Fig. 58.—The lava from Mt. Pelee.
“The first charm is
A Piece of Lava
brought from Mt. Pelee in a witch’s pocket ([Fig. 58]). If you will all kindly slip both of your hands through openings directly opposite you in the witch screen ([Fig. 59]), you may have the pleasure of passing the lava from one to another. Receiving and giving the lava according to rule means a successful year, but woe to the one who drops it, for to him will come disappointment.”
Fig. 59.—Slip your hands through openings in the witch screen.
After you have made your little speech, sit down and, hidden by the screen, take from a tray at your side a hot potato ([Fig. 58]), which has been in the oven only long enough to become thoroughly heated; place it in the hand at the head of the line with the words, “I give you the charmed lava; pass it on.” Though the girls and boys may not see what they have, they can assuredly feel it, and there comes in the fun, for each in turn will be sorely tempted to drop the hot potato and yet not dare to do so, and no hint being given, the next neighbor will in turn be equally startled. When the lava reaches the last player, some one back of the screen at that end must receive the precious object and store it away on a tray.