Good times with the Juniors

Front matter

GOODTI

WITH THE

#WVi

Contents

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I. Smile once in a while

'Twill make your heart seem lighter. Smile once in a while ;

'Twill make your pathway brighter.

Life's a mirror ; if we smile,

Smiles come back to greet us ; If we 're frowning all the while,

Frowns forever meet us.

II. There's help in seeming cheerful

When a body's feeling blue, In looking calm and pleasant

If there's nothing else to do.

If other folks are wearing,

And things are all awry, Don't vex yourself with caring;

'Twill be better by and by.

III

There's never a rose in all the world But makes some green spray sweeter;

There's never a wind in all the sky But makes some bird-wing fleeter ;

There's never a star but brings to heaven Some silver radiance tender,

And never a rosy cloud but helps To crown the sunset splendor ;

No robin but may thrill some heart, His dawn-like gladness voicing ;

God gives us all some small, sweet way To set the world rejoicing.

IV. The little sharp vexations

And the briers that catch and fret — Why not take all to the Helper

Who has never failed us yet ?

Tell him about the heartache,

And tell him the longings, too ; Tell him the baffled purpose

When we scarce know what to do ; Then, leaving all our weakness

With the One divinely strong, Forget that we bore the burden,

And carry away the song.

If longer selections are wanted, " Cheer Up" and "The Bright Side" from " Junior Recitations " are both especially suitable. Such a meeting could be held the last Sunday in the year ; or it could be made a sociable instead of a meeting, and held some evening during the week. In either case, don't forget to invite outsiders and share with them the sunshine that is being made. If on a week-night, the programme should be very short ; and games, with the refreshments, should fill the rest of the time. Decorate the

GOOD TIMES WITH THE JUNlOBS 19

rooms with red, including red shades over the lights if possible, and let a large frosted cake suitably marked with red lettering help to make the occasion memorable.

Among the games the variation of tag called " red line " could be included if the room is large. Stretch a red ribbon across the floor in a straight line, fastening the ends with weights or pins. This serves as a goal. One of the Juniors who has been chosen " it " cries, "Red line!" and starts to chase the other players. As soon as he touches one, both return to the line ; then these two, clasping hands, start out again and touch some one else ; then the three do the same ; and so on. When there are four, or any even number, at the line, they may go two by two ; but, whenever the number is odd, they must all run together in one long line. When all are caught, the game begins again, the first one caught in the previous game playing " it " as the new game is begun.

A "red-line hunt" would be fun, and could be arranged by hiding various small gifts or souvenirs, each tied to one end of a red cord, this wound and interlaced for some length around furniture, doors, etc., each child to be given a free end with the task of following the "red line" to its happy conclusion. Have each parcel wrapped in white tissue-paper and tied with a red ribbon or a bit of red embroidery silk, to carry out still further the plan of the evening. The gifts themselves should be very simple, and should be something equally suitable for boys and girls.

A Rope Social.

This is best fun when held in a barn, or a large attic, if stairways, etc., are safe; and it will prove a good opportunity to "rope in" new members, or at least to make those who are not members wish that they were. There is no programme, though Christian Endeavor songs at the beginning and close are in order at every Junior social. Girls may bring their skipping-ropes ; and, if the place admits of swings, by all means put up several stout ones. Introduce the game of "rope ring-toss," or "grommet-pitching," as it is called by sailors. The rings are made of rope, with the strands first separated so as the better to weave them into smooth, firm rings about six to ten inches across. They are made all of the same size, or of graduated sizes, as preferred. If desired, they may be wound with ribbon. The game consists in throwing these "grommets" over an upright stake, or over pegs driven in the wall or in a board, each peg being numbered. The players have each a certain number of throws, and the score is kept to see who is most skilful.

When tired of this, they may play the game of " pink violets/ ' composed of a little delightful nonsense and a good deal of running. The song which accompanies it may be sung to the tune of "Sing a song of sixpence," or to any other that it will fit, or to not much of any tune at all. The words are as follows :

" Pink, pink violets, and roses bright and blue ! A Junior in a prison — whatever shall we do ? We'll open the window east, and we'll open the window west, And never, never tell if the prisoner does the rest ! "

The children range themselves in a circle, holding a rope to help keep the circle of a uniform size. One of them, the prisoner, goes inside the ring ; another, the jailer, stands outside. They begin to sing, and at the words, " We'll open the window east, and we'll open the window west," the players on first one side, then the opposite, lift the rope high enough for the prisoner to pass under ; but the jailer outside is watching. The prisoner may take his choice, but must run out at one side or the other before the song stops, and must try to run once entirely around the ring before being overtaken by the jailer. Those holding the rope must neither help nor hinder the runners after the start is made, and the openings must be at about equal distances from the jailer. If the prisoner can run clear around the outside of the ring without being overtaken, he takes his place with the rest, between the two whose "open window" set him free; the former jailer becomes prisoner, the former prisoner's right-hand neighbor becomes jailer, and the game proceeds as at first. But, if the prisoner is touched ever so lightly by the one in chase, he is sent back to the centre, where he must remain ; the jailer joins the ring anywhere he chooses; his right-hand neighbor becomes the new jailer and his left-hand one a new prisoner with privilege of escape ; and so the game continues. Each time only the new prisoner may run out. Whenever a third of the players are in the centie at one time, it ends the game.

After the enjoyment of the games and swings an old-fashioned molasses candy-pull may complete the festivities, and, as the Juniors vie with one another in pulling and deftly handling these most fascinating "ropes" of all as they gradually assume a light golden color, the social is sure to be voted a success.

The Good Giant

A Fantasy in Two Acts and Two Scenes

By Vincent Van Marter Beede

People of the Play

Kit Loring, a boy of twelve.

Joscelin Stacey, a boy of ten.

Maysie Loring, a girl of eleven.

Gillian Stacey, a girl of twelve.

The Good Giant Greatbig.

The Three Happy Little Giants.

The Giant's Baby.

Jack the Giant-Lover.

The Sand Man.

The Kind Bear.

The Obliging Ogre.

The Dear Dragon.

The Honest Robber.

The Motherly Giantess.

The Friendly Witch.

Time : This Very Minute.

Scene : Act I. — The Wood.