LAUGHABLE RHYMES.
This game may amuse any number, if those playing will each pleasantly do their part.
The company should be seated in a circle and the one in charge repeats from memory, reads from a book, or makes up a line of poetry. The individual to whom he addresses it, must add a line of the same rhyme and sense.
When the director has given his line, he runs three times around the outside of the circle, or he may spin a large tin platter. The second line of poetry must be added before he completes his third round of the circle, or before the platter has ceased to spin. Should the line fail to be given in time, the one to give it must pay a forfeit. The director then gives another line to another person, the game thus continuing until all have taken part, or the players desire a change.
The director may change any time with any one of the company. Poetry of merit is not expected.
Examples:
Director, (giving a line),
“Miss Beecher’s class came down the street.”
Answer.
“And every one looked perfectly sweet.”
Director,
“Ring, ring, rosy,”
Answer,
“I’m your Josy.”
Director,
“I wandered by the brook-side.”
Answer,
“I saw you on my morning ride.”
Another way of playing laughable rhymes, is to give each one of the company a piece of paper and a pencil. Each paper has a verse written on it of the same number of lines in length. But these lines are incomplete, as each line is minus one word. This word may be the last one of a line, or it may be any of the others. Five minutes is a fair time to allow for the completion of these rhymes. Then the papers should be collected and read aloud, the reader indicating the supplied words. All failing to complete their verses within the time allowed must pay a forfeit.
Examples:
“It fell of itself
The lazy ball
And you needn’t tell me
I let it fall
Perhaps it was tired
Like me and you
And wanted to rest
A minute or two.”
Supplied word in parentheses above
(you)
“What do think
(don’t)
(tell)
Don’t anybody
(oh)
Oh, no! no!
(told)
Somebody me
(else)
That some one said
(told)
That so and so them
(what)
You won’t tell I said?”
For older people, try and pique their memories; therefore some familiar poem should be selected, or some sonnet of Shakspeare.
“On either side the river lie
Long fields of barley and of rye
That clothe the world and meet the sky;
And thro’ the field the road runs by
To many tower’d Camelot;
And up and down the people go
Gazing where the lilies blow
Round an island there below,
The island of Shalott.”
(for)
“So oft have I invoked thee my Muse
(in)
And found such fair assistance my verse
(got)
As every alien pen hath my use
(their)
And under thee poesy disperse.
(on)
Thine eyes that taught the dumb high to sing,
(aloft)
And heavy ignorance to fly,
(the)
Have added feathers to learned’s wing
(double)
And given grace a majesty.
(which)
Yet be most proud of that I compile,
(born)
Whose influence is thine and of thee:
(mend)
In others’ works thou dost but the style,
(graces)
And arts with thy sweet gracèd be;
(and)
But thou art all my art dost advance
(my)
As high as learning rude ignorance.”