Polly learned to scold because Auntie scolded her, did she? Some little children learn cross words in the same way.
CAPPING VERSES.
Now that the evenings are growing long, some of you may like to hear of a pleasant way of passing them. In capping verses, every one at the table around which the players sit is supplied with a sheet of paper and a pencil, and at the top of the paper is written by each player a line of poetry, either original or from memory. The paper must then be folded down so as to conceal what has been written, and passed on to the right; at the same time the neighbor to whom it is passed must be told what is the last word written in the concealed line. Every one must then write under the folded paper a line to rhyme with the line above, being ignorant, of course, of what it is. Thus the game is carried on until the papers have gone once or twice around the circle, when they may be opened and read aloud.
DUMB CRAMBO
is another amusing game. After dividing the company into two equal parts, one half leave the room. In their absence the remainder fix upon a verb to be guessed by those who have gone out when they return. As soon as the word is chosen, those outside are told with what word it rhymes. They then consult together, and silently act the word they think may be the right one. Supposing the verb thought of should have rhymed with "sell," the others might come in and begin cutting down imaginary trees with imaginary hatchets, but not uttering a single syllable. If "fell" were the right word, the spectators would clap their hands, on seeing what the actors were doing, as a sign that they were right in their guess. But if "tell," or any other word, were chosen, they would either hiss or solemnly shake their heads. While this play is going on every one must be silent. Whoever speaks must pay a forfeit.
Terre Haute, Indiana.
Brother Charley takes Young People, and we like it very much. Even mamma and papa like to read it. I like the letters. I have no pets, as we live near the school-house, and the bad boys either steal or kill them. I have eight dolls. The largest one is thirty-six inches long. Brother and I go to the Baptist Sunday-school, and last Easter the scholars all took playthings to the school as an Easter offering to the little poor children. The Ladies' Aid Society gave them out.
Nellie R.