My Book of Indoor Games | Page 8

the gate, within the gate, within
the gate, You may stop all night within the gate, unless you have
strength to break through."
The captive then rushes to the weakest part of the ring, and tries to
break through by throwing her whole weight upon the clasped hands of
the children, and generally contrives to break through, the one whose

hand gives way being made captive in her stead.
* * * * *

CHARADES
A back drawing-room with folding doors makes a very nice theater for
acting charades. Almost anything may be used for dressing up--shawls,
anti-macassars, table-cloths, handkerchiefs, cast-off dresses, or a
dressing-gown. The latter is a very useful garment in representing an
old gentleman, while tow or white fire shavings make excellent wigs.
The great thing in a charade is to try and puzzle your audience as much
as you can. You must choose a word of two or more syllables, such as
"Bagpipe." First you must act the word "Bag," and be sure that the
word is mentioned, though you must be careful to bring it in in such a
way that the audience shall not guess it is the word you are acting.
Next comes the word "Pipe," and this must be brought in in the same
manner. When you have acted the two syllables, you must act the
whole: "Bagpipe."
Before beginning the charade, you should arrange who is to bring in the
charade word or syllable. You must also settle what you are going to
say, or at least, what the act is to be about. Let every scene be well
thought out and be as short as possible. You must be as quick as ever
you can between the acts, for all the fun will be spoiled if you keep
your audience waiting. If you have no curtain or screen, the actors must
simply walk off the stage at the end of the scenes.
To act charades well, one requires a little practice and plenty of good
temper, for, of course, only one or two can take principal parts, and
therefore some of the children must be content to take the smaller ones.
It is a good plan to take it in turns to play the best parts, and if the elder
children are kind and thoughtful, they will try to make some easy little
parts, so that their younger brothers and sisters may also join in the fun.
Here we give you a very simple charade, the words of which you may

learn, and then act, after which you will very likely be able to make up
charades for yourselves.
* * * * *
THE "BAND-BOX" CHARADE
SCENE 1: A STREET
This can be made by placing a row of chairs with open backs near the
wall facing the audience; a child is stationed behind each chair, and,
looking through the open back, pretends to be looking out of a window.
BAND
First Child behind chair.--Oh! dear, how dull our street always is. I
declare nothing nice ever comes this way.
Second Child.--No, I quite agree with you. Why, I haven't seen a
"Punch and Judy" for months. I wish my mother would go and live in
another street.
Third Child.--Never mind, let us go out and have a game.
(Enter five or six children--or a lesser number, if more
convenient--carrying toy musical instruments.)
First Child.--Hurrah! Here comes a German band. Come along,
children; let's go and listen to it.
(The band groups itself at the end of the street, and the children stand
round. After tuning up, the band begins to play.)
Second Child.--Now, Mary Jane, we can dance. I'll dance with you.
Third Child.--No, I want to dance with Mary Jane.
First Child.--I don't want to dance at all.

Second Child.--You must.
Third Child.--Yes, you must.
(Band ceases playing and one of the bandsmen comes round for
money.)
First Child.--I haven't any money.
Second Child.--But we haven't begun to dance yet.
Bandsman.--You shouldn't have been so long arguing then. Surely
you'll give the band a nickel, after all the pretty music it has played?
First Child.--I won't.
Second Child.--I won't.
Third Child.--And I won't.
Bandsman.--Well, you are mean. Come along. (Beckoning to the rest of
the band.) We'll go, and it will be a long time before we come down
this street again.
(Curtain falls.)
BOX
SCENE 2: A ROOM
Tommy (hopping about the room, waving a letter in his hand.)--Hurrah!
hurrah! Uncle Dick is coming. Hurrah! hurrah!
(Enter Tommy's brother and sister and papa and mamma.)
Papa.--What's the matter, Tommy?
Tommy.--Uncle Dick has written to say he is coming to spend
Christmas with us, and he is bringing me a Christmas box.

Mamma.--How kind of him! But be sure you are careful not to offend
him, Tommy. He is rather