he must also bring some hard-boiled eggs. The court used should be surrounded with a high netting, and the centre of the court marked with a cross.

At a signal all the players, each with his fowl in his arms, must enter the court, and the host, going to the centre, now becomes auctioneer, and taking each offered fowl in turn, he loudly calls, “How many eggs am I bid for this chicken?”—two eggs, three, or whatever the number may be; no one must bid what he cannot pay, and the chicken is given to the boy offering the largest number, and the eggs are given to the previous owner of the chicken. He may put them wherever he pleases, only they must be somewhere within the netting.

The sale being over, the “cluck” commences, for it is now each one’s aim to recover his chicken, which can only be done by finding the requisite number of eggs given for her. This is much easier said than done, for the boys will have hidden them in their pockets and other peculiar places. Meanwhile the chickens, running in every direction, are very apt to “cluck” loudly.

_The Bird’s Nest._

Put a bird’s nest in a room; hunt for it as you “Hunt the slipper,” only, instead of saying “warm, warmer,” and so on, you cluck, cluck, cluck soft or loud as the party goes towards or from the nest. Only one person hunts at a time; everybody else clucks.

MAY-DAY FESTIVITY.

A May-Queen party is conducted in a variety of ways. Very simply you may say: “I am arranging for a Maying party; will you come? I shall be so glad to have you.” And without further form than the above invitation, only mentioning the time, place of meeting, luncheon, etc., everything for a day’s outdoor frolic is adjusted.

But the correct fashion is vastly different. The invitation is of the same character as that given for any other party. The paper on which the invitation is engraved should be decorated. The decoration should be suggestive of the occasion—a trimmed May-pole, a throne for the Queen, or the Queen herself. Also, in the left-hand corner of the invitation, state the time when the tally-ho or carriages will start: they start from the house of the giver of the party. A good hour is ten o’clock, and the guests should be there ten minutes earlier.

All Maying parties should be in charge of a chaperone, not only for Madame Grundy’s sake, who would do a great deal of talking, but because there is then some one older than yourself to consult with in case of need, as also some one to superintend those who would arrange the refreshment table. And as this party must

fall upon a day In the merry month of May.

everybody should wear holiday attire, as,

In the days when we went gypsying, A long time ago, The lads and lassies in their best Were dressed from top to toe.

In France this day was dedicated to the Virgin, and the most popular girl was called the “Lady of the May.” She was always crowned and adorned with flowers, and sat in state on a miniature throne made of flowers and branches, while her maids of honor begged for money from all who passed that way, to be spent on the religious feast held later.

And our May-Queen can have her white frock too, as dainty and pretty as that of any Parisian maiden, if she will only wear warm flannels underneath it. Remember, that though May days are oftentimes warm and sunny even to uncomfortableness, their temperature cannot be depended upon.

The May-Queen should be arranged for by the giver of the party, and also her six maids of honor. The Queen only wears white. The maids should wear frocks of different hue, and each represent a woodland flower or fern. For example, rose pink garlanded with pink rose-buds and roses; baby-blue and forget-me-nots; pale violet and violets; cowslip yellow and cowslips; Nile-green and maidenhair-fern, etc. The guests should wear flowers, and may or may not represent flowers, as they choose. Only they must wear gay attire. The boys might dress as gentlemen of the court, adopting the fashion of princes, lords, pages; and do not forget the fool, with his cap and bells, to amuse the Queen. Or all may wear grotesque apparel—it is go-as-you-please fashion—only if the grotesque is decided upon, all should adopt it; the Queen could personate Maid Marian, with gilt crown on her head, and one of the boys assume the character of Robin Hood.

It would be a delight could all of these occasions have a May-pole, wound about with gay color, and long ribbon streamers firmly fastened at the top, which during the dances should be braided and unbraided again and again. It requires a tall straight tree, which should be firmly set in the ground, after the order of a flag-staff. The tallest May-pole ever set up in England was on the Strand, London, and was one hundred and thirty-four feet high. A pole twelve feet from the ground, however, will give just as much pleasure at the ordinary May-Queen party. Around it join hands, and sing any familiar English ballads, or songs from the opera of _Robin Hood_. It might be well to have a rehearsal of two or three songs beforehand, if you should be particular about your music at the time of the party. As for dances, they should be intermingled with the songs, waltzes, mazourkas, schottisches—any dance that you may know. Besides this, play one and another ring game, even if you are ever such big boys and girls. Always remember to pay homage to your Queen, being sure that she is leading.

Whoever gives the party is of course responsible for refreshments, which are usually served picnic fashion on long tables in the woods, near to the place where the games are played. The provisions should be carried in a separate wagon, and be kept out of sight until it is time for lunch. The tables may be made very attractive by means of mosses, wild flowers, and grasses. One such table was of exquisite beauty, its only adornment being ferns. A border of them was pinned or basted all around the cloth, made higher at the corners. A large cut-glass bowl stood in the centre of the table, filled with maiden-hair, and two tall slender vases, one shorter than the other and filled with fine ferns and vines stood at irregular distances. When the refreshments are ready, the hostess must escort the Queen, and lead her to the position of honor. Next to follow should be the maids of honor, and the rest as they will. In every instance the Queen must be served first; indeed, she should be shown every consideration.

The Queen’s throne should be erected near the May-pole. It is generally made in a sort of bower of bushes. Sometimes a large stone has to form the seat; cover this with flowers, so that your Queen is really sitting in a floral chair. Make her crown before leaving home; it can be cut out of pasteboard, and covered with gilt paper, and when you get to the fields twine flowers around it; or you may assimilate a crown with a wreath of wild flowers. In either case present it to her with great formality. Having led her near the throne, two of the boys should stand on either side of her, and suspend the crown between them, immediately above her head. While they are in this position, the hostess must step towards the Queen and say, “In the name of this court, we crown you Queen of May.” The boy standing at her right then leads her to the throne; when she is seated, the other boy presents her sceptre, and her entire court sing a chorus previously decided.

The girls might all carry wooden hoops, and having wound flowers around them, take them to some poor child or sick mother or sister on their return home, and so have the pleasantest sort of an ending to the May-Queen party. In our joy and gladness under the cloudless sky, on a moss-covered walk, with violets and other wild flowers at our feet, we should not forget the many more to whom such a party would seem almost as a day in Paradise.

FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION.

Every boy, to properly celebrate Independence Day, should be well stocked with torpedoes, large and small, fire-crackers, cannon, and gunpowder. He should know that the starry flag flutters from his home, and that the red, white, and blue is a part of his attire.

Early in the day a battalion of patriotic boys should march and countermarch up and down the principal streets, while all the while martial music is heard, and the shrill bugle call answers the exultant drum beat. A banner should lead such a procession, and the Star-spangled Banner should triumphantly wave throughout the entire line.

Jolly fun may be had in the after part of the day, by setting an old barn on fire.

Very often the boys’ fathers or uncles own a barn that they would rather have out of the way than not, and the Fourth of July is the most appropriate time in the entire year for a conflagration. When a barn is to be fired, be sure that it is carefully prepared beforehand, with a coating of tar and long wisps of tarred paper, and the boys cannot be too cautious not to get on fire themselves.

Should boys not be successful in finding a barn to burn up, perhaps they could find a dead tree on a friend’s vacant lot. A tree would make a perfect tower of flame, and could be seen for miles around. It, too, will blaze all the fiercer if you apply a coating of pitch. Those engaged in this sport should wear their oldest clothing, in order not to make themselves a nuisance to their mothers and sisters or thoughtlessly waste their fathers’ money.

Perhaps some of the boys would like a receipt for a powerful noise. It is simple enough—nothing but chlorate of potash and sulphur mixed; you should put several pieces of paper around it, though, and hammer it down as heavy as you can.

HALLOWE’EN GAMES AND TRICKS.

_The Nut Trick._

The shell must be prepared before the performance. Remove the kernel by boring a hole, or opening the nut at one end. Take out the contents by the aid of a lady’s hat-pin, and instead of the kernel, slip in a short piece of scarlet-colored baby-width ribbon. Then putty or wax the opening over, and color the putty or wax with a dye, crayon, or paint, the exact shade of the nut. The nut being thus prepared, you may now lay it on the table before your friends, and present a bunch of many-colored ribbons of the same width and length to them. Ask that some one select any piece he chooses; you must have a don’t-care air, as though it didn’t make any difference to you which piece was chosen. While, on the contrary, you care so much, that should a wrong selection be made you must at once tell an interesting story, which will help your friends to forget that the ribbon has already been selected, and you should make use of this opportunity to offer the ribbons over again. This time the selection will likely be correct. It would be wise to have the majority of pieces of ribbon the color of the piece in the nut, as that color would catch the eye first and stand a better chance of being taken.

The right ribbon now being chosen, make a great point of looking at it; hold it up at arm’s length, so that all the audience may see it. Then ask the party who made the selection to put it back in the bunch with the others and mix them all up to please himself. When he has finished, face the bunch of ribbons, and loudly repeat, three times over, “Ribbon, go into the nut.” Then ask your friend to go forward and take the little hammer which he will find on the table and crack the nut open. When the nut is opened, sure enough inside is a scarlet ribbon.

_Burn a Lady’s Handkerchief, but Return it Whole Again._

This requires a tin cylinder about eight inches in diameter and twelve inches in height. Into this put a perfectly fitting tin vessel, which is divided strictly in half. When this vessel is slid inside of the cylinder the whole does not look unlike a canister with a cover at each end. Having the handkerchief, hold it so that everybody sees it, and talk fluently, keeping the body constantly in motion; indeed, making so many motions that no one has noticed that you have packed this handkerchief in the upper division of the tin vessel, and that, as you are walking towards the candle, you have turned the cylinder upside down, and that also the handkerchief you are now holding is really not a handkerchief at all, but a thin piece of muslin you have prepared to simulate a handkerchief. Pour on it a few drops of alcohol, which will help it to burn even more rapidly; tear it, if you think it more effective. When the owner thinks that her handkerchief is forever destroyed, cleverly manage to invert the cylinder, take out the handkerchief, shake it well, holding it so that all the audience sees that it is not even scorched, and then return it to the lady.

_The Bowl Trick._

Fill a tiny tumbler with water and cover it with a bowl. Then state you will drink the water in the tumbler underneath without moving the bowl.

Of course the company do not believe you, and you ask all to turn their backs, or close their eyes, if they will promise not to look, until one of the party counts ten. Immediately they have turned their backs, or closed their eyes, you pick up another glass of water and hastily swallow a few mouthfuls. They hear the sound, but no one can look until ten is counted. By that time the glass from which you drank is hidden again, and the company catch you wiping your moist lips. Undoubtedly one of the number will be so suspicious that he will lift the bowl to see, and then is your opportunity, for you at once pick up the glass and drink, saying, as you put it down, “_I_ didn’t touch the bowl.”

_An Impossible Jump._

Take a gentleman’s hat, and, turning it around so that every one sees it, ask your friends whether, if you put it on the floor, they could jump over it. Of course they will answer, “Yes.” Then stand it close to the wall, and tell them not to all try at once, but take their turn to jump.

_Turn a Goblet Upside Down Without Spilling the Water._

Fill a glass goblet so as not to allow any water to drop over the edge. Cover the top with a piece of paper; on the paper put your hand, and turn the goblet rapidly over; then remove the hand. The upward pressure of the air will prevent the water from spilling.

_The Hat Omelet._

Everybody who enjoys tricks is no doubt familiar with this. It is very easy to do.

First state that you are about to make an omelet. Then break three eggs into the hat, and appear to add a little milk and flour, after which shake all together and hold the hat over a lighted lamp, candle, or gas. After a few moments lift out the hot flaky omelet and pass it to your friends; otherwise they will think they have been deceived.

The secret is, the omelet was cooked on the range, and was in the hat when you commenced to exhibit the trick, the hat being held too high for the audience to see inside. The eggs were not full, only the shells, the contents having been previously drawn through a tiny aperture at one end. Laugh and talk a great deal and it will not be noticed that you do not put in the cornstarch and milk; also let a real egg drop, as if by accident, on a plate standing on the table before you, or let a tablespoon or knife fall. This will attract all eyes and further prevent discovery. As in other tricks, you should practise it before showing it to your friends.

_The Wonderful Carafe._

An empty carafe is brought by your confederate. This you should rinse and drain in the presence of your audience, in order to satisfy them that there is really no mistake, that the carafe is positively empty. After it has well drained, dry it, wiping it around with the greatest care. In the towel which your confederate brought you he also brought a bladder, in which was a weak preparation made up of spirits of wine, sugar, and water. In this way the carafe is filled without the audience detecting. The glasses are already in position, and in each one has been put a drop or two of flavoring extract, such as pineapple, lemonade, orange, peppermint. The magician then inquires if any one would like a glass of lemonade, and being answered in the affirmative, he pours the same from the carafe by filling the glass in which the drops of lemonade extract have been placed. In like manner he will give a glass of orangeade, or whatever drink corresponds to the extract in the glasses.

_The Vanishing Ten-cent Piece._

Put this coin in the palm of your hand and take pains to let everybody see it. Then state that if any one of the audience will call out, “Vanish,” it will disappear.

The reason why is because the nail of your middle finger is covered with white wax, and closing the hand forcibly the coin instantly fastens itself to it. You must then open the hand wide and show that the ten-cent piece has really gone.

The tricks now being over, the audience rose to congratulate their young entertainers and also to exchange a few words with one another, and in so doing many of them did not discover that refreshments were about to be served until they were asked to take seats at the small tables that had most mysteriously appeared.

The refreshments were very simple, being only vanilla and strawberry rolled wafers and delicious tea. The tea was, of course, poured into the prettiest of Japanese cups, and carried on richly decorated trays, on which were laid divers colored Japanese napkins, while the graceful, cordial, Japanese-robed young girls added an indescribable charm.

And thus closed this dainty, interesting entertainment amid the pleasant chatter of the happily seated, congenial company.

_Blindfolded Prophecy._

Should you be in the country on All Hallowe’en, one of the party should be blindfolded and sent into the kitchen garden, of course using every security against accident. The person sent must pull up a vegetable, and without shaking off the dirt from the roots, bring it back with him. Should it have a great quantity of mould hanging to its roots, that is a sure sign whoever has it will make a wealthy marriage. If, on the contrary, there is but little mould, he will make a poor marriage. If the vegetable is tall and well shapen, this proves he will marry a tall, beautiful girl. If, however, the vegetable is short and crooked, he will marry a short and homely girl. If a vegetable is brought in without any roots, the person bringing it will be a bachelor or old maid.

Care should be taken in the playing of this game to prevent the house and clothing from getting dirty; therefore be watchful and hold the vegetable you bring at arm’s length.

The best place to decide the vegetable’s shape, mould, etc., would be in the kitchen, or on the piazza. If the latter is enclosed, lamps could be carried out there, if not, possibly the light from the windows and hall way would be sufficient; or try a lantern.

_The Divining Mirror._

Hold an unpeeled apple in the right hand and a lighted candle in the left, while you stand in an empty, unlighted room before a mirror.

Then you must eat the apple and watch sharp, for you are to see your future husband’s or wife’s face in the mirror. The face will appear over your left shoulder.

This game is also part trick, as fairy folk are apt to be famous tricksters and therefore not very trustworthy, especially if it is after dark.

One of the boys will likely have stolen back of you, disguised with a false face. He has reached you on his hands and knees, and when all of a sudden he rises, you will be so startled that it will be an easy matter for him to escape without detection. Or a girl could do the same as a boy.

In order to more fully cover one’s tracks, it would be well for the tricking player to blow out the candle as he appears over the shoulder. This, too, will partly conceal the features, for puckered lips and eyes fixed steadily on the flame will not look natural.

_The Tumbler Test._

Fill three tumblers with water. One must hold blue water, such as the laundress uses for clothes, another must hold soapy water, and another clear water, while still another must be empty. These tumblers should stand on a table directly before the individual who is to be blindfolded. After he is blindfolded, change the position of the glasses, placing one where the other one stood, and so on. Then instruct the party to dip his fingers into one of the tumblers. Having felt around, his fingers are dipped into the clear water, and thus he learns that he is to marry a beautiful rich girl. Had he dipped into the soapy water, it would have meant that he would marry a poor widow; if in the blue water, he would be a noted author; if in the empty glass, he would die a bachelor. This game is played in the same way with the girls, only, of course, changing the sex, as, for example, marrying a rich, handsome man.

_The Penknife Trick._

Before leaving the room state that while you are away any one may place a pen-knife where he may please, and without any word being spoken you will find it.

Of course you have a confederate, who remains behind and notices where the knife has been put.

When you enter, walk towards one of the corners in the room; if your confederate is looking up, you will know you are in the right corner, but if he is looking down you must try another. If you notice he is not looking up when you have tried all the corners, then walk towards the centre of the room, and between the corners; at one of these points he will raise his eyes. In this way, you will get the location. You must then diligently search, and when your confederate lets something drop on the floor you will know you are _very close_ to the penknife. Sometimes it is in a person’s pocket; for that reason watch just the moment when your friend has given you the clue. Possibly your hand may be on some one’s shoulder; this would indicate to search that person.

_Ball Trick._

A girl must take a ball of rose-colored worsted and toss it out in the garden as far as she can. She must be careful, however, not to lose hold of the end of the worsted. Then she should walk up and down the parlor or piazza, winding the worsted up; as she walks she sings,

Who holds my thread? Who holds my clue? For he loves me and I him too.

All of a sudden, if the game is properly played, the worsted will refuse to come. If the worsted breaks in her exertion to wind it, she will never marry; but she should keep firm hold and wind slowly, and in time will thus surely reach the person who has caught the other end. This individual is to be her future husband. Generally the “husband” part is a trick, for some one will hold the worsted that she would never marry; for example, a boy many years her junior, or her old grandfather, or brother. This game being played for the same reason as many another, “only for fun.”

_The Fortune Apple._

On several pieces of wood, thin as paper, write, in ink or paint, girls’ names. Slip each name into an apple. This set will do for the boys; make similar ones for the girls. Fill three portable tubs with water, and set an even number of apples floating in each tub. Fasten the arms of three boys securely back, and cover them entirely with water-proof cloaks. Lead each boy to a tub and ask him to repeat distinctly,