For little ones there is scarcely a more popular game than "Honey
Pots." Small children of three and four can be included in this
game, but there should be two bigger children for the "Buyer" and
the "Merchant." The children, with the exception of the Buyer and
Merchant, seat themselves upon the floor of the room, with their knees
raised and their hands clasped together round them. These children are
called "Honey Pots." The Merchant and the Buyer then talk about the
quality and quantity of the Honey, and the price of each Pot. It is
agreed that the price to be paid shall be according to the weight of
the "Honey" and the "Pot." The children are carefully "weighed" by
raising them two or three times from the floor and swinging them by
the arms, one arm held by the Merchant and the other by the Buyer.
[Illustration]
When the "Honey Pots" are all weighed, the Buyer says he will purchase
the whole of the stock, and asks the Merchant to help him carry the
Pots home. Then the Merchant and the Buyer carry the children, one by
one, to the other end of the room.
When all are safely at the Buyer's house, the Merchant goes out of the
room, but suddenly returns and says to the Buyer: "I believe you have
carried off my little daughter in one of the Honey Pots." The Buyer
replies: "I think not. You sold me all the Pots full of Honey, but if
you doubt me you can taste them."
The Merchant then pretends to taste the Honey, and after having tried
two or three Pots exclaims: "Ah! this tastes very much like my little
daughter." The little girl who represents the Honey Pot chosen by the
Merchant then cries out: "Yes, I am your little girl," and immediately
jumps up and runs away, the Buyer at the same time endeavoring to
catch her.
When the one Honey Pot runs away, all the others do the same, the
Buyer catches whom he can, and the game recommences.
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