Entertainments for Home, Church and School Part 14

There are other forms of basket ball games, where girls throw b.a.l.l.s into baskets fastened at a given height.

BOX BALL

Boxes are placed on the floor or ground in a row. The players in line stand at a distance from these, each player facing a box. The play is begun at the right of the line and each tries to toss her ball into the box. When one succeeds in doing this, all run except the one into whose box the ball fell. She picks up the ball, and tries to throw it so as to strike one of the players (of course a soft ball is used).

If she fails a stone is put into her box. The game is continued by the same player, but she tries to throw her ball into another box. If she strikes a player with her ball, the one who is struck receives a stone, and she then starts to throw her ball. The game is continued as above.

When a player has five stones she goes out of the game.

GUESS BALL

Use a soft ball. The players form in line. One stands before them, with back turned, at a distance of several feet. This player counts up to a certain number, as the ball pa.s.ses back and forth along the line; as a certain number is called, the holder of the ball throws it so as to strike one of the players. If this player is. .h.i.t, she turns suddenly and tries to guess by the att.i.tude of the players which one threw the ball. If she guesses correctly, she goes to the front. If the ball misses, the thrower changes places with the one she aimed at.

TARGET BALL

There are so many variations of this game that it is impossible to describe them all. A target is placed and the b.a.l.l.s are thrown at it; or several targets at different distances may be aimed at by the players. A score is kept. The one getting the greatest number of points wins the game. Or sides may be formed.

BOMBARDMENT

This game is played with b.a.l.l.s and Indian clubs--half as many as there are players. Bean bags may be used instead of b.a.l.l.s. A score is decided upon, and an umpire keeps the record. Each player, in throwing, tries to knock down a club, and this club counts for one or more, up to the number decided upon by the players.

STRING BALL

The players stand in a circle around the ball, which is hung by a string--in the open--from the branch of a tree. A player tries to strike it with her hand. Another tries to catch it before she strikes it again. If the ball is not caught the player scores one. She plays until it is caught. Each has a turn.

CHAPTER XVI

PASTIMES FOR CHILDREN

SUN DIAL--MOTHER, MAY I PLAY?--BLIND MAN'S BUFF--TUG OF WAR--VARIOUS BALL GAMES

SUN DIAL

Draw a large circle; intersect this with lines like the spokes of a wheel, dividing it into twelve sections, and number them.

Put a blindfolded player in the center for a hub, and turn him about a number of times, as is done in "Blindman's Buff." He then walks about. The number of the s.p.a.ce he stops upon, after repeating a silly verse to the end, is put upon his score card. If he goes outside the circle, even with one foot, he receives no points.

The player who gets the greatest number of points in a given time, wins the game.

MOTHER, MAY I GO OUT TO PLAY?

The mother stands before her children. One asks: "Mother, may I go out to play?" "No," says the mother, "it is a very wet day."

"See, mother, the sun s.h.i.+nes."

"Well, be off," says the mother; "but make three courtesies before you go."

The child then does this, the other children doing the same. They all run off and return.

"Why did you run so far?" says the mother. "Where did you go, and what have you been doing all this time?"

"Brus.h.i.+ng Mary's hair," says the first player.

"What did she give you for so doing?"

"A silver penny."

"Where's my share of it?"

"The cat ran away with it."

"Where's the cat?"

"In the wood."

"Where's the wood?"

"Fire burnt it."

"Where's the fire?"

"Water quenched it."

"Where's the water?"

"Moo cow drank it."

"Where's the moo cow?"

"Sold it for a silver penny."

"What did you do with the money?"

"Bought nuts with it."

"What did you do with them?"

"You can have the nut sh.e.l.ls, if you like."

The last words being rude, the mother chases the child or children, according to the manner in which the game is played. She asks as she does this, "Where's my money?"

The one addressed answers, "You may have the nut sh.e.l.ls."

The mother tries to catch one or more of the children to inflict punishment. The punishments are usually funny acts of some kind.

GARDEN SCAMP