The first part of the time should be taken up in guessing the months, the company gathering before the open fire in a circle. As fast as one month is decided upon, the one who impersonates it rises, makes his or her bow to the company, and recites at least four original lines pertaining to that month. The more ridiculous or witty they are, the better they will be appreciated.
After this comes the supper, which may be as elaborate or as simple as desired, and then a promiscuous mixing of the months will cause some merriment.
Just as the clock is striking twelve, there is a knock at the door. Upon opening it, there is revealed a young man dressed as a baby, in a long white dress tied about with a sash on which is printed January 1, 19—. If properly planned, the appearance of this New Year baby will cause shouts of merriment.
Hand shakings and New Year's greetings follow, and the party is over.
NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS
This game is played by providing each guest a paper and pencil, and having ten letters of the alphabet read to the company. These are to be copied, the guests are told to write a New Year's resolution of ten words, each beginning with one of the letters used, in the order in which they are given out. These importuned resolutions, when read, will afford much amusement.
NEW YEAR'S SOCIABLE
As the guests come in, each one is requested to sign his name in a note-book, and to write underneath it a New Year's resolution. An entire page should be allowed for each one, so that no one may know what his neighbor has written. Each guest should be given a card inscribed with an appropriate quotation, such as "Time and tide wait for no man." These cards are numbered. These are passed around among the company, with the explanation that each guest is to amuse the company for the length of time it takes for the sand to run in a minute glass from one end to the other (have a minute glass in room), using for the purpose of entertainment some thought suggested by the quotation on his card. One can recite a poem, another tell a story, another sing a song, and so on until every one has done his share for the amusement of the others, following in order according to the numbers on the cards. After each one has done his part the hostess announces that she will now do hers and proceeds to read each resolution that has been written in the book. The names of the writers being given, it will cause much merriment. Nut shells set sailing two by two in a basin of water may be named, one for a man, the other for a girl. If they keep together, it is an indication that the pair will be married before the year dies, but if they separate, the fate of the twain is sealed for one year.
NINETEENTH CENTURY GAME
In this game of guess the contestants are told that each question can be replied to with the name of a celebrity who has lived in, or whose life has extended into, the nineteenth century. Each guest is given a little tablet with his name written on every one of the pages. Two minutes are allowed to each question. The questioner sits with a big bowl before her, into which, when she calls time, each player drops a slip upon which he has written his answer. This is the list that the questioner reads, omitting, of course, the answers: