Entertainments for Home, Church and School | Page 4

As he does this, he says: "Hold fast to what I give you." He is
careful not to let the players see into whose hands he passed the button.
The circuit having been made, the leader says to the first player:
"Button, button, who has the button?" The one questioned must answer,
naming some one whom he thinks has it. So it continues until all have
had a turn at answering the same question. Then the leader says:
"Button, button, rise!" The button holder must do this.

FRENCH RHYMES
Each member of the company writes upon a slip of paper two words
that rhyme. These are collected by one player and read aloud, and as
they are read everybody writes them down upon new papers. Five or
ten minutes being allowed, each player must write a poem introducing
all the rhyming words in their original pairs. At the expiration of the
given time the lines are read aloud. Suppose the words given are "man
and than," "drops and copse," "went and intent," etc., these are easily
framed into something like this:
Once on a time a brooklet drops, With splash and clash, through a
shady copse; One day there chanced to pass a man, Who, deeming
water better than Cider, down by the brooklet went, To dip some up
was his intent.
Of course, the result is nonsense, but it is pleasant nonsense, and may
be kept up indefinitely, to the entertainment of the participants.
CONSEQUENCES
The players are each provided with a slip of paper and a pencil. Each
must write the name of some gentleman (who is known to the party),
turn down the end of the paper on which the name is written, and pass
the paper to the next neighbor. All must then write the name of some
lady (also known), then change the papers again and write "where they
met," "what he said," "what she said," "what the world said," and "the
consequences," always passing the papers on. When all are written,
each player must then read his paper.
Mr. Jones . . . . . . . . . And Miss Smith . . . . . . . . . Met on a
roof . . . . . . . . . He said, "I trust you are not afraid." She said, "Not
while you are here." World said, "It's a match." Consequences, "He
sailed for Africa next morning," etc.
ANT AND CRICKET
One of the company being appointed to represent the Cricket, seats

himself in the midst of the other players, who are the Ants, and writes
upon a piece of paper the name of a certain grain, whatever kind he
pleases. He then addresses the first Ant: "My dear neighbor, I am very
hungry, and I have come to you for aid. What will you give me!" "A
grain of rice, a kernel of corn, a worm," etc., replies the Ant, as he sees
fit. The Cricket asks each in turn, and if one of them announces as his
gift the word already written upon the paper, the Cricket declares
himself satisfied and changes places with the Ant.
A SPOONFUL OF FUN
This is a German game. One of the players goes into the middle of a
ring formed by the other players. He is blindfolded and has a large,
wooden spoon for a wand. The players join hands and dance about him.
There may be music, if it be so desired. When the signal is given to
stop, all must stand still. The blindfolded one touches one of the players
with his hand and tries to guess his identity. If he guesses correctly, that
player must take his place. Stooping, kneeling, or tiptoeing may be
resorted to, to conceal the identity of the players.
WHAT IS MY THOUGHT LIKE?
Though this is a very old game, it is well worth the playing. The leader
asks each player in turn, "What is my thought like?" The one
questioned gives any answer he desires. Each player is asked in turn
and a list is kept of the replies. Finally the leader tells what his thought
was, and asks each player in what way it resembles the thing he, or she,
likened it to.
BIOGRAPHY
Each player receives a pencil and paper and takes a seat as one of the
circle of players. The left-hand neighbor is the subject for his
right-hand neighbor's biographical sketch. Any absurd happening will
do, the more ridiculous the biography, the better. The wittiest one calls
for a prize.
NICKNAMES OF CITIES

Certain cities have been nick-named, as Chicago, the Windy City;
Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love, etc. The hostess requests her
guests to wear something suggestive of the nickname of the city
represented. Each guest writes on a