Tell the person to point out on a wall what he supposes to be the height of an ordinary hat. If after measuring with a hat, he has (as is rarely the case,) guessed right, he wins his forfeit; but if not, he or she must wear the hat and bow or curtsy to every one in the room.
Yawn till you make several others yawn. (It is well to give this forfeit to one of the male sex with a large mouth. A large circle of people may be made to yawn by simply opening and closing the fingers slowly.)
Two can redeem their forfeits in this way. They must stand in separate corners of the room, each holding a lighted candle; one begins and walks toward the other, with her handkerchief to her eyes, saying in a most dismal tone, “The King of Morocco is dead! is dead!” The other in passing by her, in the same attitude, sobs out, “Sad news! sad news!” Again, in the same way, both exclaim, “Alas! alas!” All must be said without laughing. The above penalty is often used as a game.
Place a candle on a table or piano. Then blindfold the person and place him just three paces from it, and directly in front of the light. Then he must whirl around three times, walk forward, and blow out the candle. This is amusing. A room full of persons may try it unsuccessfully. Being blinded, and then whirling around, bewilders one, and he will very likely walk in an opposite direction, and perhaps blow in some one’s face, feeling sure he is right.
A number of children may redeem their forfeits together, in this way:
This is the way we wash our clothes,
Wash our clothes,
So early Monday morning;
This is the way we wash our clothes,
So early Monday morning.
[While singing this they must pretend to wash.]
This is the way we rinse our clothes,