This week the Postmistress suggests two more games which the young people may try:
CATCHING THE MOUSE.
Nine players lay their hands one on the top of the other. The one whose hand is lowest draws it out and puts it at the top, saying, "One!" The next lowest draws out hers, puts it at the top, and cries, "Two!" And so on until "Nine!" is cried. This last player seizes one of the hands which lie beneath her own (or more if she can), crying, "I have caught the mouse!" and then the hand caught pays a forfeit.
But it is not easy to catch one. At the word "Nine!" all snatch away their hands as quickly as possible.
This game must be played very quickly to be funny.
EVEN OR ODD?
This game is the most ancient, I think, that we know. The children who played in the streets of Athens and in the Roman Forum in early ages knew and loved it, and little children find amusement in it still. It is played in this manner: One child hides in her hand a few beans, nuts, almonds, or even bits of paper, and asks her companion to guess if they are odd or even.
If the playfellow guesses odd, and on opening her hand the other displays an odd number, she forfeits the articles to the guesser, who hides them in her turn; but if the guess is odd, and the number even, the guesser pays a forfeit, and the first hider retains the beans, etc. The guess must be right to win.