When Billy's mother decided to give him a birthday party, she pounced
upon the pussy cat plan, partly because pussy-willows are still
flourishing in April, but mostly because she knew that kittens and
cats are favorites with nine and ten year olds.
The invitations were folded kitty-cornered and inside of each appeared
a fat fuzzy little gray puss taken from a real pussy-willow branch.
"Puss" had pen and ink ears, whiskers and tail, and likewise a tiny
red-painted fence post upon which to sit.
The first game was a good romp at "Puss-in-the-Corner." That was
followed by the foolish but funny "Poor Pussy."
While the children were still in a circle for that, Billy's mother
explained a new game. It was called "Kitty Kitty" and was carried
out on the lines of "Spin the Platter." In every child's ear Billy
whispered the name of some sort of cat, as for instance, tiger,
"yaller," green-eyes, double-toes, maltese, Angora, black and white,
gray.
He then occupied the center of the circle and spun a tin pieplate. As
he did so he called out one of the names he had assigned and counted
rapidly out loud up to ten. Thus, "Green-eyes, one, two, three, four,
five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten."
The child who had been given the name "green-eyes" was supposed to
jump up and snatch the pie tin before Billy had finished counting to
ten. If "green-eyes" failed, then he had to take Billy's place. Billy,
too, of course, had a pussy cat label.
Another circle game that was fun was called "Pussy's Prowlings." It
was on the order of stage-coach. Billy's mother told the story of a
kitty's wanderings and before she started to tell it, she whispered to
each child the name of something which was to appear in the story. For
instance, she gave out "haymow," "milk dish," "mouse hole," "catnip."
Every time she mentioned any such name in the process of telling the
story, the child who had it was expected to rise from his chair,
turn around three times and sit down again. When the words "pussy's
prowlings" were mentioned, all the players jumped up and exchanged
seats. The story teller also tried to get a seat, and if she succeeded
the child who was finally left without one had to continue the story.