Part 9

Witches and wizards and birds of the air, Goblins and brownies, all lend me your care, Now to choose wisely for once and for all, And ever your names in praise loudly I’ll call.

Then each boy must put his head down and try to catch in his teeth an apple. In it he’ll find the name of one of the girls present, and she will be his fate. If the name is a strange one, there will even then be teasing enough for him. After the boys have all tried the game, then it is time for the girls.

Lead a girl up to a tub and blindfold her; lead her around while she repeats the rhyme, and with the words “loudly I call,” she must bend down and try to catch in one hand an apple or, if she prefers, she may try to spear an apple with a fork. If the latter way, only one drop of the fork will be allowed. If it sticks far enough in an apple not to fall altogether, her fate is sure.

_The Money-Maker._

This is one of the large number of trick games, and like all the others it is very easy when you know how. It is played by two people, both of whom understand the trick, and it should be the effort of the company to discover as soon as is possible what that trick is. When the trick is discovered the game is simple. To prove that you know it, you should take the place of one of the players. If the game then goes on satisfactorily you are out, but the others remain in until they either give up or learn the secret also.

The money-maker leaves the room and on his return his confederate will ask him questions. His answer will prove to the company that he understands which business, trade or profession they have decided he must enter in order to make money.

The secret is easy to discover if you are on the alert; it is the first business named after a question which has commenced with the letter O or which contains the exclamation oh! Example:

The company have decided that the one who has left the room must be a publisher.

“Will you be an organ grinder?”

“No, I thank you.”

“Will you be a physician?”

“I would not like night work.”

“How would you like farming?”

“Not at all.”

“Oh, I know! you’d like to be a tailor.”

“But I know I wouldn’t.”

“Well, will you be a publisher?”

“Just the thing.”

CHRISTMAS JOLLITY.

_The Yule Log._

Young people should costume themselves in grotesque apparel. They may be Twelfth Night characters, Viola, Olivia, Sir Andrew Aguecheek, Sir Toby, Sebastian, sea-captains, lords, priests, officers, musicians, etc., or assume any disguise indicative of Christmas.

Early in the evening, several of the company should disappear, but with great hilarity return, drawing in the Yule log. This is nothing more or less than a rugged log. Knotted at each end with long strong ropes, by which it is pulled. As the young people draw it they should sing,

Welcome be ye that are here, Welcome all and make good cheer; Welcome all another year, Welcome Yule.

This verse should be sung over and over until the Yule log lies on the hearthstone.

_Christmas Pie._

Two people, each wearing interesting costume, and with masked faces, walk in, rolling before them on a wheelbarrow an enormous pie. It is made after the fashion of a Jack Horner pie, being in a deep dish covered with diamond-dusted white paper, with tiny ribbons exposed.

The first performance is to roll the pie all around the room, and then to the centre, where they will sing,

Who’ll have a bird from this Christmas pie? Whoever guesses me may answer I.

For a few minutes all the company keep quite still, then the guessing commences; when the correct names are mentioned, the couple unmask, and at once the correct guesser draws a ribbon. He will find on the end of it a candy bird,—perhaps a robin redbreast made of candy and stuffed with sugarplums. As soon as the bird is drawn, one of the parties who has rolled in the wheelbarrow imitates a bird-song on a harmonica. This is easily effected without discovery, as everybody’s attention is directed to what has been drawn.

_Tableaux Vivants._

A catchy tableau series would be Mother Goose and her children celebrating Christmas.

_Tableau First._—Mother Goose in her tall, cone-shaped hat, riding on an enormous goose. Copy her and all the other costumes from Mother Goose’s book.

_Tableau Second._—Her children faithfully charactered. Little Jack Horner should be sitting in a corner, eating his Christmas pie. The King in his parlor should be dressed to represent a king. Simple Simon should meet a pieman going to the fair, etc.

_Tableau Third._—A sleeping apartment, Mother Goose and her family in bed. Great prominence must be shown to Mother Goose, whose bed is in front, and near her some of her more notable children. This scene may be readily arranged by putting small cots on the stage; the children can lie down dressed, the coverlets hiding their clothing. Near each bed put that which would indicate their character, as example, the big pie for the pieman.

_Tableau Fourth._—Santa Claus at home about time to start. Interior of a room, simply packed with all sorts of hobby-horses, dolls—big and little, dressed and undressed—musical birds, woolly sheep, sleighs, drums, tenpins, everything in the toy line that could be imagined or described; while in a large easy-chair before the lighted grate-fire sits old Santa himself, as gray-bearded, fat, and jolly as ever.

_Tableau Fifth._—Little Bo-Peep fell fast asleep and dreamed—

Show Santa Claus again, this time out-of-doors, on his sled drawn by swift reindeer; but the reindeer have stopped, for Bo-Peep stands before them, her shepherd’s crook leaning over her shoulder, her sheep all around, and they, as also Bo-Peep, gazing at the presents—sled, Santa Claus’s pack, at hat, beard, miniature tree, full stockings, and all. Bo-Peep wears a regular shepherdess costume, the sheep are toy sheep on wheels. The bells should jingle loudly until Bo-Peep appears.

_Tableau Sixth._—The Christmas tree.

A large tree filled with toys; leaning against it is a ladder, which Mother Goose climbs, and then unfastens the various gifts. Her children are all grouped around the bottom, and impatiently await the arrival of their presents.

_Tableau Seventh._—The Christmas dance.

Mother Goose and her children dance around the Christmas tree. Waltz music is played; they dance once around, when the curtain is drawn.

_Tableau Eighth._—Mother Goose’s children eating their Christmas supper. A long table covered with a white cloth, and decorated with lighted candelabra, flowers, bonbons, fancy cakes, china, silver, and cut glass. All the children are seated around, Mother Goose at the head, and to her right her son Jack, then Jack’s wife, then a boy, then a girl, and so on around. Each child is in the act of eating, drinking, lifting a cup, a candy, or indicating some natural movement at a supper table; their heads should be turned as though they were in conversation.

_Tableau Ninth._—Mother Goose and her family in a well-arranged group now stand and sing a jolly good-night song. This song may be acted by those on the stage, but the singing is done by an unseen chorus.

Follow this with two tableaux, opposite in meaning.

_Tableau One._—The empty stocking. A poverty-stricken looking room—bare floor, a hard-wood chair and table (on the table stand a few pieces of cheap china), a window with a broken pane, in which a bunch of paper or canton matting is stuffed to keep out the snow; a small kerosene lamp, the light from which comes dimly. A poorly clad and as poorly fed appearing little girl; one of her thin hands rests on the table, while the other holds an empty stocking, on which the child sadly gazes.

_Tableau Two._—Bless you honey-bugs! Yo’ feels gay.

This also is a plainly furnished room, but it is trimmed with Christmas greens, a large star and tree being particularly conspicuous. There are several colored children running around, some dancing, with toys in one hand and a full stocking in the other, others taking things off a little tree, others again eating sugarplums, or striding across the bare floor in eager pursuit of a dropped cornucopia or cinnamon cake. Their dusky-faced mammies, meanwhile, laugh at them through the half-open doorway.

And thus tableau might be described after tableau. But a few hints may be helpful.

Carefully study scenic effect. “How beautiful!” is so often the exclamation regarding a well-dressed stage, even before any person appears or one word is spoken. Remember to use harmonizing colors, and to throw on different-colored lights. The latter may cost a little money, but it will repay a hundredfold. A white light changing to pink, again to yellow, rose or green, as the scenery may require. In every way catch the eye.

Remember, the tableau is but for a minute; let that minute be perfection.

Sometimes, for example, let a fountain play in the large grounds or garden. This can be easily arranged by the proper management of a hose. You can surely place a piece of oilcloth under the moss over which the water flows, and have sponges conveniently near.

Be careful to select pretty and noticeable toilettes. If you are taking the character of a queen at a drawing-room, dress as the queen, not as her maid; but should you be a maid, wear jaunty, gay attire, and do not costume yourself in a severely cut brown-cloth tailor suit.

Use all the accessories possible—music, song, recitation, as either may be given off the stage as an accompaniment to a tableau. Be sure there is no catch in the stage curtain, and that the prompter understands all his duties. Every one should be punctual at rehearsals; and the night of the entertainment all the cast should be ready thirty minutes ahead of time, as that will prevent worry and nervousness. And if everybody is calm, and understands his part, there is no question as to success.

“The Birds’ Christmas Carol” would make a pleasing tableau.

_The Annunciation._

The angel greets the Virgin mild; Hail, Mary, full of grace! thy child The Son of God shall be.

This tableau represents an interior: the room has a deep frieze drapery over the mantel, before which Mary kneels on a low cushion; to her left, and considerably before her, is a large jardinière filled with ascension lilies; and directly before her is a table, on which is a roll of parchment partly unfastened. By the table stands the angel with hands outstretched towards her.

_Tableau Second._—The shepherds see the angels bright.

Scene out of doors, with shepherds in their usual costume, each shepherd holding a crook, while back of them, huddled close together, stand the herds of sheep. Before the shepherds, and a trifle to their right, is the angel, with outstretched hands, indicating the way.

BIRTHDAY IDEAS.

_A Birthday Picnic._

A pleasant number is twenty. Ten girls and ten boys.

Be driven to the destination in large market or hay wagons made festive with flags. Each girl should bring luncheon enough for herself and one of the boys. And the boys should be responsible for the outfit for games, such as ropes, archery, grace hoops, tennis net, balls and racquets.

If you are not going to a regular picnic ground, you will require tables. Therefore borrow five cutting tables from your mothers and these can be folded and put in the bottom of the wagon, and four persons can easily sit at each. The boys can arrange the seats, which might be the wagon seats built to the requisite height by supporting each end on a pile of stones, or convenient rocks may be chosen, or take the rails from the post-and-rail fence adjoining. Only in that case, remember to put them back again.

Use plated spoons, forks, etc., so as to save worry, and Japanese napkins, which may do double duty, as they make pretty tablecloths, and there is no fuss about having to carry them home. If you take sandwiches, wrap them neatly in white tissue or waxed paper. Use thin wooden platters instead of china, and no one will be afraid of chipping them; besides they are so light, and after luncheon they, as also the napkins and tablecloths, may be burned up, if you are careful not to set the woods on fire.

You might find it pleasant to put the lunches, wraps, etc., in one wagon, and have all the picnickers in the other. Trusty drivers for both wagons will be necessary.

After the lunch is over and cleared away, games and races will be the order of the day.

But don’t forget you must be home by sundown. When all have bundled into the wagons to return, let song follow song. One of the big boys might act as director of the chorus.

_A Birthday Floral Ball._

The entire house, including the halls, should be trimmed with asparagus and Japanese lanterns. From the drawing-room ceilings suspend inverted cones of asparagus, and as pendants from these fasten Japanese lanterns. String evergreens around the stair banisters and halls. Indeed, make of your house, including the dining-room, a sort of fairy bower, on which the Japanese lanterns at happy intervals, cast light and color.

The orchestra should be hidden in a tiny forest, and their music should be jolly, light and pretty. Among the numbers have the “Dance of the Flowers,” by Tschaikowsky. Follow this with several flower dances. Example, “The Sweet Peas Waltz.” The girls’ costume should be white tarletan, effectively trimmed with sweet peas. The boys should have sweet pea boutonnières.

The Pansy Cotillion. For this dance wear crêpe lisse, tarletan,—indeed any flimsy material you choose, but it must be of one of the pansy colors; and as the pansy has so many shades of brown, yellow, purple, deep rose, etc., the variety which would mingle, as the several figures are given, would result in a kaleidoscopic effect of color and beauty.

Perhaps a few solo dances could be arranged. If so have a Cowslip dance, when the little maiden should be frocked in pale yellow, or the Heliotrope, with a frock of lilacs. Another might dance the Forget-me-not, and wear a gown of blue.

While still another dance might be termed the Water-Lily, which would necessitate a frock of white and gold, as the blue and pink water-lilies are comparatively rare. Whichever flower is represented should be worn, either on the hair or dress.

Then should come the Wild Flower Minuet when daisies, buttercups, clover, chicory, violets, honeysuckle, and other wild flowers could vie with each other in the stately graceful movements. Follow the minuet with the Butterfly promenade and dance. In this a large number should engage, as it is quite proper there should be butterflies flitting from flower to flower. Any dance may be appropriated to the butterflies, but they should select their own partners from any of the flowers they please. The butterflies will wear almost as many colors as the pansies, and silver, gold or other butterflies should be fastened on the shoulders or on other parts of their costume.

_A Birthday Matinée._

The afternoon may be made perfectly fascinating by giving a birthday matinée. A young lady should costume herself as Little Buttercup of _Pinafore_ fame. Wear a large hat, grotesquely ornamented, short parti-colored skirts, and above all things carry a well-filled market basket. She should sing Little Buttercup’s song, and also act and dance. As the whole thing is a burlesque, it need not be correctly done, only be sure to get some graceful girl to take the part, and one who will bring out the laughter by her bits of humor here and there. If the party is for children, the basket should contain inexpensive toys, and when singing, “I’ve ribbons and laces, to set off your faces,” waltz up to a group of children and distribute the toys. Continue this when singing the chorus, as also during the playing of the interludes, until each child has a gift. Should the party be for older people, instead of toys give suggestive presents. Example, a whip to a horsewoman, or a tiny pair of oars to a rower. The music is from the opera _Pinafore_ and can be purchased or mailed from almost any bookstore. When people are through laughing over this part of the programme, tell them that confectioners’ buttercups are hidden in the drawing-room, library and hall; that they are in three colors,—violet, white, and pink,—and that all of the guests are expected to hunt for them; that a bell will be rung as a signal to commence the hunt, and in like manner to close it; that five minutes time will be allowed. Three prizes will be awarded; the first to be given to the finder of the most pink buttercups, the second to the one finding the greatest number of buttercups adding all the colors together, the third to the one finding the fewest. Should any one be so unfortunate as not to find any, his penalty will be to pay a forfeit. If this individual is a musician, his forfeit should be a song or an instrumental solo, or should he be a recitationist, he must read or recite, if neither of these, require him to put himself through a key-hole. This is done by writing the word “himself” on a small piece of paper, rolling it over until still smaller and slipping it through the key-hole. You will require two pounds of buttercups, dividing that amount in the colors mentioned. Roll each candy separately in tissue paper, corresponding in color, and hide with care. If for a children’s party, place _bric-à-brac_ and all breakable articles beyond their reach, and direct the little people so as to avoid accidents.

BIRTHDAY TABLEAUX.

_Tulips._

Group the children so that they look pretty. They could wear green clothes to represent stalk and leaves, and have large, colored-paper petals fastened to their waists, and with wire shaped and bent upward they would look like veritable tulips. Then a few others could, in a previous tableau, show the act of planting tulip bulbs and watering some growing tulips.

_The Cotillon._

Eight girls and boys should be dressed in Knickerbocker attire, and stand as if ready for the first figure of the Cotillon.

This tableau should be set in a drawing-room.

_Flitting Fairies and Butterflies._

Gay music is heard and in come the fairies dancing, followed by a train of dancing butterflies, costumed in red, yellow, and white.

The wings may be of tinted crêpe paper or tarletan held in place by stiff wire.

The fairies should wear short fluffy gowns of airy gossamer, heavily covered with spangles and diamond dust. With each movement they must glimmer and glisten.

The scene may be set in any pretty drawing room, but more properly with a background of palms and potted plants.

METHODS OF CHOOSING PARTNERS.

Pass baskets of flowers to the ladies. Enough bunches have been prepared and laid in the baskets for each one of the ladies. On a tray are bunches of leaves and vines; pass these to the men.

The leaves will match the flowers, as a bunch of pansies will have a corresponding bunch of pansy leaves, a bunch of lilies of the valley its bunch of lily leaves, etc., etc. Where roses are used, a bud matching the rose may be put with the leaves, or better, the ribbon tying a bunch of rose leaves, might match the rose it is supposed to go with. Of course, the pansy-leaf man will hunt out the lady with pansies; and the lily-leaf man, the maid with the lilies.

Take bristol-board and cut it in small pieces, the size and shape of large rose petals. Tint these pink with a bit of yellow on the narrow end, where the petal is supposed to have left the rose. Write in gilt paint on each of them a word, any noun, verb, adjective, etc. Then bend and twist in the fingers until they look like veritable Katherine Mermet or La France petals. Have enough so that each girl invited may have one.

Take more bristol-board and make deep red petals; on these write with gilt paint a part of speech, noun, verb, adverb, etc. Make enough to supply each man.

These at the time of entertainment should be passed just before you wish the partners chosen. Then the man whose petal reads _adverb_ will seek among the pink-petaled girls until he finds an adverb.

Of course, in a large company there will be several nouns and several adverbs. But the noun man will of course offer his arm to the first pink noun he finds. Be sure to have the petals match. If you must have five red petals reading _verb_, be sure to have an equal number of pink verb petals, e. g. pink petals reading _play_, _dance_, _sing_, _run_, _talk_.

Have two baskets, one knotted with pink ribbon and the other with red. These baskets should each contain paper hearts, about three inches long, and wide in proportion. The hearts may be suspended by means of narrow pink satin ribbons, and each heart is slightly decorated with water-color paints. In the same basket no two hearts are alike, but their duplicates are found in the other basket. When the duplicates are found, partners are decided.

* * * * *

Have two bags of walnuts. One is to be passed to the girls, the other to the boys. To each walnut a tiny slip of paper has been glued, on which half of a familiar quotation is written. One half of the quotations are in the girls’ bag, the other half in the boys.’ The girls’ bag is passed first. When the boy is able to complete his quotation, he discovers his partner.

* * * * *

When an equal number of boys and girls are present, for example, ten each, mark ten slips of paper according to the numerals, 1, 2, and so on. Then throw them into a bag and jostle them together. After which pass to the girls. They should each draw one paper.

When the girls have drawn, offer slips of paper in the same manner to the boys, who will draw likewise. Corresponding numbers are partners.

TANGLES AND FORFEITS.

TANGLES.

Charades.

1. When I go gunning I’m very bright. And it’s my delight To keep good sight. When I go fishing I like to hook, And when I sift A pretty book, I help our seamstress and our cook, Then all around the room I look And think of all I’ve undertook.

Second.

I’m beating America, So folks say, As through the air My horses tear, And snap, snap, snap, I cannot hold them back.

Whole.

Black and sweeping, Swimming and weeping, So wet, so tender, Sometimes the scorning of’t Others the sorrow of’t, Lifting so joyfully, Drooping so coyly.

2. My first shouts freely in, My second’s a pretty letter, My third a valiant instrument. But my fourth, alas, Just has to pass, As wound and scar, From beauty’s law it doth debar, For it doth seal and hurt and mar.

3. My first comes over the sea, And delicious it is to me, My second of use to draw, And of variety score upon score, My whole has letters six, And while the clock ticks, ticks, I am sure you’ll guess my name, For I’ve told you very plain.

4. I am a word of five letters, And a torment to my betters, My first and last are alike they say, My second and fourth the same trick play. My three middle letters Come every one’s way And make a brief stay, On all alike, Just before night.

ANAGRAMS.

1. Cover no sin. 2. Tim N. may gain. 3. Go nurse. 4. Train on time. 5. Claim a part, G. 6. A mad girl. 7. ’Tis veteran Mylo, D. 8. A rude song. 9. Any one can. 10. Thomas rap again.

CROSS-WORD ENIGMAS.