A SEASONABLE DIVERSION.
From the many games of forfeits that are played in parlours during in-door weather, one is presented to the perusal of youthful readers from “Winter Evening Pastimes.”
Aunty’s Garden.
“The company being all seated in a circle, the person who is to conduct the game proposes to the party to repeat, in turns, the speech he is about to make; and it is agreed that those who commit any mistake, or substitute one word for another, shall pay a forfeit. The player then commences by saying, distinctly, ‘I am just come from my aunt Deborah’s garden. Bless me! what a fine garden is my aunt’s garden! In my aunt’s garden there are four corners.’ The one seated to the player’s right is to repeat this, word for word: if his memory fails he pays a forfeit, and gives up his turn to his next right-hand neighbour, not being permitted to correct his mistake. When this has gone all round, the conductor repeats the first speech, and adds the following:
‘In the first corner stands a superb alaternus,
Whose shade, in the dog-days, won’t let the sun burn us.’
“This couplet having been sent round as before, he then adds the following:
‘In the second corner grows
A bush which bears a yellow rose:
Would I might my love disclose!’
“This passes round in like manner:
‘In the third corner Jane show’d me much London pride;
Let your mouth to your next neighbour’s ear be applied,
And quick to his keeping a secret confide.’
“At this period of the game every one must tell his right-hand neighbour some secret.