The players divide themselves into ladies and gentlemen,
if the ladies predominate some must personate gentlemen,
and vice versa. The gentlemen then proceed to
choose lady partners. One of the players next
undertakes to question the couples. The fun consists
of the questions being put to the lady and the gentleman
answering for her. “Do you like your partner?”
the lady is asked, and the gentleman may reply, “Yes,
I adore him.” Whatever the reply the lady
is forbidden to deny it; if she does, or if she answers
for herself, she must pay a forfeit. But retaliation
comes, for when all the ladies have been questioned
the gentlemen’s turn arrives, and the ladies
answer for their partners. “What is your
favorite occupation?” the question may be, and
the lady may answer “Dressing dolls,” or
“Making mud pies,” or anything ridiculous
that occurs to her.
APPLE PARING
Each guest, receiving apple and knife, is requested
to peel apple without breaking; then swing paring
around head, and let it drop to floor. The letter
formed is initial of future mate’s name.
Or, you may hang your paring over door—the
first of opposite sex to pass under will be your mate.
THE FARMYARD
This game, if carried out properly, will cause great
amusement. One of the party announces that he
will whisper to each person the name of some animal,
which, at a given signal, must be imitated as loudly
as possible. Instead, however, of giving the
name of an animal to each, he whispers to all the
company, with the exception of one, to keep perfectly
silent. To this one he whispers that the animal
he is to imitate is the donkey.
After a short time, so that all may be in readiness,
the signal is given. Instead of all the party
making the sounds of various animals, nothing is heard
but a loud bray from the one unfortunate member of
the company.
MELTING LEAD
Each person melts some lead and pours it through a
wedding-ring or key into a dish of water. The
lead will cool in various shapes, supposed to be prophetic.
Any ingenious person will interpret the shapes, and
furnish much amusement for the listeners; thus, a bell-shaped
drop indicates a wedding within a year; a drop resembling
a torch or lamp signifies fame; a pen or ink-bottle,
that the future companion is to be an author; a horn
of plenty, wealth; a bag or trunk, travel; etc.
FORTUNE TELLING
The Fortune Teller must provide the person who is
to have his or her fortune told with a piece of paper
and a pencil and then proceed to say:
