Hot Boiled Beans and Bacon
This is a game for young children. Some small article is hidden in the room, while the little one who has to find it is sent outside. This finished, the players call out together: "Hot Boiled Beans and Bacon; it's hidden and can be taken." The little one enters and begins to hunt about for the hidden article. When she comes near to its hiding-place, the company tell her that she is getting "hot"; or, if she is not near it, she is told that she is "cold." That she is "very hot" or "very cold," will denote that she is very near of very far away from the object that is hidden; while if she is extremely near, she would be told that she was "burning." In this way the hidden object can be found, and all the children can be interested in the game by being allowed to call out whether the little one is "hot" or "cold."
"My Master Bids You Do as I Do."
For all those children who are fond of a little exercise, no better game than this can be chosen. When the chairs are placed in order round the room, the first player commences by saying: "My master bids you do as I do," at the same time working away with the right hand as if hammering at his knees. The second player then asks: "What does he bid me do?" in answer to which the first player says: "To work with one as I do." The second player, working in the same manner, must turn to his left-hand neighbor and carry on the same conversation, and so on until every one is working away with the right hand.
The second time of going round, the order is to work with two, then both hands must work; then with three, then both hands and one leg must work; then with four, when both hands and both legs must work; lastly with five, when both legs, both arms, and the head must be kept going. Should any of the players fail in keeping in constant motion, a forfeit may be claimed.
Red Cap and Blue Cap
The players seat themselves in a circle to represent tailors at work on a piece of cloth—a handkerchief or a duster will answer the purpose. A leader or foreman is chosen, and every one of the company is named in turn Red Cap, Blue Cap, Black Cap, Yellow Cap, Brown Cap, etc. The leader then takes the piece of cloth and pretends to examine the work which is supposed to have been done by the workmen. He is supposed to discover a bad stitch and asks: "Who did it, Blue Cap?" The latter immediately answers: "Not I, sir." "Who then, sir?" "Yellow Cap, sir." Yellow Cap must then answer at once in the same manner and name another workman. Any one who fails to answer to his name pays a forfeit. If carried on in a brisk manner, this game will cause endless amusement.