Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 May 1909 — FOR THE CHILDREN [ARTICLE]

FOR THE CHILDREN

The Vowels. This Is a game that exercises the mind. Some player begins by asking a question of the person next to him, which must be answered without using the vowel which the questioner prohibits. Counters in the. form of beaus or chips or bits of paper should be evenly distributed before the game begins, and if the forbidden vowel is used in answer the etdpclt must pay to the questioner three counters. The next in line then asks a question, and so u round the circle. There may be a box of candies for a prize, and the one who has the most counters at the end of the game is the winner. The questioning may be like this: Q. Have you been out of town this season? Answer without o. A. Yes, we were at tbe seaside. Q. Ho you love music? Answer without i. A. Yes; very much. Q. Do you play tennis? Answer without e. A. I do play it. Q. Do you like punch? Answer without u. A. The drink 1 do not like; the paper I do. Q. \Y ho told you about the wasp’s mest? Answer without o. A. Then 1 should tell a story; you told me. (And she pays a forfeit.) Character’Game. All the players sit around in a circle. The player who first thiuks of an interesting character in one of (Jriinm’s fairy tales, or in "Alice In Wonderlaud” or any other book that is quite familiar to all the players, sits ou the floor within the circle and begins to describe the character. The other children listen carefully, and the lirst one who thinks lie has guessed the character sits on the floor beside the other and continues to describe the character. If he has guessed rightly and is correct in his description, the first player allows him to go on describing, but if he is mistaken the first player shoos him out of the game. As soon as a child thinks he lias guessed the character he sits on the floor and tells what he knows of the character, and so it goes ou till all the children are sitting on the floor except those who have guessed wrong, and they are all driven out of the game.

Th* Old Man of tha Sky. The Iroquois point out to tlielr chll dren a cluster of stars which they call the “old wan.” White people do not always know why It Is. They tell this story of his reaching the sky, or the “great blue wigwam:” An old chief wSs tired of life and of his people. He took his bundle and walking stick and went to the highest bluff. There he sang bis death chant His people followed, but waited at the foot of the bluff. While tboy were watching they saw him slowly rise Into the air, his voice sounding fainter and fainter. The spirit of the four winds raised him to the “great •tar lodge.” He was given a place among the stars. His stooping form, his staff and bundle are now pointed out to Indian children as they watch the stars at night —lndian Craftsman. Th# Oame of Moeeie. A writing game for any number, ■ach writes a word on a slip of paper, and after the slips are mixed one of the players draws and reads them In *J»e way they come, and each parson most write them down In the same order. Then each one must write a little story or paragraph, using these words in that order.

The game may be made more difficult by requiring the story to be within a specified length or written within a certain time, or It may be made easier by allowing tbe players to Introduce the words In any order they please. Game of Magie Mirror. This Is a “catch” game. Two people must understand bow It Is played. One is to leave the room. While she Is gone the other has one who does not know how to play look into the mirror. Tbe absent one Is recalled and by looking into the mirror can tell who looked into It while she was out. Here Is the catch: The one who Is aiding her takes, as nearly as possible, particularly with the hands, the position of the one who looked In. Of conrse It is best to take one who has not a position like others in the room. Comparatively few ever catch on to this game. The Professor’s Money. Professor Cipher says he has 108 coins in his pocket and that they consist entirely of dimes and cents. What ts the total amount? You might think this is impossible to solve, but it Isn’t, The answer Is $4.32, and no other sum will fulfill the conditions. There are thirty-six dimes and seventy-two cents. Prove this and satisfy yourself. Riddle and Answer. How can you make a Maltese cross with less than twelve unbent and,unbroken matches? Answer—By striking only one match and dropping it on his back. If the first falls, try another. When Rosy Singe. Our little Rosy’s voice Is queer. But mother says she’d rather hear Our Rosy sing most any day Than lots of folks that get large pay. We’re real good friends, all six of us, But If we ever have a fuss Or get a little cross some day, Why, Rosy stops us right away. Before we’ve hardly said a thing She'll make a bow, and then she'll slug, “Birds In their little nests agree,” And she can't really sing, you see! Then we all laugh till we most cry. So mother always says, “Well, I Have been to concerts, but my choios Would be our Rosy’s useful voice.” —Youth’s Companion. . Charm Against Nightmare. No man would willingly Invoke the horrors of nightmare, and it may therefore be of interest to know that in East Anglia a way has been discovered of averting this dreaded terror. A correspondent in an old number of London Notes and Queries writes: “I recently observed a large stone, having a natural hole through It, suspended Inside n Suffolk farmer’s cow house. Upon Inquiry of a laborer I was Informed this was Intended as a preventive of nightmare In the cattle. My Informant, who evidently placed l great faith In Its efficacy, added that a! similar stone suspended In the bed-’ room or a knife of steel laid under the foot of the bed was of equal service, to the sleeper and that he had himself! frequently made use of this charm.”— London Chronicle.