This game will be best described by a short dialogue.
Harry.—I am going to put a question in a whisper to Tom, who is seated on my right hand, to which he will reply in the same tone.
Every player, except one who holds the office of reader, selects a trade or profession, which he must retain throughout the game.
The players form sides, and decide who shall be masters and who men. The principal aim of the men is to keep working as long as possible, and to prevent the masters taking their places.
Two boys having seated themselves on the floor, are trussed by their playmates; that is to say, each boy has his wrists tied together with a handkerchief, and his legs secured just above the ancles with another;
The chief player in this amusing game must possess the faculty of inventing a long story, as well as a tolerably good memory.
This game, although only two persons are engaged in it at a time, furnishes much amusement, from the contradictory nature of its words and actions.
The party being seated in a circle, the player who has been chosen to commence the game takes a knotted handkerchief, and throws it suddenly into another’s lap, calling out at the same time either “Earth!” “Water!” “Air!” or “Fire!”
The leader of the game commences it by asking each of his companions in turn, “What is my thought like?”
The game of Hand is of great antiquity, and is common to almost every nation, whether savage or civilized.
FOX AND GEESE GAME. Fifteen ordinary draughtsmen compose the flock of geese. The fox may either be two draughtsmen placed one upon another, or any small object which may be at hand.
In this game, one of the players is sent out of the room, while the others hide a handkerchief or any small article that can be easily secreted.
NINE MEN’S MORRIS is an ancient English game, and ought not to be laid aside; so we resuscitate it for the benefit of young England.
One player with his eyes bandaged lays his head on a chair, or in another player’s lap, while the others strike him on his back with their open hands.
One player takes an oblong piece of paper, and having divided it into three equal parts by folding, he sketches a comic head, either with pen or pencil, in the upper space;
One of the players is sent out of the room, while the others fix upon a subject, which may be anything to which the three questions, “How do you like it?” “Where do you like it?” and “When do you like it?” will apply.
To play this amusing game, which is of German origin, it is necessary to be furnished with five cards, on which are painted the figures of a white horse, an inn, a bell, a hammer, and a bell and hammer;
This old-fashioned pastime is so generally known that it is scarcely necessary to describe it;
A boy who has never seen the game played is elected hunter; the others seat themselves on the ground, as in Hunt the Slipper.
This is a very similar game to Hot Boiled Beans. One player having been sent out of the room, the others arrange some simple task for him to perform on his return.
This exciting game may be played by an unlimited number, and is particularly adapted for a large party.