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at him. V “Shall I take you with me?" he asked politely. “Oh. please do!” cried the mince pie. Thereupon the pig swallowed mm and trotted ox to lead the procession Whichwasweitingintheyard. “Letusgototheoldowlintho moorsam'the turkey. “Heaven whomdwmteunawhichutho mtozm" '1‘ was Christxzias eve. Everybody had gone to sleep. stockings had been hung up. and the house was quite still when all at once strange sounds were heard from the And. sure enough. they heard the gobble-gobble of the turkey coming tram the yard. Why the Dinner Shall I do?”- HJS cries at- HAnIun tracted the 3" m 2mm mm tenflon of. the pig, who came in the pantry and looked “Oh. dear! Oh. dear!“ some one was sobbing. “Oh. dear! Oh. dear! What aha!) I do?" “It's the mince pie.” growled the cranberries. “He's got a nightmare 3‘Keep quiet.” growled the pumpkin angrily. “You have wakened the tar- “Listen, my vegetables.” said the turkey. “It was only yesterday the children came to my coop and began poking me with sticks. ‘I am going to have his leg.’ said one. 'And I his wing.’ said another. ‘And I his breast: said a third. Now let us free the pig and all run away." “Why. to Turkey. of course." said a sweet potato. The pumpkin, sweet potatoes. lettuce, pickles, cabbage and cranberries jump- ed down from their shelves. Only the mince pie was left behind, and he could not move. for he had been al- ready chopped up and cooked. pond the cranberries. No none had the cranberries. laid “I should like to know where We are going,” said a sour pickle. “Then we must lose no tlme,” the tur- key said. “Spring from your shelves and follow me." Just then the pig began to grunt out- side. The tur- him out. ’ r _ For Christmas Was Not Found Jeremie Barrette of Montreal was a proud great-great-grandmother the other day, when at the age of 105 years, she held in her arms a one- day-old child, which was christened at the Church of the Immaculate Con- tion. ive years ago she held in her arm: the youngest of a famil of great- grandsons. when he was c ristened at a church in Point St. Charles. The eldest of that family has now been married over a year, and only a few days ago a representative of the fifth' ”aeration ‘wag‘born. ‘ a w”..- . ....H~ .â€" .-.... a wild. lonely forest. There the tur- key became king of wild turkeys. and he now roam: the woods. followed everywhere by m: talthrul pig. “0h. gollyl" cried the negro. “I didn't no nothin'." Next moment he was flying for his life. leaving the bag in which were the pig and the turkey. Crawling out of the bag. they start- ed off and ran all night. hardly stop- ping to take breath. until when morn- lng dawned they found themselves in m mmme’tmm had eaten the sweet potatow and the young lettuce. When they reached the wood where the owl lived only the pumpkin and the cabbage head were left. except the pickles, who were so sour that nobody would eat them. that yourself?” “No; it is myself." said the owl. During this talk the pig had swal- lowed the pumpkin. As for the cab- bage head. it had burst with rage at the rudeness or the owl. All at once steps were heard. and the pig and turkey started back in tear as they saw something black com- ing through the darkness. It was a colored man. head. All hope was at an end when suddenly “Hoot. hoot!” called the owl. “Um-um!" muttered the colored man. “Does I smell chicken 1” The turkey. with a wild gobble. started to run. but the colored man grabbed him and put him in a bag He Ital-ted after the pig. The pig tried to escape. but he had eaten so much that he could not run. and, be sides, the mince pie had given him in. digestion. He felt himself seized by the tail. and the blood rushed to his “I DIDN’T D0 NOTHIN'." CRIED THE NEGRO. “Hoot, hoot!" called the owl tram a “Oh, Mr. Owl," said the turkey. Proud Old LadY. eye all the time. Don’t remove your eyes an instant from my face. but do Just as I do slowlyâ€"see (picking up the blackened plate and handing it to the victim so that the black is toward the spectators). Hold it so (taking up the other plate and holding it with the concave side toward himself). Now this way (rubbing his finger round and round the back of the clean plate and the one who is mesmerized drawing his round the blackened one uncon- scious of its condition). now so (draw- ing the finger down the right cheek). Never mind how they laugh. You must not look down. Steady. Now again” (rubbing the finger as before and drawing it across the other cheek). m 991%me modem Another mirth provoking trick for children of all ages and one that will be heartily appreciated by adults is called mesmerism. Blacken the cen- ter of the under side of a small plate by holding it over the flame of a can- dle, being careful not to soil the edge or top. Put this plate upon another and place them in front of you. The person to be mesmerized must be seated so that by no possibility can he see his reflection in the glass, but must be in full view of the audience. A variation of this idea may be even more amusing because it affords opportunity for misleading the guess- ers. instead of an opening the sheet is drawn up a few inches from the floor in order to show the feet or those who stand behind it. Boys according- ly put on skirts. and girls slip their hands into their fathers’ shoes. get- ting down on all fours in order to de- ceive. The mesmedst says impressively: “You must look me steadily in the In front must guess whose eyes are staring at them. Two capital games are played in this manner. For one an opening about six inches wide should be cut in the sheet at a convenient height for dif- ferent persons to stand and show only their eyes. No light should be back of the sheet. and the company seated SHEET should always be pro- vided for children’s Christ- mas games. Arranged as a screen it serves many pur- poses besides shadow pictures and lantern shows. NAMES CEfiRUSTMAS Tricks With Sheets to Divert the Christmas Company 88! Christmas music. Some chairs are placed down the center of the room back to back, just one less in number than the players. Suppose there are twelve children to play. You place eleven chairs, ten hack to back. one extra. Then the twelve children dance hand in hand around the chairs in time to the music. Suddenlyâ€"”mediu- in the middle of e barâ€"elm Just when you do not expect itâ€"the player um her hands oi! the phno. Everybody must then attempt to get a neat. and. as there ere only eleven. one perlon will. or course. beleftout. Sheerheiethen «mtofthenmeendmusteltdown and watch it. moans-mum” A carol contest aflords exercise and fun. A young lady is requested to take her place at the piano and Play In the scrimmage that follows the Sprig may be snatched a dozen times. That one is victor who succeeds ln placing it on the pole. Should it be the finder, then his triumph will have been so much the greater. for he will have had the most Mcmues to over- come in doing this. When the number is given to each player the first name of the finder is whispered also. As soon as the last player receives the sprig he passes it to the finder. _who at once runs for the goal with it. All follow and give chase except the last player. who is not permitted to run. same time he gives his neighbor No. 2. which means that this one is the second person to hold it. The latter in turn as carefully passes it on and num- bers this player a unit higher. 80 the game goes on until the last of the players has held the sprig. This one knows that he is the last. for the rea- son that before the game began a count was taken, and each participant knows just how many persons are tak- ing part. game. Some one who is not playing hides the sprig. and all search for it. When found it has to be carried to a fancifully trimmed pole and tied there. This is no easy matter. for the sprig must first go through the hands of ev- ery player. and it is every one's aim to catch it before it reaches the pole. No attempt to do this can be made. however. until the sprig has returned to the hands or the finder and that player is running for the goal. In the midst of the general search. when the finder has found the sprig. he approaches his nearest neighbor and quietly hands it to him At the “Snlggle the sprig" means simply snare or catch the sprig. Any bit of green plant wlll do for the latter. and any number or children can play the Tfié lac-e Ef'Tné ofi'mesmcrlzca ~[S'r'e- cents a most comical appearance and the audience is convulsed with laugh- A CAROL CONTEST. large. then two platters are laid. one at each end of the table. or there may be two small tables. with a platter on each. Next the raisins are laid over each platter. elngly and ,at uhort dll- tancee apex-t. A small quantity of handy or :11: I: then poured over each platter and mud. Out to all the ma .3. "£0.31“.th 89- but wmmmn An Old Game That Always Comm-ado Applause. Snapdragon is a diversion of Christ- mas time in England. The requisites are one or two large platters such as roasts are served on. some large. tat raisins. a little brandy or gin. a match and a darkened room. The platters are arranged thus: If there In but one and the party is or moderate num- ber it is laid in the center of a dining table: it the number 0: players is be. If they can guess it in three min- utes a point is won by their side. and the others withdraw. After three minutes the pantomime canq‘be kept up it' the opposition is determined to discover the right word. but a success point no longer represents a point won. As soon as the word is guessed play- ers turn about. and those who have guessed become actors. Several rounds are played. and the greatest number of points won by either side wins the game. All those who belong to the winning side might draw for a prize if it is desired to make an award. awhile. Chairs are arranged in two rows. and the children sit facing each other. One youngster begins with some ad- Venture. as “Holly and ivy went out to a party." The child sitting oppo- site must complete the rhyme with another coupletâ€"tor instance. “Holly and Ivy came back hale and hearty.” Then there is the fun provoking cou- teet called dramatic adjectives. Here the company is divided up into two bands, one or which retires. while the other remains in the parlor and de- cides upon some adjective to be acted out in gesture language-tor example. gay or doletul or vivacious. When the word has been decided upon the absent members must be summoned. and they are called upon to guess from the pantomime of the others what the adjective decided upon may A Rhymed Game For the Older Boys and Girls. Boys and girls enjoy a rhymed pas- tlme called try and holly. Suggest the plan of It to them and they will amuse themselves with the adven The game goes on, losing :1 (humor and a chair each time. till two dam‘ers and one chair only are left. Then lhl‘ two dance wildly around the chair and when the music suddenly stop: one alts down. and the other is "out.~ like the rest. lnE ’E'ft. T179 11am me new. dance as soon as the music begins The moment it stops they try to got a chair each, and one is. of course. again left out. Then another chair is taken away and the dance resumed. HURRAH FOR SNAPDRAGON! of the two heroines for quite IVY AND HOLLY. amount that will hop] roomful gtwhmrunm It would not hue seemed Christmas to the old tuhiouol child without a game of forfeits. The cleverest boy or girl in the room was generally made the forfeit prescribet. He or she would tell etch player to do some impossible stunt; then. it it could not be performed. punishment was indicted in the m or not-felts. Some of then were rude and rough. ucompellingthevictlmtoeutucake otooapor hold hhmmthe light» ed candle wick. Other- wen Just as funny. muting u mm boy the the I!!! he like. but and e girl with no hunting Holly Leives All Over me House. For a pretty Christmas search game. which young children as well as the older boys and girls enjoy. out several hundred little holly leaves from green tinted paper and hide them all round the house. At a given signal the young people scampor or! in search or these symbols or the season. The youngster finding the greatest number or them in the ten minutes wowed tor the search should receive Iona Inexpensive prize decorated with 3 design representing holly. Each chlld is allowed three trials. The maker of the bag can put in it tiny books. plncushlons or any little toy with the sugar plums. An older person should always superlntend in order that everything may go smooth- Each child In blindfolded in turn and .the stick put into the child's hand. She is led within reach of the bag and told to strike It. If she succeeds in her um and tears a hole in it the sugar plums are scattered on the floor. and the little ones scramble for them. but it is by no means easy to strike a sus- pended object blindfolded. Generally many attempts are made unsuccessful- ly. Scrambling For These Dnintiu n Jolly Romp. Make a large bag of thin white pa- per. till it with sugar plums and tie a string around the top to keep it fast. Then suspend it from the ceiling or from a large door frame and provide a long. light stick. th’é pIER'érs‘. EvEryhéd’y shrvef‘s’ and feels uncanny, and the fun begins. Each player “snaps" at a raisin on the dish, and. hit or miss. the blue flame clings to the fingers in writhing. forked tongues. thus providing the “dragon." The raisins are all finally secured. the flames die out. the lights are turned on. and the company is ready for other amusements unless. as is often the case. there is a can to re- peat the fuu just ended. A SUGAR PLUM SHOWER. FUN WITH FORFEITS. A SEARCH GAME: The person whom the leader has ad- dressed turns to the neighlmr on her right and sun, “Santa's sleigh has been at my house." and this third par- ” as“. “What has it brought?" “Two sleighbells." he or she replies. making the gesture of ringing With both hands. while every one follows this example. The statement “Santa's sleigh has been at my house" and the question “What has It brought?" are continued from one player to another, the mid Player announcing that Santa has brought three bells moving her right foot as well as her hands. At {our all move both hands and both feet A! five bells they move both hands. both feet and right eyelid. At slx bells we move both hands. both feet and both ehalide. At seven bells they move both hands. both feet. both eyetids and the mouth. At eight bolls they mile both hands. both feet, lmth eyelids. 730 month and mad. them [0 smve w um u” n manner twice about the circle be”: the central player shall have 9th h! ball to each point and got it NC]. again. If he fails the point 1111:9613” players chum positions. and I: changed. be In- The number of players may at” Mbymtadxpointedor a Wmmmd ottho 1m 9:119, , k; man. i l Star 8.00 mm H. rtnunucu. All this is done as quickly as PO-‘Sl' Ole. for in the meantime the p13???” on the circle are rolling the ball 0“ the floor about the circle from one '0 another. The object or the play 18'0” them to strive to roll the ball in mi! manner twice about the clrcle be the centnl player shall have sent ” bull to each point and so! 1:33: A 1"“) CI ‘llcfi Uta lllu‘u -â€" of the star. Others stand one a: 93.011 It" point and one on the circle at mo middle distance between 0:10!) P013" The player in the center throw: 3:: 0 . ball to a player at one min: (1 star. It is immediately returned an thrown to the player at the POW 8‘ the right or the first. So the 1:811” continues until the central player W tom the ball to every point 01 ‘2” star and had It returned. _ Md. Star ball requires that a 6371‘“! "‘ dark cambrlc be stretched on the “‘0" On this a five pointed star is DIP-”M out and a circle that touches its Wm?“ A player takes his place in the 099‘“ of the star. Others stand one at 93"“ star point and one on the circle at 1” middle distance betwcf‘n 03“” pomt' kA The player in the center hall to a player at one r" star. It is immediately re‘ thrown to the player at t! the right or the first. So A Yuletide Game That Will Picase 2‘" Boys. . The Christmas star may be W‘d 13 the playing of several holxdx.“ #3“ Star ball is one of these. A J After this the one who keep time is fumed to my "A sleighbell." the leader reyies and pretends to ring a bell with his (r her right hand. every one in the company Imitadng her. The leader says to the m-igh‘oor on her right. “Santa's Sltfgh has been at my house." The one to whom she “Whit has it brought?" Ringing the Sleighbolls For Good San- ta Claus. Santa’s sleighbell party is a funny holiday game. It may be flayed as follows: STAR BALL. HERE’S FUN. says this asks. a forfe Is to