Entertainments for Home, Church and School Part 13

The usual Hallowe'en tricks are tried such as the following: A ring, a piece of money and a thimble are hidden; the player who finds the ring will be first married, or these articles may be baked in a cake which is cut and distributed. The one getting the money will be prosperous, the getter of the thimble industrious, the getter of the ring will soon be married.

BOBBING FOR APPLES

Bobbing for apples. All children like this. In a tub of water several apples float. The children try to capture them with their teeth.

FLOATING NEEDLES

Grease needles and let them float in a bowl of water, upon which tissue paper is laid. Each child has his, or her, own needle. It is amusing to watch the action of the needle when the paper sinks--as it does when it becomes saturated--the needles rush about.

CANDLE AND LOOKING-GLa.s.s

Each person in turn walks downstairs backwards, alone in the dark, with a looking-gla.s.s in one hand and a lighted candle in the other.

The future husband or wife will be seen--? Or, run around the house three times with your mouth full of water--at midnight.

Melted lead poured into water results in queer figures which sometimes resemble initials; these are supposed to be those of the future husband or wife.

The water charm: put three dishes on a table--one empty, one containing clean water, one soapy water; the blindfolded ones put a finger into one of the dishes, the position of which are changed after the blindfolding. If he puts his finger in clear water a happy marriage will result.

APPLE GAMES

Put a basket on the wall halfway up. The players stand at a distance and throw apples into the basket. A score is kept, the one putting the greatest number of apples into the basket receiving the prize.

THANKSGIVING PARTY

This may be held in a barn. The stalls may be draped with bright-colored goods and decorated with greens, or autumn leaves. j.a.panese lanterns are strung about. Chrysanthemums should be the table flowers. Old-time dances are danced, such as the Virginia Reel, Money Musk, etc. Pumpkin pies, grapes, nuts and cider are served as a part of the collation.

KRIS KRINGLE PARTY

A Kris Kringle party may be taken in the open--in sleighs. The driver is dressed as Kris Kringle. After a sleigh ride in large sleighs drawn by horses decorated to represent reindeer, the party returns to an elaborate Christmas supper.

Christmas songs should be sung, well-known Christmas carols, as "'Tis the Eve of Christmas Day," "Merry Bells," "The Christmas Tree," etc.

Shadow pantomimes are a good form of entertainment for Christmas. They should carry out the idea of the festival. Any of the Merry Games given in the book may be played. The winter games are especially recommended.

s...o...b..LL BATTLE

Throw ball at a target and keep a score, or build a snow fort and make it the target.

CHRISTMAS GUESSES

Suspend mistletoe from a chandelier. Let the children in turn guess how many berries are on the suspended bush. The one guessing most correctly wins a prize.

"The Night Before Christmas" is read. As the names are named the children arise and turn around, then sit down again. Santa Claus is mentioned last. When he is spoken of all change seats. The story teller tries to secure a seat. If she succeeds there is an odd player. He must tell a funny story.

JACK FROST

Sing and act out the Jack Frost song,--"Jack Frost is a roguish little fellow," etc., etc. The music and words may be obtained at a music store.

Jesus Bids Us s.h.i.+ne. Christmas Is Coming. Christmas Greeting.

LEAD TEST

Drop melted lead into cold water. It a.s.sumes queer shapes. Hallowe'en stories are told.

APPLE TESTS

Peel an apple without breaking the peeling. Throw the skin over your shoulder and see what shape it a.s.sumes.

Apples are tied to a string and hung from the chandelier. The boys and girls try to bite these without touching them with their hands.

A PUMPKIN GAME

A pumpkin is scooped out and a candle is placed inside; the light s.h.i.+nes through the holes in the pumpkin. Pumpkin favors are given.

All dance around the pumpkin and sing "Peter, Peter, Pumpkin Eater,"

etc.

THE CHRISTMAS DINNER

The Christmas dinner is a family reunion, generally; sometimes a friend is invited. If he be a homeless one so much the better. The turkey, of course, is part of the dinner, and pumpkin and mince pies and plum pudding are served, each guest making a choice; rosy-cheeked apples, grapes, nuts and cider form a last course. The Christmas presents may be laid at the plates or may be dispensed from the Christmas tree--preferably the latter.

One of the party impersonates Santa Claus. Yule-tide songs are sung and old-time Christmas games are played. Stockings hung behind curtains and in odd places hold candy, nuts, raisins, etc. These may be made of silk or any pretty material. The guests hunt for these.

SUGGESTIONS FOR GAMES TO BE PLAYED AT CHRISTMAS TIME OR AT THANKSGIVING

Put a very large pumpkin in the center of the room or on a gra.s.s plot.

The players stand at a distance. Each one runs and jumps over the pumpkin, using both feet. In so doing a score is kept. The one jumping over _with both feet together_ the oftenest wins the pumpkin. Or dance about the pumpkin; when a small child sitting on it claps or whistles all stop. She selects a player with whom she changes place. This game may be played by adults, the player standing near the pumpkin.

CHAPTER XV

OUTDOOR GAMES FOR GIRLS

BASKET BALL--BOX BALL--GUESS BALL--TARGET BALL--STRING BALL

BASKET BALL FOR GIRLS

Basket Ball is a good form of exercise for women.

Draw a circle on the ground six feet in diameter. A line is drawn across the center. This is the throwing line. A player stands in the circle and throws the basket ball from her line to other lines, the ball scoring according to its landing place.

The lines drawn across the throwing s.p.a.ce must be parallel with the throwing line in the circle. For younger girls the lines should be ten, fourteen or twenty feet, according to the age, from the forward edge of the circle.

The players of each team throw in rapid succession. Each player has but one turn, unless the ball strikes some object before touching the ground, when another trial is allowed. At starting a thrower must stand in the circle and toe the throwing line, drawn across the center of the circle. In completing the throw she must not fall or step forward over the outer line of the circle in front of her. If at any part of the throw, from start to finish, the thrower be out of the circle it is considered a foul and does not score, the number of players in the team being counted as one less when the total or average is figured.

For each throw to the first line or any point between it and the next line, a team scores one point. For each throw to the second line or between it and the next line a team scores three points. For each throw to or beyond the third line, a team scores five points. The team averaging or adding the largest score wins first place in the game.