THE ROSE-GAME.
I WANT to tell you, dear Pansies, of a lovely little game for the most beautiful month in the year—the month of roses. It is played out-of-doors, of course, in the long, beautiful sweet evening, when father and mother, and the older members of the family circle who do not care to participate actively, can sit on the porch, or by the open window, and see the pretty fun go on.
Make a chain of roses, just as one makes a daisy chain, or a chain of any other flowers. Use all kinds and colors of roses—being careful to distribute shades nicely. String on strong enough cord or ribbon to support the flowers.
Now choose your leader, either a boy or girl. Let all players assemble under a tree, or on the porch. The leader holding chain, comes up to them, and if addressing a girl, says, bowing low, "Pretty maid, wilt join us?"
(If to a boy)
"Pretty sir, wilt join us?"
When you have as many as can comfortably take hold of chain, move off to the smooth lawn. And here let me say, you better calculate before making your chain, how many children will take part in the game. Do not, I beg, crowd out any who would like to play. Always remember that a slight like this, or a disappointment, would make you feel very badly, and remembering this, make your games to bring pleasure to every one, and only productive of happy memories.
Now then, you are on the lawn. The leader gives the word. All take hold by both hands of rose-chain, and dance around, singing,
Ring around-a-rosy,
Jack must get a posy,
or,
Sue must get a posy,
or whatever the name of child who is first sent. As quick as lightning, Jack or Sue must leave chain and dancers, rush off into the garden, pick a flower, no matter what kind, and fly back, the others holding chain, dancing and singing,
Ring around-a-rosy,
Jack will bring a posy.
When the posy is brought, Jack throws it into the centre of ring, on the lawn. Do this until all players have brought a flower. If gone longer than they ought to be, they forfeit their places. When all have brought flowers, the ring dance around once more, singing,
Ring around-a-rosy,
Each has brought a posy.
Then the leader gives signal to stop. He picks up the heap of flowers, and, leading the way, he conducts all players to the porch, where with a low bow he presents to mother the posy heap, all singing,
Ring around-a-rosy,
Each brings you now a posy,
the leader throwing the rose chain around mamma's neck—which entre nous, I think she will always preserve in her best rose jar.
May the sweetest, longest June evening be made very happy in playing this Rose-Game.
Margaret Sidney.
