Games For All Occasions Part 26

Tied to the door-k.n.o.b he discovers:

"If it's not out in the stable.

Seek beneath the kitchen table."

Under the kitchen table he finds another note, which reads:

"If your quest remains uncertain, You will find it 'neath a curtain."

And here his quest is rewarded by finding the prize.

DOUGH TEST

Take water and meal and make dough. Write on slips of paper names of several of opposite s.e.x friends; roll papers into b.a.l.l.s of dough and drop them into water. First name to appear will be future husband or wife.

WATER EXPERIMENT

A laughable experiment consists in filling mouth with water and walking around house or block without swallowing or spilling a drop. First person of opposite s.e.x you meet is your fate. A clever hostess will send two unsuspecting lovers by different doors; they are sure to meet, and not unfrequently settle matters then and there.

THE DREAMER

If a maid wishes to know whom she is to marry, if a man of wealth, tradesman, or traveler, let her, on All-Hallow-e'en, take a walnut, hazelnut, and nutmeg; grate and mix them with b.u.t.ter and sugar into pills, and take when she goes to bed; and then, if her fortune be to marry a rich man, her sleep will be filled with gold dreams; if a tradesman, she will dream of odd noises and tumults; if a traveler, there will be thunder and lightning to disturb her.

MIRROR AND APPLE

Stand in front of mirror in dimly lighted room and eat an apple. If your lover reciprocates your love he will appear behind you and look over your right shoulder and ask for a piece of apple.

CELLAR STAIRS

Cellar-stairs' test is where girl boldly goes down stairs backward, holding a mirror, and trying to catch in it the features of him who is to be her mate.

AROUND THE WALNUT TREE

Of all Hallow-e'en spells and charms a.s.sociated with nuts, the following is one of the oldest: If a young man or woman goes at midnight on Hallow-e'en to a walnut tree and walks around three times, crying out each time, "Let him (her) that is to be my true love bring me some walnuts," future wife or husband will be seen in tree gathering nuts.

DUCKING FOR APPLES

Into one tub half filled with water are placed apples to the stems of which are tied bits of paper containing the names of the boys present at the party, while across the room is a similar tub in which the names of the girls are placed. With hands tied behind them the young folks endeavor to extricate the apples with their teeth, and it is alleged that the name appearing upon the slip fastened to the apple is the patronymic of the future helpmeet of the one securing the fruit from the receptacle.

COMBING HAIR BEFORE MIRROR

Stand alone before mirror, and by light of candle comb your hair; face of your future partner will appear in gla.s.s, peeping over your shoulder.

THE FOUR SAUCERS

Place four saucers on table in line. Into first put dirt; into second, water; into third, a ring; into fourth, a rag. Guests are blindfolded and led around table twice; then told to go alone and put fingers into saucer. If they put into dirt, it means divorce; into water, a trip across ocean; where ring is, to marry; where rag is, never to marry.

GAME OF FATE

Guests take part, seated in a circle. Three Fates are chosen, one of whom whispers to each person in turn name of his (her) future sweetheart. Second Fate follows, whispering to each where he (she) will next meet his (her) sweetheart; as, "You will meet on a load of hay,"

or, "at a picnic," or, "at church," or, "on the river," etc. The third Fate reveals the future; as, "You will marry him (her) next Christmas,"

or, "You will be separated many years by a quarrel, but will finally marry," or, "Neither of you will ever marry," etc. Each guest must remember what is said by the Fates; then each in turn repeats aloud what has been told him (her). For example, "My future sweetheart's name is Obednego; I shall meet him next Wednesday on the Moonlight Excursion, and we shall be married in a week."

WHERE DWELLS MY LOVER?

Steal out un.o.bserved at midnight; plucking a small lock of hair from your head, cast it to breeze. Whatever direction it is blown is believed to be location of future matrimonial partner.

"I pluck this lock of hair off my head To tell whence comes the one I shall wed.

Fly, silken hair, fly all the world around Until you reach the spot where my true love is found."

FEATHER TESTS

To foretell complexion of future mate, select three soft fluffy feathers. (If none is handy, ask for a pillow and rip open and take out feathers.) On bottom end of each feather fasten a small piece of paper; a drop of paste or mucilage will hold all three in place. Write "blonde"

on one paper; "brunette," on another, and "medium" on the third. Label papers before gluing them on feathers. Hold up feather by its top and send it flying with a puff of breath. Do same with the other two; the feather landing nearest you denotes complexion of your true love. To make test sure, try three times, not using too much force in blowing feathers, which should land on table, not on floor.

ROSE TEST

Take two roses with long stems. Name one for yourself and one for your lover. Go to your room without speaking to any one; kneel beside bed; twine stems of roses together, and repeat following lines, gazing intently on lover's rose:

"Twine, twine, and intertwine, Let my love be wholly thine.

If his heart be kind and true, Deeper grow his rose's hue."

If your swain is faithful, color of rose will grow darker.

DRY BREAD

Dreams mean much on Hallow-e'en, but certain ceremonies must be carefully followed in order to insure the spell. Before going to sleep for the night have some one bring a small piece of dry bread. No word can be spoken after this; silence must prevail. Eat bread slowly, at same time making a wish and thinking the pleasantest thing imaginable.

Then drop off to sleep, and your dreams will be sweet and peaceful, and your wish will come true, if the charm works.

THE LOAF CAKE

A loaf cake is often made, and in it are placed a ring and a key. The former signifies marriage, and the latter a journey, and the person who cuts the slice containing either must accept the inevitable.

TO TRY ONE'S LUCK