Chapter III: Part 3

A very little practice will enable children to make successful imitations of gay flowers. The number of these gifts depends upon the number of players, and there should be at least three times as many presents as persons. For each gift there should be one white and one red card, the latter being distributed equally among the players, and the former placed in a box on the table. The white cards are then distributed among the players equally. Each one writes one question on each, or some quotation which refers in some way to a plant, vegetable, tree, or flower, the name of which is at the same time written on the red card. The lines on the white card may be botanical, humorous, or sentimental, and, if possible, should end in rhyme with the name on the red card; and to prevent mistakes, a number is affixed to the white and red cards in case there should happen to be two rhyming, one only being the correct answer. The red cards are then shaken up in a hat, and each player takes out his proportion.

The white cards are then piled one on another, so that only the upper one is visible, and a player is selected to read them. All listen to the reading, each intent to see if he has the correct answer on his card, and if so, he is entitled to the present, which is selected at random by a little girl, who takes it from the pyramid, and holds it above her head during the reading, and carries it to the successful one when directed by the reader.

If any player gives the wrong answer, he is obliged to give up all his presents already taken to the one who holds the correct one, which is determined by the number in case of doubt.

No one, therefore, is allowed to open the gift until the reading is over.

If played at a club or sociable, it is well to have a ring or some valuable gift, the penalty of finding which is that its lucky owner shall be compelled to give the next party, and prepare the presents.

A few specimens are given of the rhymes, which are wholly impromptu, and of the simplest kind, such as can be written in a minute by young people:

Sweet and lovely, blushing cause
Of the cruelest of wars;
In spite of thorns, no flower that grows
Excels the fair and fragrant [rose].

In purity and peace I climb
From dankest depths of mud and slime,
To show that it is always silly
From whence it comes to judge a [lily].

My first is Hansom, next is old.
My whole is good when boiled or cold.
To solve this you must be a Babbage,
And your head must not be a [cabbage].

If preferred, in order to give variety, the botanical classification or description may be given, either in prose or verse, or any curious fact or habit of the plant.

* * * * *

A CAMEL-RACE.

A strange race took place not long ago in Australia. A troop of eighteen camels, laden with merchandise, arrived at Thargomindah. Some of the enterprising townsmen arranged for a race between five of the fleetest of the "ships of the desert." It cost a great deal of trouble to get an even start, but it was finally done. The camel ridden by a man named Bond made all the running, and won in "a canter." One of the "ships" is reported to have lain down at the back of the course, and "his steering gear getting out of order," he could not be piloted straight afterward.

End of Project Gutenberg's Harper's Young People, March 7, 1882, by Various