Jasper County Democrat, Volume 10, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 December 1907 — FOR THE CHILDREN [ARTICLE]

FOR THE CHILDREN

Gama of Garden Qata. This Is a pretty game for children. A ring is formed of all the players accept one, who stands in the middle. The others dance round her three times, and when they stop she begins to sing: Open wide the garden gate, the garden gate, the garden gate; , ' " Open wide the garden gate and let mt through. The circle then dances round he* again, singing; Get the key of the garden gate, the garden gate, the garden gate, Get the key of the garden gate, open and let yourself through. The girl inside the circle, pretending to sob, replies: I’ve lost the key of the garden gate, tha garden gate, the garden gate. I’ve lost the key of the garden gate and cannot let myself through. But the dancers dance round and round her, singing: Tou may stop all night within the gatow within the gate. You may stop all night within the gate unless you’ve 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 given way becoming captive in her stead.

. Seed Carrying Birds. It is almost beyond belief how bird* carry the seeds of plants from one country to another and even from one continent to another. Darwin say* that be found on the feet of ducks and geese killed in England the seeds of plants peculiar to central Africa. More specifically, he found in six grain* of dirt removed from the feet of a plover three different kinds of seeds. Cattle carry seeds on their feet too. It Is said that a man in New York by means of the microscope found tha seeds of six kinds of weeds and grasses in the mud that a Texas steer brought on its feet from that far distant state. All this may seem to have been accidental, but students of nature attribute it to a great and overruling design.

Mother Goose Questions. What aniiual was expelled from an institution of learning? Mary’s little lamb. Who slept when he should have attended to duty? Little Boy Blue. What novel filling was put in a pie? Four and twenty blackbirds. When did pussy get her feet wet? When Johnny Green threw her in the well. Who house cleaned the heavens? The old woman who swept the cobwebs out of the sky. Who was a distracted mother? The old woman who lived in a shoe.—Philadelphia Record.

The Adjective Conversant. One of our young correspondents asks the editor whether the adjective “conversant” may be properly followed by the preposition “in.” Yes, it may be in certain cases, but “with” is generally used. If we use the word in the sense of being intimately acquainted with or intimately associated with persons we should saw “conversant with,” but if we are speaking of some branch of study In the sense of being well informed we may say “conversant in,” as “deeply conversant in the Platonic philosophy,” which is a line from Dryden.—Chicago News.

A Clock Puzzle. Ask your friends to think of any number on the dial of a watch or clock. Then point to various numbers; and at each have him silently add one to the number selected until he arrives at twenty, which he will announce aloud, and your pointer will be on the numeral be selected. Solution.--Point promiscuously about the face of the watch until the eighth point, which must be on the twelve. Then pass regularly around toward the one, pointing at eleven, ten, nine, etc., until twenty is called, and you will be on the number selected.

Th* Hat Game., One of the players has two hats. One he puts on his own head, and the other he hands to one of the company. The person who has received the hat must then make every action contrary to the action of the person who handed him the hat For instance. If No. 1 sits down No. 2 must stand up; If No. 1 takes off his hat No. 2 must put his on. If No. 2 fails he must pay a forfeit The time of trial is limited to three minutes or less. After that No. 1 must take the hat and be tried in his turn. The Giant and the Dwarf. "I can’t" is a dwarf, a poor, pal*, puny imp; Hi* eyes are half blind, and his walk is a limp. "I can" is a giant—unbending he stands; There is strength in his arms and skill In his hands. "I can’t” is a sluggard, too lasy to work; From duty he shrinks, every task he will shirk. “I can” is a worker-he tills the broad fields And digs from the earth all the wealth which it yields. ”1 can’t" Is a coward, half fainting with >fright; At the first thought of peril h* slinks out of sight. “I can” 1* a hero, the first in the field; Though others may falter, he never will yield. How grandly and nobly he stands to hi* trust When roused at th* can of a cause that, is just. "I can’t" has no place. Act your parti , like a man, ■> And, whea duty calls answer promptly, “It ' cam.” -Philadelphia Ledger.