New games for parlor and lawn

Preface

On examination of the "New Cxames for Parlor and Lawn," the publishers requested that a few old favorites should be added. Their wise suggestions have been carried out, with some changes in the method of playing the games, the dramatic scenes being so simply arranged that children can easily prepare them for home amusement, although some of them have already earned large sums at charitable entertainments. The author expresses here his earnest thanks to the publishers of Harper'^s Young People^ The YoiiWs Companion^ and Wide Awake, for their courtesy in according him permission to reprint articles which he originally contributed to their columns.

Contents

FOR PARLOR.

I , PAGE

Alliteration 44

Scene 1. — A cottage interior, represented by any room, with wash-tub, churn, spinning- 8 NEW G Alius FOE PARLOR AND LAWK

wheel, or any articles of domestic use placed around. The old dame sits in a high-backed chair, and seems intent on convincing her family of tlie importance of keeping busily employed at home. Each one of her daughters is at work at some domestic labor. Her son enters, dressed in a walking costume, with a plaid shawl over his arm and a bundle in his hand. "Now, my dear boy," says the old lady, "I hope you will think better of your foolish plan of going out to service, and be content to help your father carry on his farni, which will be yours some day if you attend to it well." "But, mother," says the boy, "I want to see the world." " The w^orld is a poor place, my dear boy, and full of trouble." "I^ever mind, mother, you will rejoice to see me back again, when I have made my fortune." "Fortune will come to you, my son, if you work hard at home." " I hate farm -work, mother, and have made up my mind to go. So good-bye, all." The son gayly marches off, and the mother follows him to the door and looks earnestly after him, waves her handkerchief a few times, then totters to her chair and cries bitterly.

PROVERBS IN ACTION. 9

The girls all ciy in concert, but afterward dry their eyes, and continue busily at work until the curtain falls.

Scene 2. — The same room, with much better furniture and adornments. The old lady and , her daughters, in evening dress, are engaged with fancy-work and books, and one young lady plays a cheerful tune on the piano. The door opens, and a gust of snow is blown into the room (by means of a pair of bellow^s and a large c[uantity of very small scraps of writing-paper), a terrific wind howls (by means of blowing into a glass bottle), and the son enters, with rags and tatters hanging from his clothes. His cheeks are chalked at the sides, so he that looks much emaciated ; and he holds out his right hand, as if asking alms, as he leans heavily on a. rough cane with his left. 1^0 one recognizes him at first, until he says, " Don't you know me, mother ? I have come home in destitution." The mother rushes into his arms, and the girls welcome him eagerly. One runs out for provisions, another spreads the table, and all try to show their welcome and sympathy. He sits at table and eats ravenously, and then says, " Oh,

10 A^i/TF ABIES FOR PARLOR AND LAWN.

mother, it is a blessed thing to have a home to go to ; and I have learned the lesson that steady labor is far better than a wandering life."

In contrast may next be acted the old Scotch proverb —

THE GOING FOOT IS AYE GETTING.

IN TWO SCENES.

Scene 1. — An old man is bidding a sad farewell to his son, who seems all ready to set out npon a journey to seek his fortune. The room is very poorly furnished, and a table and two chairs occupy the centre. The old man says, " Good-bye, my son ; my blessing attend you on your long and weary way ! I w^ould fain have kept my only son to sustain my faltering steps; but the rent is so high, and the little place so small, that yon would only starve with me." "Keep up a brave heart, my dear sir. You may be sure I will never stop until I have found something to help you and make comfortable your declining years," replies the boy, as he dashes the tears from his eyes and runs out, while the old man sinks back in his chair faint and

PROVEBBiS IN ACTION, H

worn. An old woman enters, and tries to comfort him by saying, "He will be sure to come back again before long." The old man sobs, " I shall never see my dear boy again," and the curtain falls.

Scene 2. — The same room and people. The old man lies on a couch, and looks very pale and w^eary. He calls out " Joan !" and the old woman totters in, supported by a stick. " Is tliere no bread in the house, Joan ?" says he. "Alas! no; the very last crumb is gone, and we must beg or starve." " We will starve, then," says the old man. " Oh, if I had not let our dear Willy go wandering off so far, to die in a foreign land, we might at least have had bread to eat ! Oh, ray boy ! vay boy !" "Here I am, father," says Willy, rushing in, dressed as a gallant sailor, and tossing on the table a heavy bag of clinking gold. "Here is enough to keep you in bread — aye, and in the richest cake, too — for the rest of your days. The ship was wrecked on the Gold Coast, and I was taken prisoner, and not drowned ; so, in my long wanderings, I picked up every day more and more of the precious dust, thinking that each grain would

12 A^EW GAMES FOR PAMLOR AND LAWK

help you and mother when I reached home, if I ever did. So now hurrah for the best supper and the biggest fire this old house ever knew !" The man rises from his couch and seizes the hand of his sou, while the dame, taking some money from the bag, rushes off for a supply of provisions, when the curtain falls.

FIXE FEATHERS MAKE FINE BIRDS.

PANTOMIME, IN ONE SCENE.

A fop enters and struts about, with eyeglasses and cane, seeming too proud to speak to common people. A negro girl enters, carrying a basket of clothes on her head, and the fop eyes her with disgust as she passes him and knocks off his hat accidentally with her basket. He is very angry, and shakes his fist at her as she goes out of sight. But his manner suddenly changes as he sees a lady with a showy bonnet, thick veil, and elegant cloak, and he makes the lowest bow to her as she advances. The lady, however, pays him no attention, being very much annoyed at his rudeness, but passes out of sight rapidly. The fop still lingers, sucking the head of his cane, and putting on airs, when he again be-

holds the same costuine approaching. Gaining courage, the fop sidles up and offers his arm to the lady, who accepts it, to liis delight, and they walk up and down together. He tries in vain to get a view of her face, which she keeps averted, but finally relents and lifts her veil, when he beholds the same colored woman that he met at first, who has put on the bonnet and cloak of her mistress, who enters also ; and both the women laugh at the discomfited fop, who slinks away in disgust as the curtain falls.

ALL IS NOT GOLD THAT GLITTERS.

A pair of country people are taking a walk. They pretend to be gazing into sho2>windows and to be surprised at the novel sights which they see on every side. They walk arm-inarm, and often look tenderly at each other. Soon they are met by a Jew peddler, who has a tray full of fancy goods. He stops the couple and calls their attention to his wares. Tliey seem deliglited with the articles which he holds up for their inspection one by one. They at last fix upon a large bracelet, which is made of a band of sheet-iron, covered with

14: JSTEW GAMES FOR PARLOR AND LAWN.

gold paper. They spend much time in discussing the price, and the man says, " Is it gold ?" " Sure, it certainly's cold," says the Jew, rubbing his ear with one hand. " If you are sure it is gold," says the bumpkin, "I will give you six dollars for it." "Ten is the lowest," says the Jew ; and, after much chaffering, the bracelet is purchased for six dollars and a half, and the man proudly clasps it upon the arm of his friend, rejoicing that he has outwitted the peddler. They continue their walk, and the lady, after constantly looking at her new bracelet, rubs it with her handkerchief to brighten it. What is her horror to see the gold rub off and the iron slowly come to light under the process ! The woman cries, and the man sets out, with uplifted stick, in eager but fruitless pursuit of the deceitful Jew.

THE GAI^IE OF GEOGRAPHY.

This play, although instructive, cannot fail to be amusing, as the best scholars can hardly help making blunders in the excitement and hurry of the game. Two leaders are chosen.

THE GAME OF GEOGRAPHY. 15

who each select in turn, until all the players are taken, and are formed in two lines facing each other, a chair for each being placed behind him. The leader on one side calls cut some letter, and says *' Sea," or mentions some other body of water. The leader on the other side immediately names one beginning with the letter, and each one on his side gives another in rapid succession. If there is a pause, the leader of side No. 1 counts ten rapidly, and calls "J^ext ;" the player who stands next answers, and the one who missed takes his seat. If a mistake is made by giving a wrong name to the piece of water called for, as by calling a river b}^ the name of a sea or isthmus, or by giving the wrong letter as its first one, and it is not corrected by some member of the same side before the leader of the opposite side calls out " Miss," then all of side No. 2 must take their seats, w^hich counts two for side No. 1.

The leader of side No. 2 requests all his side to again stand in line, with the exception of those who missed, and calls out some piece of land, as mountain. State, county, etc., and a letter, which the opposite side answer in the same way ; and if every one succeeds in answering to the call, and each one gives a correct reply without mistake, tliey score three for their own side. The game is won by the side that first scores ten ; and as all who have missed must keep their seats until the end of the play, they have abundant opportunity for laughing at the mistakes which are made by their friends. If it should happen that the leader of one side has no one to call upon to stand in line, he is obliged to answer alone ; and if he also fails, the victory belongs to the other, even if they have not scored ten.

Another game of geography is played by each person taking pencil and paper, and in a given time — say five minutes — writing as many geographical names, beginning with a certain letter, as he can reymember. When " Time " is called a player reads his list, and any name that he has, and the others have not, counts as many for him as there are players besides himself. Each then reads his list in turn, and the one who scores the greatest number when all have read wins the game. If during the reading any name is challenged, and the writer is unable to describe it, if it be

MYTHS. 17

a river, sea, bay, etc., or locate it, if it is a citj, town, or cape, every other player counts one.

MYTHS.

This new game combines ancient lore with modern repartee, recalls mythological and historic items, and teaches them to the young student in a manner which cannot fail to fix them in the mind. It may be played by any number of persons in the quiet of the home, or at the merry picnic. It is begun by any player, who asks of any member erf the party a question in some way relating to some event in the past which may occur to his mind. The person addressed must try to refer in his reply to the same event ; but, if such answer does not readily occur to his mind, any other player may answer. The one who started the question must then let the one who answered it know whether his reply was correct or not ; but he can do this in such a way, by his next remark, that the others are not also informed. But if the answer was incorrect, the first player is obliged to guess what event the second 2

18 ^:ew games foe parlor and lawn.

Lad in his mind, and to name it. If he does this the company, of course, know that the original item has not been guessed, and all go on with their replies, each being answered by the originator as to the idea he had in mind. If he fails to guess the event named by any of the players, he is obliged to tell the one he had chosen to the company ; and the event proposed by this player becomes the myth, and all work upon it until it has been revealed in its turn. If the original event has been correctly guessed by two of the players, it must be told to all. To render the manner of playing it clear, a few examples are given : A asks B, " Will you have an apple ?" B replies, ''I^o; the cruel queen gave it." A. " I do not refer to the story of Snow White. C, will you have one ?" C. " Ko, thank you ; not from Paris." A. " I do not refer to the Judgment of Paris. Kow, D, will you have a nice bright apple?" D. "IS^ot while I am running a race." A. " Yes, D, you would have won if you had not stopped by the way. Perhaps E will try one of my apples." E. " I would not trust your aim." A replies, " Now, D, don't tell me you will not try an

MYTHS. 19

apple. I know F likes tlieni." F. "I like golden ones." A, tlien finding that two Lave guessed right, informs the company that he had chosen one of the apples of Atalanta. D, having been the first to gness right, begins in his turn : " Gr, are you partial to a pipe ?" G. "I do not like to have a bucket of water poured over my head when smoking." D. "I do not mean Sir Walter Raleigh. H, will you try one?" "]N"ot of malmsey, thank you," says H. D. "I do not refer to the fate of Clarence. I should like to know if any of you would enjoy a pipe." I. "]^ot round the council fire." D. " ^o sav^ages for me." «/! " I call for one, with my fiddlers three." D. '^Not old King Cole." K then says, "I love to make all the children follow me." D tries in vain to guess this, and finally gives it up, when K requests him to tell the company what he had in mind, which was the pipe of Pan ; and K goes on to ask about his event, which, after many trials, is at last guessed by two, and proves to be the pipe used by the Pied Piper of Hamelin. L, who guessed this first, then invites the company to take a ride, and they, by repeated trials, find

20 NEW GAMES FOB PARLOR AND LAWN.

he had referred to the drive of Phaeton. The footprint on the sand of Kobinson Crusoe's island is next slowly brought to light, and the question from another, " Do you like pork ?" suggests Isaac of York, Tom the Piper's Son, Cincinnati, and at last Circe and the companions of Ulysses. Enough examples have been given to show the mingled wit and wisdom evoked by this game, which, when played with spirit, is one of the very best. If it seems a little hard at first, let the children persevere, and new ideas will be constantly suggested, and they will soon succeed as well at guessing and starting the myths as the older and wiser ones.

IMPROVISATORS.

This game will probably be new to most of our readers, and the manner of playing it will certainly be original. Any number of players may join, and any subject will serve for a theme. It is only necessary for each one to have readiness and imagination enough to take up and continue the story whenever

IMPBOVISATORE. 21

called upon by the one who has been telling it, for any one can begin any story, and whenever he wishes can call upon another to go on with it. After a pause of one moment the person called upon is expected to take up the sentence, even if broken off in the middle ; but he in turn can transfer it to any other after talking at least five minutes. To make this description clear it may be well to describe minutely the manner in which it was lately played by a few girls who were spending the summer and autumn in a village in Western Massachusetts. It was on a glorious evening in the Indian summer, when the soft haze renders the most commonplace objects poetic. The woods which crowned the mountain in front of the house were in a blaze of radiant glory. The lady at whose house they were staying had ornamented the great bay-window with wreaths of bright leaves and a huge bouquet of fringed gentians. Outside, the moon shone in full splendor, rendering light unnecessary, except that which was offered by the fitful flashing of a fire of apple branches, which sent forth a sweet aroma, and crackled merrily, as if burning up were good

22 N£JW GAMES FOR PARLOR AND LAWN.

fun. Some of tlie girls were perched on a comfortable old sofa by the side of the hearth, and the rest reclined upon the floor in the bay-window. Being tired with a long walk to the mountain -top, they did not feel inclined for active amusements, and, responding to a request for a quiet game, Fanny began as follows : " Once upon a time, many years ago, there lived on the banks of Crystal Lake a young girl named Katie and her old grandmother, who, although very poor, was very good, and had brought up her little girl to be kind and gentle to all about her. As they lived in a small hut in the middle of a dense forest, they had no neighbors but the fishes and the birds ; so Katie loved them, and they loved her in return. One summer afternoon, as the child was strolling by the lake, and looking down into the clear water, she saw the loveliest little green-and-gold fish, which shone like a jewel ; but it was swimming fast, although apparently almost exhausted, and it seemed in mortal terror. In a moment she discovered the cause of the commotion, for a horrid black-and-gray water-snake appeared in swift pursuit. Although almost as much

IMPR VISA TORE. 2 3

frightened as the poor fish, Katie seized a long branch which lay at her feet, and struck — Florence, please go on." Florence — " the snake a severe blow on the head, so that he sunk to the bottom of the lake. Relieved at this state of affairs, Katie looked in vain for her beautiful fish, and sat down in tears upon a fallen tree. A sweet voice called to her from among the leaves, and she beheld a tiny fairy, dressed in shining gauze of green-andgold, seated in a swing made of two of the blossoms of the chestnut - tree. Katie was about to run away, but the sweet voice piped out, 'Come here, you dear little girl; your courage has saved me forever from the power of a wdcked fairy, whom you saw in the guise of a serpent. Ask for whatever you wish, and it shall be yours.' Katie stood for a moment lost in thought, but, gathering courage, said — Go on, Mary." Mary — '' ' If you please, ma'am, I should like a pair of shoes for grandmother, as she is lame, and her old ones are nearly gone ; but, if it is asking too much, you need only give her one shoe.' The fairy replied, * Oh, you generous little girl ! Your grandmother shall have a new pair of stout

24: iVJ/Tf GAMES FOR PARLOR AND LAWN.

shoes, made by the crickets' shoemaker, which can never wear out ; but w4iat do you want for yourself?' ']S[othing,' said Katie; '\i granny's poor old feet are kept dry and warm all winter, I am sure I want nothing more.' * You dear little thing !' said the fairy, chuckling with delight ; ' but I must give you some pleasure in return for your bravery and kindness. How would you like to visit the crystal cave under the lake ?' ' Of all tilings !' said Katie ; ' but I must run home now, for it is nearly sundown, and grandmother will begin to worry about me.' ' Well, good-bye, my dear; and I will call for you to-night, to take you to Crystal Land.' When Katie told her grandmother her strange adventure she said, ' You must have been dreaming, child.' But while she was speaking a pair of shoes came hopping in at the door, and fitted themselves on to grandmother's feet, in place of the old ragged ones, which disappeared up chimney. Both were delighted at their softness and strength, and Katie went to bed with a thankful heart; but that night she had a strange dream, which Alice will please tell about." Alice — "Just as the clock struck twelve she

IMPBOVISATORE. 25

was wakened by a white dove, which flattered against the windows, and, looking out, she saw a golden carriage, shaped like a boat, drawn by two snow-white doves, in which was seated her fairy friend, who said, ' Take a seat, my dear.' She replied, ' I am too big to get in ;' but the fairy touched her with a golden-brown maple-leaf, and she felt so small that she sat down by the fairy, who drove the doves far up into the air, and then unharnessed them in a second, and Katie felt herself falling, falling, falling, until the boat reached the lake, when the fairy harnessed into it a huge frog, and he dove down until he brought them into a beautiful cave as bright and shining as the inside of a pearly shell. Great white lilies nodded at Katie in welcome as she walked entranced along their gleaming aisles toward a beautiful throne, on which a lovely blonde maiden was seated under a snow-white canopy. This radiant maid wore a long robe of silver gauze hanging in folds from her shoulders, and on her head was — Rosa, you can go on." Hosa — " a silver crown, which she politely removed as she rose to welcome her guests. ' My dear fairy,' said the Crystal

26 ^^^W a Alius FOR PARLOR AND LAWN.

Queen, ' what strange creature is tliis whom you dare to introduce to these spotless realms V ' A mortal child, may it please your majesty^' replied the fairy. ' Upon what claim ventures here the first of mortal birth that ever trod the pavement of my court?' ^I brought her on the strength of her self-forgetful n ess when another was in danger, for her pity to animals, and tender thought for the aged.' 'Then, welcome, little mortal,' said the Queen, 'to the pure pleasures of the crystal cave,' as she took little Katie by the hand and led her through the wonderful place, and showed her the great dolphins that lay lazily basking in the court-yard, and the curious nautilus that spread her silver sail in the smooth waters of a limpid pool, where pink-and-brown seaanemones opened and closed, and the beautiful red algae floated above the silver starfish which clung to the shining stones beneath. Then she led her to her own extensive suite of rooms, and there sat down to a salad of w^ater-lily leaves and a delicious water-ice, served on plates of pearl. At the banquet the fairy told the Queen that when she had offered to grant Katie's wish she had desired

IMPR VISA TORE. 2 7

nothing but a pair of shoes for the old lady. *And pretty good shoes she will find them,' Baid the fairy,. ' for they will never wear out, and she will never have the rheumatism again while they are on her feet.' But at last little Katie said, ^Oh, I must go home soon, or grandmother will wake up and miss me.' 'Good-bye, little Katie,' said the Crystal Queen. 'Take this string of pearls for a parting gift, and, whenever you are in need of money, untie the string and take off a pearl, and sell it to some jeweller in the city. You need not be afraid of using them, for if you take off only one at a time, you will find another has grown in its place the next morning.' Ruby, it is your turn now." " Well," says Ruby, "Katie and the fairy re-entered their carriage and started for home again, and in a moment the bright rays of the rising snn fell on Katie's blue eyes, and she found herself safe in her own little bed again. ' Oh, grandmother,' said she, ' what a funny dream I have had ! And see what is this around my neck !' ' I declare, child ! where did you get that splendid string of beads V said the astonished old lady, capering about in her new shoes, which had cured her rheumatism forever. ' In the crystal cave. Let us sell one of the pearls for our dinner,' said little Katie, 'for now we can have what we like. I propose a great turkey to-day, as w^e can send half of it to poor old Robert, who has so often been hungry.' "

Here this specimen story may end, as enough has been given to show how one idea will suggest another in this excellent game, w^hich may be played in another vein by making the events in funny contrast to each other as they go from one story-teller to the next.

BIPEDS OR QUADRUPEDS.

A VERY FUNNY GAME FOR LITTLE PLAYERS.

This merry game may seem trifling, but if any wise scoffer thinks he can play it without making many ludicrous mistakes, let him try it and see ; for, simple as it is, it keeps the attention on the alert and the faculties on the strain.

The players stand in two lines facing each other, with a leader at the head of each line.

BIPEDS OR QUADRUPEDS. 29

It is the duty of the leaders of the lines to call out the letters, which they can change as often as they please. There must be an umpire chosen, also, who sits at the head of the lines at an equal distance from each. Tlie umpire must call out the numbers, wdiich are number two and four, and also count ten slowly while each player is guessing. He calls out either one of the above numbers the moment the leader has given out the letter, and then begins to count. When the leader of the right side gives out a letter, the second in line on the left side listens to the number called by the umpire, as he knows that number two refers to a biped and number four to a quadruped, and that he must name some member of the animal kingdom answering to the above description, which begins with the letter called by the leader of the opposite side. If he fails to do this correctly before the leader counts ten, he must cross over and take his place at the foot of the opposite line. The umpire must see that there is no mistake, such as repeating any name once used, or giving to any animal too many or too few feet.

30 NEW GAMES FOR PARLOR AND LAWK

Wlien the player on the left has answered, whether correctly or not, the leader of the same side in his turn calls out the same or any other letter ; the umpire follows with his number, as before ; and if the second player on the right fails to answer correctly, he crosses over and belongs to the right side, standing at the foot of the line. If the player answers the question properly, he keeps his place, and ties a white handkerchief around his neck, to show that the next question addressed to his side must be answered by the player who stands next him in the line. When the game has gone on for half an hour the umpire calls out " Time," and the side w^iich has the most players is declared the victor. The game must go on with the greatest rapidity, and the efforts of the players to answer rapidly without mistake are very amusing, as most of them make the most ludicrous blunders; after which they are obliged to march across to the other side as prisoners. The shouts of laughter with which they are received by their captors render their playfellows anxious to avoid their fate, while their very anxiety renders them