The Game
is held in the house the room is cleared of as much furniture as possible. The prettily decorated May-pole stands in the middle of the floor, and the children join hands and dance around it to the accompaniment of the piano or an appropriate song sung by all. Beginning with slow time, the music grows faster; faster and faster the wheel of children spins around the pole until some hand slips from the one clasping it and the wheel parts. When this happens the circle opens at the break and the children, still keeping their places, back up against the wall.
To the first four children at the right end of the line the four paper balls are given, one to each. The first child, or Number One, takes three steps forward and, aiming at the bell in one of the hoops, throws the ball with the purpose of sending it through the hoop and at the same time striking the bell hard enough to make it ring. If successful, Number One is given a favor, to be pinned to the front of the coat or dress, as the case may be, the color of the ribbon attached to the favor being in accordance with the color of the hoop through which the ball passed. As it is more difficult to send the ball through the hoops in the second row, the white-ribboned favors confer the most honor.
As soon as Number One has played he or she gives the ball to Number Five and returns to his or her place; then Number Two takes a turn, giving his ball afterward to Number Six, and so on down the line, thus always keeping the children about to play supplied with balls.
The game goes on until the players are tired or the favors give out, and the object of the players is to win as many favors as possible.
CHAPTER XXII
HALLOWE'EN REVELS
