The "tamale" in this game is a knotted handkerchief. One player is chosen for the Hot Tamale man and stands in the center of the room while the others sit around in a circle.
The Hot Tamale man begins the game by saying, "hot tamales, hot tamales," at the same time throwing the hot tamale to some one in the circle who must throw it to another player in the circle and so on, tossing it from one to another without stopping.
The Hot Tamale man tries to catch it and if he succeeds, the one who last tossed it changes places with him and the game continues.
HUNT THE SLIPPER
The players seat themselves in a circle on the floor, having chosen one of their number to remain outside the circle. The children seated on the floor are supposed to be cobblers, and the one outside is the customer who has brought his shoe to be mended. He hands it to one of them, saying:—
"Cobbler, cobbler, mend my shoe;
Get it done by half-past two."
The cobblers pass the shoe round to each other as quickly as they can, taking care that the customer does not see which of them has it. When the customer comes to get it he is told that it is not ready. He pretends to get angry and says he will take it as it is. He must then try to find it, and the cobbler who has it must try to pass it on to his neighbor without its being seen by the customer. The person upon whom the shoe is found must become the customer, whilst the customer takes his place in the circle on the floor.
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 or very far away from the object that is hidden, whilst 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."