Chapter V: Part 5

This tableau represents an interior: the room has a deep frieze drapery over the mantel, before which Mary kneels on a low cushion; to her left, and considerably before her, is a large jardinière filled with ascension lilies; and directly before her is a table, on which is a roll of parchment partly unfastened. By the table stands the angel with hands outstretched towards her.

_Tableau Second._—The shepherds see the angels bright.

Scene out of doors, with shepherds in their usual costume, each shepherd holding a crook, while back of them, huddled close together, stand the herds of sheep. Before the shepherds, and a trifle to their right, is the angel, with outstretched hands, indicating the way.

BIRTHDAY IDEAS.

_A Birthday Picnic._

A pleasant number is twenty. Ten girls and ten boys.

Be driven to the destination in large market or hay wagons made festive with flags. Each girl should bring luncheon enough for herself and one of the boys. And the boys should be responsible for the outfit for games, such as ropes, archery, grace hoops, tennis net, balls and racquets.

If you are not going to a regular picnic ground, you will require tables. Therefore borrow five cutting tables from your mothers and these can be folded and put in the bottom of the wagon, and four persons can easily sit at each. The boys can arrange the seats, which might be the wagon seats built to the requisite height by supporting each end on a pile of stones, or convenient rocks may be chosen, or take the rails from the post-and-rail fence adjoining. Only in that case, remember to put them back again.

Use plated spoons, forks, etc., so as to save worry, and Japanese napkins, which may do double duty, as they make pretty tablecloths, and there is no fuss about having to carry them home. If you take sandwiches, wrap them neatly in white tissue or waxed paper. Use thin wooden platters instead of china, and no one will be afraid of chipping them; besides they are so light, and after luncheon they, as also the napkins and tablecloths, may be burned up, if you are careful not to set the woods on fire.

You might find it pleasant to put the lunches, wraps, etc., in one wagon, and have all the picnickers in the other. Trusty drivers for both wagons will be necessary.

After the lunch is over and cleared away, games and races will be the order of the day.

But don’t forget you must be home by sundown. When all have bundled into the wagons to return, let song follow song. One of the big boys might act as director of the chorus.

_A Birthday Floral Ball._

The entire house, including the halls, should be trimmed with asparagus and Japanese lanterns. From the drawing-room ceilings suspend inverted cones of asparagus, and as pendants from these fasten Japanese lanterns. String evergreens around the stair banisters and halls. Indeed, make of your house, including the dining-room, a sort of fairy bower, on which the Japanese lanterns at happy intervals, cast light and color.

The orchestra should be hidden in a tiny forest, and their music should be jolly, light and pretty. Among the numbers have the “Dance of the Flowers,” by Tschaikowsky. Follow this with several flower dances. Example, “The Sweet Peas Waltz.” The girls’ costume should be white tarletan, effectively trimmed with sweet peas. The boys should have sweet pea boutonnières.

The Pansy Cotillion. For this dance wear crêpe lisse, tarletan,—indeed any flimsy material you choose, but it must be of one of the pansy colors; and as the pansy has so many shades of brown, yellow, purple, deep rose, etc., the variety which would mingle, as the several figures are given, would result in a kaleidoscopic effect of color and beauty.

Perhaps a few solo dances could be arranged. If so have a Cowslip dance, when the little maiden should be frocked in pale yellow, or the Heliotrope, with a frock of lilacs. Another might dance the Forget-me-not, and wear a gown of blue.

While still another dance might be termed the Water-Lily, which would necessitate a frock of white and gold, as the blue and pink water-lilies are comparatively rare. Whichever flower is represented should be worn, either on the hair or dress.

Then should come the Wild Flower Minuet when daisies, buttercups, clover, chicory, violets, honeysuckle, and other wild flowers could vie with each other in the stately graceful movements. Follow the minuet with the Butterfly promenade and dance. In this a large number should engage, as it is quite proper there should be butterflies flitting from flower to flower. Any dance may be appropriated to the butterflies, but they should select their own partners from any of the flowers they please. The butterflies will wear almost as many colors as the pansies, and silver, gold or other butterflies should be fastened on the shoulders or on other parts of their costume.

_A Birthday Matinée._

The afternoon may be made perfectly fascinating by giving a birthday matinée. A young lady should costume herself as Little Buttercup of _Pinafore_ fame. Wear a large hat, grotesquely ornamented, short parti-colored skirts, and above all things carry a well-filled market basket. She should sing Little Buttercup’s song, and also act and dance. As the whole thing is a burlesque, it need not be correctly done, only be sure to get some graceful girl to take the part, and one who will bring out the laughter by her bits of humor here and there. If the party is for children, the basket should contain inexpensive toys, and when singing, “I’ve ribbons and laces, to set off your faces,” waltz up to a group of children and distribute the toys. Continue this when singing the chorus, as also during the playing of the interludes, until each child has a gift. Should the party be for older people, instead of toys give suggestive presents. Example, a whip to a horsewoman, or a tiny pair of oars to a rower. The music is from the opera _Pinafore_ and can be purchased or mailed from almost any bookstore. When people are through laughing over this part of the programme, tell them that confectioners’ buttercups are hidden in the drawing-room, library and hall; that they are in three colors,—violet, white, and pink,—and that all of the guests are expected to hunt for them; that a bell will be rung as a signal to commence the hunt, and in like manner to close it; that five minutes time will be allowed. Three prizes will be awarded; the first to be given to the finder of the most pink buttercups, the second to the one finding the greatest number of buttercups adding all the colors together, the third to the one finding the fewest. Should any one be so unfortunate as not to find any, his penalty will be to pay a forfeit. If this individual is a musician, his forfeit should be a song or an instrumental solo, or should he be a recitationist, he must read or recite, if neither of these, require him to put himself through a key-hole. This is done by writing the word “himself” on a small piece of paper, rolling it over until still smaller and slipping it through the key-hole. You will require two pounds of buttercups, dividing that amount in the colors mentioned. Roll each candy separately in tissue paper, corresponding in color, and hide with care. If for a children’s party, place _bric-à-brac_ and all breakable articles beyond their reach, and direct the little people so as to avoid accidents.

BIRTHDAY TABLEAUX.

_Tulips._

Group the children so that they look pretty. They could wear green clothes to represent stalk and leaves, and have large, colored-paper petals fastened to their waists, and with wire shaped and bent upward they would look like veritable tulips. Then a few others could, in a previous tableau, show the act of planting tulip bulbs and watering some growing tulips.

_The Cotillon._

Eight girls and boys should be dressed in Knickerbocker attire, and stand as if ready for the first figure of the Cotillon.

This tableau should be set in a drawing-room.

_Flitting Fairies and Butterflies._

Gay music is heard and in come the fairies dancing, followed by a train of dancing butterflies, costumed in red, yellow, and white.

The wings may be of tinted crêpe paper or tarletan held in place by stiff wire.

The fairies should wear short fluffy gowns of airy gossamer, heavily covered with spangles and diamond dust. With each movement they must glimmer and glisten.

The scene may be set in any pretty drawing room, but more properly with a background of palms and potted plants.

METHODS OF CHOOSING PARTNERS.

Pass baskets of flowers to the ladies. Enough bunches have been prepared and laid in the baskets for each one of the ladies. On a tray are bunches of leaves and vines; pass these to the men.

The leaves will match the flowers, as a bunch of pansies will have a corresponding bunch of pansy leaves, a bunch of lilies of the valley its bunch of lily leaves, etc., etc. Where roses are used, a bud matching the rose may be put with the leaves, or better, the ribbon tying a bunch of rose leaves, might match the rose it is supposed to go with. Of course, the pansy-leaf man will hunt out the lady with pansies; and the lily-leaf man, the maid with the lilies.

Take bristol-board and cut it in small pieces, the size and shape of large rose petals. Tint these pink with a bit of yellow on the narrow end, where the petal is supposed to have left the rose. Write in gilt paint on each of them a word, any noun, verb, adjective, etc. Then bend and twist in the fingers until they look like veritable Katherine Mermet or La France petals. Have enough so that each girl invited may have one.

Take more bristol-board and make deep red petals; on these write with gilt paint a part of speech, noun, verb, adverb, etc. Make enough to supply each man.

These at the time of entertainment should be passed just before you wish the partners chosen. Then the man whose petal reads _adverb_ will seek among the pink-petaled girls until he finds an adverb.

Of course, in a large company there will be several nouns and several adverbs. But the noun man will of course offer his arm to the first pink noun he finds. Be sure to have the petals match. If you must have five red petals reading _verb_, be sure to have an equal number of pink verb petals, e. g. pink petals reading _play_, _dance_, _sing_, _run_, _talk_.

Have two baskets, one knotted with pink ribbon and the other with red. These baskets should each contain paper hearts, about three inches long, and wide in proportion. The hearts may be suspended by means of narrow pink satin ribbons, and each heart is slightly decorated with water-color paints. In the same basket no two hearts are alike, but their duplicates are found in the other basket. When the duplicates are found, partners are decided.

* * * * *

Have two bags of walnuts. One is to be passed to the girls, the other to the boys. To each walnut a tiny slip of paper has been glued, on which half of a familiar quotation is written. One half of the quotations are in the girls’ bag, the other half in the boys.’ The girls’ bag is passed first. When the boy is able to complete his quotation, he discovers his partner.

* * * * *

When an equal number of boys and girls are present, for example, ten each, mark ten slips of paper according to the numerals, 1, 2, and so on. Then throw them into a bag and jostle them together. After which pass to the girls. They should each draw one paper.

When the girls have drawn, offer slips of paper in the same manner to the boys, who will draw likewise. Corresponding numbers are partners.

TANGLES AND FORFEITS.

TANGLES.

Charades.

1. When I go gunning
I’m very bright.
And it’s my delight
To keep good sight.
When I go fishing
I like to hook,
And when I sift
A pretty book,
I help our seamstress and our cook,
Then all around the room I look
And think of all I’ve undertook.

Second.

I’m beating America,
So folks say,
As through the air
My horses tear,
And snap, snap, snap,
I cannot hold them back.

Whole.

Black and sweeping,
Swimming and weeping,
So wet, so tender,
Sometimes the scorning of’t
Others the sorrow of’t,
Lifting so joyfully,
Drooping so coyly.

2. My first shouts freely in,
My second’s a pretty letter,
My third a valiant instrument.
But my fourth, alas,
Just has to pass,
As wound and scar,
From beauty’s law it doth debar,
For it doth seal and hurt and mar.

3. My first comes over the sea,
And delicious it is to me,
My second of use to draw,
And of variety score upon score,
My whole has letters six,
And while the clock ticks, ticks,
I am sure you’ll guess my name,
For I’ve told you very plain.

4. I am a word of five letters,
And a torment to my betters,
My first and last are alike they say,
My second and fourth the same trick play.
My three middle letters
Come every one’s way
And make a brief stay,
On all alike,
Just before night.

ANAGRAMS.

1. Cover no sin.
2. Tim N. may gain.
3. Go nurse.
4. Train on time.
5. Claim a part, G.
6. A mad girl.
7. ’Tis veteran Mylo, D.
8. A rude song.
9. Any one can.
10. Thomas rap again.

CROSS-WORD ENIGMAS.

1. My first is in saddle, but not in pony;
My second is in spaghetti, but not macaroni;
My third is in water, but not in sand;
My fourth is in Indian, but not in command;
My fifth is in plank, but not in board;
My sixth is in saving, but not in hoard;
My seventh is in make, but not in lose;
My eighth is in gaiters, but not in shoes;
My ninth is in candle, but not in light;
My tenth is in horses, but not in bite;
My eleventh is in inch, but not in measure;
My twelfth is in satin, but not in treasure;
My thirteenth is in coke, but not in ton.
My whole is a useful invention.

2. My first is in silent, but not in loud;
My second is in alone, but not in crowd;
My third is in example, but not in talk;
My fourth is in buying, but not in bought;
My fifth is in fancy, but not in reality;
My sixth is in brains, but not in vanity;
My seventh is in angels, but not in ghosts;
My eighth is in goodness, but not in hoax;
My ninth is in religion, but not in cant.
My whole is the name of a useful plant.

3. My first is in lamb, but not in beef;
My second is in mouth, but not in teeth;
My third is in Neptune, but not in sea;
My fourth is in steward, but not in me;
My fifth is in slow, but not in fast;
My sixth is in never, but not in last.
My whole is a great city.

4. In house not in lawn,
In take not in form,
In lark not in sky,
In toil not in try,
In borrow not in lend,
In tatters not in mend,
In draught not in buy,
In loaf not in pie,
In page not in book,
In novel not in took.
My whole is a flower.

NUMERICAL ENIGMAS.

1. I am composed of five letters.
My 3, 2, 5, shows hindrance.
My 4, 1, a part of speech.
My whole is a Spartan title.

2. I am composed of twenty-seven letters.
My 20, 16, 17, is a condition of atmosphere.
My 14, 13, 26, 18, was a rich woman.
My 1, 9, 25, 11, 10, is indicative of knowledge.
My 6, 23, 24, 22, relative to curvature.
My 8, 3, 4, 12, shows docility.
My 19, 15, 7, 21, is a girl’s name.
My 2, 27,—5, Insert a letter in the blank space and you’ll
have the end.
My whole is a proverb.

3. I am composed of nine letters.
My 4, 2, 6, 5, is a space.
My 3, 8, 1, is a quick inclination.
My 7, 9, with one of the letters doubled indicates comfort.
My whole is a flower.

4. I am composed of eight letters.
My 7, 4, 5, 3, is a kind of skin.
My 6, 2, 8, represents a number.
My 1 is a part of speech.
My whole is an animal.

DECAPITATIONS.

1. Behead a stream of water, and leave a bird like a crow, behead a carpenter’s tool and leave a passage, behead a section of a carriage and leave the hind part of a section of the body, behead an edible fish and leave a multitude.

2. Behead a supplication and leave light, behead a short time and leave a hide, behead a covering and leave relations, behead a relative and leave something different.

3. Behead a wading bird and leave a wooer, behead to charge and leave one that is unsound, behead a dance and leave a fish, behead an officer and leave a verb.

4. Behead a weapon of war and leave a fruit, behead an ensign and leave a unit, behead a low, flat-built vessel, and leave a narrow passage, behead a ruminating animal and leave a plant and its seed.

DROP-LETTER RIDDLES.

1. -h- w-s -u-h -u-e -o -o-z?
2. -h- w-l-e- o- e-r-h,
-h- t-l-e- o- e-r-h,
-h- r-b-k-d - m-n -o- s-n;
-h-’s -o- o- e-r-h,
-h-’s -o- i- h-a-e-,
-o- l-k-l- t- g-t -n.
3. -h- d-d -d-m -i-e -h- a-p-e -v- g-v- h-m?
4. -h-t -i- a-a- f-r-t -e- i- t-e -a-d-n -f -d-n?
5. -h- a-e -d-m -n- e-e -n -n-m-l- i- g-a-m-r?
6. -o- d-d -o-h -r-s- h-s -a-r -n -h- a-k?

DROP-LETTER PUZZLES.

1. M-K- H-Y -H-L- T-E -U- S-I-E-.
2. -a-l- -o -e- -n- -a-l- -o -i-e,
-a-e- -e- -e-l-h-, -e-l-h-, -n- -i-e.
3. -o -o -h- -n- -ho- -luggar-, -onside- -e- -ay- -n- -e -is-.
4. -i-t-e -l-n- i- h-p-i-e-s -e-o-.

OPENING LINES OF FAMILIAR SONG.

1. Ho odtn’ uyo eeerrmmb twese eclai ebblton,
Etswe claei ihwt iahr os rnbwo;
Esh pwte tiwh gdtheil hwne uoy aevg ehr a eimls
Dan lteredmb hiwt aefr ta uyro wrfno.

2. Hte peehtnla own esog urdon,
Eht dnba gsiben ot aypl,
Teh ybso aer daunor hte ykmeno gcea,
U’oyd treebt ekpe ywaa.

3. I aeddr eht yad u’yllo gftore em grreeiamtu
Nda lilst i okwn ti oosn lwli ecmo,
Het iteesvf aecdn, eht ihcr teh yga,
Os fetfrdnei rmof rou emho umeegairrt.

ANSWERS TO CHARADES, ANAGRAMS, ETC.

_Charades._

1. Eyelash.
2. Independent.
3. Teapot.
4. Level.

_Anagrams._

1. Conversion.
2. Magnanimity.
3. Surgeon.
4. Termination.
5. Pragmatical.
6. Madrigal.
7. Demonstratively.
8. Dangerous.
9. Annoyance.
10. Phantasmagoria.

_Cross-word Enigmas._

1. Sewing-machine.
2. Saxifrage.
3. London.
4. Heliotrope.

_Numerical Enigmas._

1. Helot.
2. A soft answer turneth away wrath.
3. Dandelion.
4. Antelope.

_Decapitations._

1. Brook, rook; 2, plane, lane; 3, wheel, heel, trout, rout.
2. Pray, ray; 2, spell, pell; 3, skin, kin; 4, mother, other.
3. 1, plover, lover; 2, blame, lame; 3, reel, eel; 4, mate, ate.
4. 1. Spear, pear. 2. Mace, ace. 3. Galley, alley. 4. Goats, oats.

_Drop Letter Riddles._

1. Why was Ruth rude to Boaz?
Because she trod on his corns, and pulled his ears.
2. She walked on earth,
She talked on earth,
She rebuked a man for sin;
She’s not on earth,
She’s not in heaven,
Nor likely to get in.
Balaam’s Ass.

3. Why did Adam bite the apple Eve gave him?
Because he had no knife.

4. What did Adam first set in the Garden of Eden?
His foot.

5. Why are Adam and Eve an anomaly in grammar?
Because they are two relatives without an antecedent.

6. How did Noah dress his hair in the Ark?
With the fox’s brush and the cock’s comb.

_Drop Letter Puzzles._

1. Make hay while the sun shines.
2. Early to bed and early to rise, makes men healthy, wealthy,
and wise.
3. Go to the ant, thou sluggard, consider her ways and be wise.
4. Virtue alone is happiness below.

_The Opening Lines of Familiar Songs._

1. “Oh! don’t you remember sweet Alice, Ben Bolt,
Sweet Alice, with hair so brown;
She wept with delight when you gave her a smile,
And trembled with fear at your frown.”

2. “The elephant now goes round,
The band begins to play,
The boys are around the monkey
cage, You’d better keep away.”

3. “I dread the day you’ll forget me, Marguerite,
And still I know it soon will come.
The festive dance, the rich, the gay,
So different from our home, Marguerite.”

_Forfeits._

The exacting of forfeits for tardiness or failure in the playing of games will usually lead to as much amusement as the games themselves.

Those who subject themselves to forfeiture may give a trivial article just as satisfactorily as an expensive one, or they may simply write their names on a slip of paper, and hand that to the person in charge. Each player is bound to redeem his name.

At the conclusion of the game the host, or any individual he may appoint (provided that person has no forfeits), collects all and puts them out of sight of the audience, and commencing with the one at his right, he takes the players in turn.

That party now sits down and the one in charge holding over his head one of the trinkets or whatever the object may be, says: “What a jolly thing! What a smart, pretty thing! What will the owner do?”

The party in the chair inquires, “Does it belong to a lady, or to a gentleman?” He is at once answered correctly and then responds by advising a difficult or ridiculous performance. The individual who owns the forfeit must now perform what has been advised. As soon as the party has redeemed his pledge, another forfeit is redeemed after the same method, and so on, one by one, until all articles are returned to their owners. Each forfeit is naturally redeemed amid peals of laughter.

The following may prove helpful to those who have to declare penalties.

1. Fold a piece of note-paper in the shape of a fish.

2. Say, Quizzical Quiz, sister Smith, five times running without drawing a breath.

3. Count twenty backwards without smiling.

4. Mention five synonyms for the word, Jabber.

(Chatter, gabble, mumble, prate, prattle.)

5. Repeat three times without a mistake:—

David Daldron dreamed he drove a dragon,
Did David Daldron dream he drove a dragon?
If David Daldron dreamed he drove a dragon,
Where’s the dragon David Daldron dreamed he drove?

6. Repeat the following lines twice,

Oliver Ogilvie ogled an olive and oyster,
Did Oliver Ogilvie ogle an olive and oyster?
If Oliver Ogilvie ogled an olive and oyster
Where is the olive and oyster Oliver Ogilvie ogled?

7. Touch the features while you solemnly recite,

Here sits the Lord Mayor, forehead.
Here sit his two men, eyes.
Here sits the cock, right cheek.
Here sits the hen, left cheek.
Here sits the little chickens, tip of nose.
Here they run in, the mouth.
Chinchopper, chinchopper, chinchopper, chin! Chuck the chin.

8. Repeat the alphabet similar to example.

A was an archer, and shot at a frog,
B was a butcher, and had a great dog.
C was a captain, all covered with lace,
D was a dunce with a very sad face.
E was an esquire, with pride on his brow,
F was a farmer and followed the plow.
G was a gamester who had but ill luck,
H was a hunter and hunted a buck.
I was an innkeeper, who lov’d to house,
J was a joiner, and built up a house.
K was a king, so mighty and grand,
L was a lady who had a white hand.
M was a miser who hoarded up gold,
N was a nobleman, gallant and bold.
O was an oysterman, and went about town,
P was a parson, and wore a black gown.
Q was a quack with a wonderful pill,
R was a robber, who wanted to kill.
S was a sailor, and spent all he got,
T was a tinker, and mended a pot.
U was a usurer, a miserable elf,
V was a vintner, who drank all himself.
W was a watchman and guarded the door,
X was expensive, and so became poor.
Y was a youth, that did not love school,
Z was a Zan, a poor, harmless fool.

9. Sing to the tune of “Oats, Pease, Beans and Barley grows.”

Tom he was a piper’s son,
He learned to play when he was young;
But all the tune that he could play,
Was “Over the hills and far away.”
Now Tom with his pipe made such a noise,
That he pleased both the girls and the boys,
And they all stopped to hear him play
Over the hills and far away.
Tom with his pipe did play with such skill,
That those who heard him could never stand still;
Whenever they heard him they began to dance,
Even pigs on their hind legs would after him prance.
He met old Dame Trot with a basket of eggs,
He used his pipe and she used her legs;
She danced about till the eggs were all broke,
She began to fret, but he laughed at the joke.
He saw a cross fellow was beating an ass,
Heavy laden with pots, pans, dishes and glass;
He took out his pipe and played them a tune,
And the jackass’s load was lightened full soon.

10. Blow out a candle.

The candle is rapidly flashed before the person to blow it out. If passed to and fro quick enough, it will afford much laughter before it is blown out.

11. Stand on a chair and do just as you are bidden without laughing.

12. Put a cord on the floor where you cannot step over it.

(Put it against the wall.)

13. Put two chairs back to back and take off your shoes and jump over them.

This is only a trick, you take off your shoes and jump over _them_, not over the chairs.

14. Act the part of a dumb servant. If it is a lady who is redeeming the forfeit, she must apply to a gentleman for a place, and if a gentleman, he applies to a lady. Whoever is engaging the servant asks seven questions, all of which are answered by dumb motions. Example: How do you dust? How do you sew? How do you open the hall door? How do you blacken boots? etc.

15. Ask a question that cannot be answered in the negative.

(The question is “What does Y E S spell?”)

16. Give a conundrum unfamiliar to all.

17. Dot and carry one.

(Hold your ankle while you walk across the room.)

18. Imitate a banjo player.

19. Dance a blind lanciers.

(Try this when a number of forfeits have to be redeemed. Eight people are blindfolded and led to position. Another of the company plays the lanciers. As those who are blindfolded will surely make ridiculous errors, everybody will heartily laugh. This forfeit creates much merriment.)

20. Make a three-minute address, in which every word commences with the same letter.

21. Tell who wrote the Star Spangled Banner.

(Francis Scott Key.)

22. Tell who wrote Home Sweet Home.

(John Howard Payne.)

23. Tell who wrote the Battle Hymn of the Republic.

(Julia Ward Howe.)

24. Walk out of the room with two legs but walk back with six.

(When you return, bring a chair with you.)

25. Give numerical poetry.

Any verse that is familiar counting as example:

Shuffle-Shoon (one) and (two) Amber-Locks (three)
Sit (four) together (five) building (six) blocks (seven)
Shuffle-Shoon (eight) is (nine) old (ten) and (eleven) gray (twelve)
Amber-Locks (thirteen) a (fourteen) little (fifteen) child (sixteen)
But (seventeen) together (eighteen) at (nineteen) their (twenty)
play (twenty-one)
Age (twenty-two) and (twenty-three) youth (twenty-four) are
(twenty-five) reconciled (twenty-six)
And (twenty-seven) with (twenty-eight) sympathetic (twenty-nine) glee
(thirty)
Build (thirty-one) their (thirty-two) castles (thirty-three) fair
(thirty-four) to (thirty-five) see (thirty-six).

26. Spread out a newspaper and stand two persons on it, so that they cannot possibly touch each other.

(To accomplish this put the newspaper on the floor, half on one side of the door, and half on the other. A person stands on each piece, and the door is shut between them.)

27. Sing one of the topical songs.

28. Sing the scale backwards.

29. Draw a picture of a bicycle race.

30. Build a house with cards.

31. Sew a hem.

32. Repeat rapidly either of the following tongue twisters.

Susan shineth shoes and socks; socks and shoes shines
Susan. She ceaseth shining shoes and socks, for shoes
and socks shock Susan.

Strict, strong Stephen Stringer snared six sickly silky
snakes.

Swan swam over the sea; swim, swan, swim; swan swam
back again; well swum swan.

Six thick thistle sticks.

Flesh of freshly fried flying fish.

Give Grimes Jim’s great gilt gig whip.

IN THE ADIRONDACKS.

It was the last week of July, and the guests of a certain hotel, located amidst the pine and balsam of the famed Adirondack wilderness, were thrown into a flutter of excitement.

It had been steadily raining for three days and nights, and now that the fourth day was nearing its close a golden light appeared in the west. The mirror-like surface of the lake before the hotel rapidly revealed the many shades of crimson red and deep gold, while fleecy clouds of pink and white merged into deeper tints.

Every one was on the piazza, called there by an enthusiast to witness the beauty of it all. Every face smiled because the long storm was over at last, and there seemed a promise of radiant sunshine for to-morrow.

Suddenly a voice from the north piazza called to a young gentleman who had been walking about with a rather dissatisfied air, “I hear wheels. Now for the excitement of an arrival.”

It was only the waiting of a few moments, and two bay horses, much bespattered with mud and mire, drew the heavily built two-seated surrey to the hotel steps.

Guests stood about by twos and threes, most of them with half-averted faces, not willing to openly show the inquisitive feeling that each possessed. However, many furtive glances were cast. Perhaps among the most searching, were those given by the dissatisfied young man.

“Permit me, madam.” It was the proprietor’s voice, as he aided a tall, fair-skinned, stern and aristocratic-looking matron to alight, assisting her meanwhile to unfasten her travelling cloak, which had caught on a nail in the end of a seat. The lady slowly remarked, as her feet touched the horse block. “That nail has been rather too much in evidence.”

By the matron’s side a young lady had sat. This fact had been observed by all the guests, before they had turned their heads away, and now that she too had left the carriage, her golden hair and soft hazel eyes were mentally remarked, as also her graceful carriage and elegant tailor-made gown.

The proprietor, lifting one of the hand-satchels, leaving the umbrellas and other small luggage for the porter, led the way to the office.

Then they hastily entered, and a few minutes later walked through the dimly-lighted corridor, for it was not yet dark enough to illuminate.

“I reckon that girl has never been in the woods before,” said the dissatisfied man to his friend. For now, side by side, he and a young fellow about thirty strode slowly up and down, exchanging confidences and chatting in a desultory fashion.

“She does not seem to the manner born, that’s a fact,” said the other, “but she’s an interesting type, and probably an addition to our house party.” He turned an interested face towards his friend and said: “There’s far more the flavor of Narragansett Pier or Bar Harbor about her than of the woods, or she may have come from Saratoga. We’ll not have to wait long to see, or I’m not a correct judge, but her mother may prove a formidable chaperon.”

The mother and daughter, for their relationship was at once identified, some one having accommodatingly referred to the register, and reported information to the others, were not long in reappearing, and the young men, still walking back and forth, were not surprised to discover that their prediction was correct.

“Maud, dear, how shall you exist here?” were the half-petulant words overheard as the mother languidly seated herself.

“It will not be Saratoga, I confess. But isn’t that lake enchanting?” The girl’s face was very fair and bewitchingly amiable.

“Yes, it is pretty. But shall you ever forget our trip to this hotel? Such roads!”

Maud met her mother’s questioning eyes, then noting a middle-aged woman approaching them, with face full of kindly greeting, waited.

“You are strangers,” were this lady’s first words, adding as she reached forth her hand: “I fear you will feel lonely and tired, after the long drive.”

The mother at once extended her hand. Then the lady asked the girl, “Have you ever been in the woods before?”

“Never, and my mother fears I shall not like it. It did seem lonely, the last drive through the pines,” and the sensitive mouth quivered ever so slightly, as she explained. “The drive up was so long, the roads so thickly wooded, and here,” with a half-frightened glance about, as though she feared a fox or a bear would cross the walk before her, “you have only the lake.”

Without a word the lady laughed merrily, but hastily checked herself. “I promise you that if you will only join in our sports you will find that there is much here besides the lake. Though,” coyly scanning her, “the lake has its amusements, fishing, boating. Oh, the gentlemen here will be delighted to introduce you to it.”

Maud’s mother looked both surprised and confused. The lady continued, as though she noted her not. “You will find the camps about the lake quite as entertaining as Saratoga’s Floral Fête, or indeed any fashionable watering-place amusement.”

“Camps? I don’t quite understand,” Maud’s mother remarked, with a touch of bitterness in her tone, for the darkening wood about, now that night was coming fast, made her slow to relent. It was strange she had chosen to come to such a spot.

“I think one has to visit these camps to understand,” the lady explained. “But you will always find them hospitable, furnishing afternoon tea every day you care to call. And some days there are special _fêtes_, full of pleasant surprises, when amusements such as the thimble game and proverbs are played, at which prizes are sometimes offered as an added incentive. Last season the hostess of one of the camps gave a children’s party. There happened to be a few here that year, for children are a rarity in the Adirondacks. Of course their parents, uncles, aunts and cousins came, too. That entertainment has been talked about ever since. The party opened with the wild flower hunt. Small bouquets had been hidden among the balsam boughs, low enough for the little ones to reach; others were behind bushes or rocks. These bouquets were made up of clover, daisies and wild roses. Whichever child found the most wild roses received a prize.

“This amusement was followed by the hunt for Cinderella’s Slipper. The successful one at this game also received a prize. After this, the hostess invited all the children into the balsam-covered lean-to, and told them a story about the old man of Humbug Mountain. Humbug Mountain towers just behind, you notice the tallest mountain over there, don’t you?” and the lady motioned to the left, as they faced the lake.

“Yes, but what has reddened the trees so? Why, mother, did you ever see anything as beautiful?” and while pronouncing the word “beautiful,” Maud’s countenance was full of delight.

“That is the afterglow,” the lady replied, but not waiting for further remark, she continued: “I was telling you about the old man of Humbug Mountain. The hostess explained to the children that sometimes he visited her camp, and when he did so he whistled, and that if he should whistle that afternoon, she would take the children back of the lean-to to see him. At that very moment a whistle clear and shrill was heard, and the children, already enamoured with the story, could scarcely be sufficiently restrained to allow the hostess to proceed. When the laughing, curious children ran behind the lean-to, sure enough, as had been promised, there was an old man. He was standing on a table. It was a dwarf skilfully arranged by two people.”

“Oh that was it?” Maud interrupted, for she had listened intently, and was apparently as eager to discover the identity of the old man of Humbug Mountain, as had been the children of the party, and then she added: “I happen to know about that, for I was part of a dwarf once,” and with a wise little shake of her head explained, “It is arranged by two people.”

“Yes, and is it not capital?”

“Fine, when it is well done,” and Maud who was already feeling at home with her companion, added: “And of course the dwarf from the mountain would be well done.”

“Indeed he was. He told short, witty stories, laughed, danced and capered to the children’s great delight. They would clap their hands for joy. It was a rare sight for the grown-ups to watch the color come and go in their expressive faces, their fluffy curls and tangle of waves and braids tumbling about as the little girls shook with laughter, and some of the boys were even more amusing than the girls, because they looked so earnest, even solemn, in their efforts to find an explanation for the old man. One little chap said he would get his father to carry his rifle now all the time, because they might meet the old man sometimes when he wouldn’t feel as jolly, and what then? In fact he was about certain he had seen the old man one day stealing away behind a big stump, and even some of the children laughed when he explained: ‘It was the very same day, that I almost saw a black bear. I could hear him growl. I tell you I ran! Like as not there was a fox too, or a wild cat?”

“Well, after the dwarf exhibition, there were refreshments at which the children toasted marshmallows and popped corn.”

“Why, after all, Maud,” said her mother, thawing out suddenly, “I fancy you may like it here. There seem to be things going on.”

“_Like_ it,” quoted the lady. “No one ever wants to go home when she once gets a taste of Adirondack life. It is like the hounds following the deer. People take to the woods.”

Suddenly there sounded through the hall the first measures of an orchestra.

“The music has begun, and I must dress,” said Miss Friend-in-Need, noting the questioning glance between mother and daughter. “That music is a signal to-night. A few of us give a part of the Midsummer Night’s Dream this evening, in the parlor, and we are to costume ourselves as far as possible before supper.

“What fun we’ve had getting the affair up! You may not know that it has simply poured here for days and days, but we’ve laughed until we’ve cried at our rehearsals, and so have scarcely been troubled by rain.

“You’ll surely come to the first and last performance of this wonderful company, will you not?” and walking away, the lady looked over her shoulder for an answer. And having won a reply in the affirmative, the lady rapidly hurried to her room.

After supper, as Maud’s mother took her seat, to which she was shown by a young man acting as usher, she noticed the parlor had been lavishly trimmed with boughs of green. There was also a tiny wood adjoining the stage, made of small balsam trees.

“I suppose,” she remarked to her daughter, “they went out between the drops and gathered them.” And then both ladies interestedly noticed the guests, as one after the other, with an air of expectancy, entered.

Programmes were passed and eagerly scanned.

It was indeed a gala night. Had Maud and her mother known the various performers, it would have greatly added to their entertainment, but as it was, they could not help adding their applause to that of the others. Even though Maud was a stranger, the joyous shouts of laughter proved too contagious to be altogether resisted, and indeed before the performance was over, close contact with these merry people made Maud feel as though she was one of them, so quickly does one touch of nature make the whole world kin.

As the programme indicated the different characters, they were carefully read, and many ejaculations were overheard, such as: “Oh, that’s Isabel’s character,” and “Why, Carl Adams will be a sight, he’s such a swell, you know. How did such an exquisite ever consent to humble himself in this way?”

To Maud and her mother, however, all were strangers, with the one exception of the proprietor of the hotel, but they very soon learned the names of the people about them. Besides, as Maud’s mother very truly said, “Without it I am not positive that I could remember who the different ones are in the piece, as it is a long time since I have read the Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Therefore, while waiting for the first scene, they read:

THESEUS, Duke of Athens,
_Proprietor of the hotel_.

EGEUS, Father to Hermia,
_Mr. A——_.

LYSANDER, }
DEMETRIUS,} in love with Hermia,
_Mr. C—— and Mr. H——_.

PHILOSTRATE, Master of the revels to Theseus,
_Mr. T——_.

QUINCE, a carpenter,
_Master Carl Adams_.

SNUG, a joiner,
_Master John Jones_.

BOTTOM, a weaver,
_Mr. Sam S——_.

FLUTE, a bellows-mender,
_Mr. Ralph R——_.

SNOUT, a tinker,
_Master Diedrick Delk_.

STARVELING, a tailor,
_Mr. Percy P——_.

HIPPOLYTA, Queen of the Amazons, betrothed to Theseus,
_Miss Genevieve B——_.

HERMIA, daughter to Egeus, in love with Lysander,
_Mrs. Ralph R——_.

HELENA, in love with Demetrius,
_Mrs. Sam S——_.

OBERON, King of the fairies,
_Mr. James D——_.

TITANIA, Queen of the fairies,
_Miss Isabel M——_.

PUCK, or Robin Goodfellow,
_Master Alexander Marvin_.

PEASEBLOSSOM,}
COBWEB, } Fairies,
MOTH, }
MUSTARDSEED, }
_The Misses Wilson, Bruce, Sim, Conger._

Other fairies attending their King and Queen,
_Misses Kate W——, Fanny T——, Eva M——_.

Attendants on Theseus and Hippolyta,
_Masters Goodwin, Bartlett, Carrington and Scott._

As Maud’s mother inquired when in the seclusion of their own apartments, “Did you really like it so very much?”

Maud answered laughing, “More than I can express.”

The following morning it was a question, “What would be the proper costume for breakfast?”

From one of their windows they had a partial view of the lake, but from the other nothing but tall trees met their eyes. Pines were in abundance, but there was an occasional hemlock, spruce, birch and maple.

“It is summer. Would you think that this white organdy would do?” asked Maud, and the frock, apparently only a cloud of Valenciennes lace, was held towards her mother.

“Do? I am sure I don’t know what is considered correct for such a wilderness, but you might not be warm enough. I fancy it is cold outdoors.”

“I’ll tell you what I’ll wear,” said the young lady presently, for she had a wonderful conception of color values, and knew what would look best with her dark eyes, and also what would produce the most fetching effect, should she be able to induce her mother to walk among the trees after breakfast. “I am going to put on my crimson piqué, bodice and all,” for she had several waists that could be worn with the same skirt, and as her quick eyes looked over the guests at breakfast, she was not sorry the decision had been against the organdy.

“All night my dreams were of the entertainment,” said Maud, as, sitting opposite her mother, she tried to pour the cream into her coffee. “It is almost too thick to stir. Did you ever see such cream?” she said.

“I never saw thicker. And this trout is delicious. It would be singular indeed if I were won to this place. But, Maud, tell me about your dream, dear.”

“Oh, I dreamed of Titania and Oberon, Queen and King of the fairies, you know. I could see the airy things moving over the green. It was Midsummer-Night’s Dream truly, for I dreamed of the pretty piece, and isn’t this Midsummer?”

“Why, Maud! I fancy you slept well. Perhaps you’ll be surprised to learn that I too dreamed of our evening’s pleasure.”

“Surprised! Yes, indeed!” and Maud’s eyes sought her mother’s. “What part did you dream about?”

“I think it is the opening of the second act, when the fairy replies to Puck,

Over hill, over dale,
Thorough bush, thorough brier,
Over park, over pale,
Thorough flood, thorough fire,
I do wander everywhere.

You remember how it goes, don’t you?”

“Perfectly; and didn’t that fairy look lovely? I am sure I shall be glad to know her. But Puck I am not as sure about.”

“Could you pass me the rolls, Maud?”

“Certainly, take that one,” and Maud turned the plate so that her mother could have a temptingly brown roll.

“And now,” continued her mother, as she contentedly broke the roll open, “tell me more about your dream.”

“You know towards the close, Oberon and Titania entered with their train.”

“Do you mean where Oberon sings,

Though the house gives glimmering light,
By the dead and drowsy fire,
Every elf and fairy sprite,

And so on?”

“Yes, those are the very words. And didn’t Titania have a sweet voice? I hope she’ll sing often. I am sure everybody must enjoy listening to her. I thought this beautiful:

First rehearse your song by rote,
To each word a warbling note.
Hand in hand with fairy grace,
Will we sing and bless this place.”

As Maud said, “bless this place,” the lady who had welcomed Maud and her mother the evening before was walking past their table, and having overheard the words, she stopped.

“Just what I like to hear.” Then mischievously looking at Maud’s mother. “But I did not expect the woods to have won so much enthusiasm already, did you?”

“No, I did not,” and the mother’s lip unbent into a sunny smile. “But there is no telling what we may both say yet.”

“This fish breakfast has been delicious, and besides everybody looks rested and cheery.”

“That is just the point; no one can help being rested, because midnight-oil is unknown here and how can people help being cheery, when this bracing air is a tonic; And besides we have so many delightful sports. There are to be charades, and rollicking games, such as Twirl the Platter, and Going to Jerusalem, this evening, and to-day there are several things on hand. One is a driving and riding party. All the young people, with two chaperones, are going over to the next hotel to dinner. By the way, do you ride?”

And Maud, whose face was flushed with the memory of her many pleasant hours on horseback, answered, “I could ride almost forever.”

“Then you are the very young lady we want,” and turning to Maud’s mother, “I’m to be one of the chaperones. I’ll promise to bring her home safe. There is a fine saddle-horse waiting to be ridden, and——a fine young man, who is in despair because every one but himself has a riding companion. He is a New York lawyer. May I introduce him?” were her words, as the trio left the breakfast-room together.

The answer must have been “Yes,” because, an hour later, one dowager said to another, “Did you hear that new girl, that airish creature with the golden hair, and sleepy-looking dark eyes, who came just before supper last evening, has gone off horseback riding with the one we called ‘the dissatisfied young man?’ He seems to be perfectly satisfied now. I suppose neither of our daughters was good enough for him.”

THE FLOWER-TEST.

The postman rapped at my door, and presently the trim little maid brought me a big square letter on a tray. I knew that hand. Nobody but Penelope writes in that scraggly style, plain, too, as a pikestaff, and easy to read. “Darling Gertrude,” she began, “I am about to plead for a visit. It seems a little bit of forever since I saw you and I want you here in my country house where we’ll have time to enjoy one another, talk of the past and present tenses to our hearts’ content, and perhaps plan a happy future.

“Let me tell you whom you’ll meet: Mr. and Mrs. Burkhardt,—you remember that sweet little girl bride who succeeded so well in blinding us—at first; dear old General Bolton, and his youngest brother, who paints almost as well as he talks; pretty Elsie Sterling and my cousin Bob. You see I put them together, but so would you if you could look out of my window and see them now. Bob has just mounted Elsie on White Baron, and now as I write the words he’s up on Caper and off they go. Well—we’ll borrow White Baron and Caper later on, you and I, and perhaps as we canter along side by side we may feel ourselves back again,—back—how many years? Never mind, we’ll not count. The years have been happy to us both, I hope.

“But you’ll come—you must not say _no_, remember. Cordially your friend,

“Penelope T. Gerard.”

Indeed I would not say “No.” I would arrange and rearrange my summer plans to meet Penelope once more.

It was scarce three years since I last saw her. She was then a bride of but two months and I spent three days with her just as I was leaving for Germany. During the interval our letters were more or less frequent, and so in a way we each kept track of the other and felt as close friends as we had been since our childhood.

So it was with infinite pleasure I wrote an acceptance.

“The Maples” is an unpretending rambling sort of a house, with piazzas, and “corners,” and nooks where one would least expect them. There is no rhyme or reason to the architecture, and an architect would shake his head in sad consternation. However, if he were told that three generations of Gerards had idled their summers happily away within and without its walls, and that each owner had added his share to the original pile, perhaps the exact architect would turn his critical smile to one of content and count himself fortunate to be allowed to enter this abode of happiness.

It was a sunny day when I first drove up the long maple-lined driveway and there on the lawn, close to the entrance, was Penelope making tea and laughing one of her old merry laughs as the General stood before her. I suppose he was telling her one of his funny stories. I don’t know, for of course I only saw them a moment before the carriage stopped, and once more Penelope and I were together.

The General had known us both as girls, and soon we were talking over old faces and scenes, and it seemed as though we had never been parted. The rest of the party had gone for a long drive and would not be back until seven o’clock. So we three talked on and on.

“Oh, it does seem so good to be here, Pen,” I said, and added, “As I came up the driveway, the first thing I heard was your laugh. You know how mamma used to like to hear you laugh.”

“Yes, I remember how irrepressible I was. But, Trudy, you too would have laughed if you’d heard the General hang me.”

“Hang you?”

“Why, yes. Don’t you know the game?” Then seeing my bewilderment, she went on. “You must learn it. It’s fine for two people. Especially when one gets short of subjects to talk about.”

Here General Bolton threw back his head and laughed heartily. “Short of subjects to talk about! I guess Trudy would as soon believe the Atlantic had gone dry as to think your nimble tongue was ever still. No, indeed! On the contrary, Trudy, she was bound she would make me let out a secret, and I, old fool, would probably have fallen into her trap, only she warned me by—but never mind how she warned me, or even that will fail me next time. So I hung her. Yes, I caught her well.” Then with a chuckle. “Tell her how, Pen, you know best how, for you know you were _hung_, and well hung.” And again he laughed.

“That’s true. But try me again sometime, or rather, I’ll try you and we’ll see who does the _hanging_. No, not now, you need not look so eager.”