This game might be followed by a number of “good-luck stories,” each Junior telling the best piece of good luck, as he considers it, that ever happened to him.
A hunt for four-leaf clovers, of which there may be a hundred or more made of green paper and hidden about the rooms, will be enjoyed. The one who finds the most may be rewarded either by some trifle like a pin-tray or by a stick-pin in the form of a four-leaf clover or horseshoe; or, if he is one of the younger Juniors, by a copy of that charming little book for children, by Mrs. Annie Rix Militz, “The Wonderful Wishers of Wishing-Well.”
Again the Juniors may be seated in their horseshoe row, and play the game of “wishes and results,” which is quite different from the other wishing game. Each is given a slip of paper and a pencil, and is asked to write his greatest wish. These slips are then collected and others passed, on which each player answers the question, “What do you think would happen if you should have your wish?” These “results” are collected as were the wishes, and after thoroughly mixing the slips, but keeping the two sets separate, each set is numbered from one up, and the wishes and results are then read in pairs, according to number; the results, as might be expected, often proving amusingly inappropriate to the wishes.
Refreshments may be apples roasted and corn popped by the Juniors themselves, to which may be added nuts, lemonade, and cookies in the shape of horseshoes and four-leaf clovers. Just before the close, the good-luck fairy or some other “grown-up” should give a short talk clearly explaining the truth that every person really controls his own “luck,” and saying that a magical recipe will be given to each Junior on starting for home, which, if followed, will keep him always fortunate. This “recipe,” typewritten and handed to each in an addressed envelope labeled “Good-Luck Recipe,” is the definition of “luck” given by Max O’Rell, as follows:
“Luck means rising at six o’clock in the morning, living on a dollar a day if you earn two, minding your own business, and not meddling with other people’s. Luck means the appointments you have never failed to keep, the trains you have never failed to catch. Luck means trusting in God and your own resources.”
Making Valentines.
If some of the Juniors wish to surprise their friends, or the inmates of their pet charitable institutions, with kind thoughts in the form of valentines, those made by themselves are sure to be most acceptable; and then, too, it is such fun to make them!
The materials needed are white and colored paper, including gilt and silver paper, also paste and scissors. One has first to cut the colored paper into squares, which may then be folded into quarters and the quarters into triangles; then cut these into all kinds of intricate tracery, and they will be pretty when unfolded, for the repetition gives beauty to the most awkward cutting. Next paste them on a background of white, and decorate them with mottoes or with tiny doves and hearts, in gold.
One little girl even attempted to cut out a Cupid for a very special valentine, to be given to her grandma; and, although the Cupid was a little lop-sided, it was still quite imposing. Another wee girl, the little sister of one of the Juniors, made good use of her kindergarten skill by sewing a valentine! Her sister prepared it for her by cutting a heart about three inches across, from a piece of folded paper; using this as a pattern, she marked around it on a piece of cardboard, made a small oblong in the centre, for a picture-frame, and pricked the outline for the five-year-old to sew with blue silk. This was accomplished with much delight, and with a stamp picture of the giver pasted in the centre of the oblong was as pretty a valentine as need be.