Each player in this game has what are called three "lives," or
chances. When the company is seated in a circle, the first player
mentions a letter as the beginning of a word. The game is for each
of the company, in turn, to add a letter to it, keeping the word
unfinished as long as possible.
When a letter is added to the former letters and it makes a complete
word, the person who completed it loses a "life." The next player then
begins again.
Every letter added must be part of a word, and not an odd letter
thought of on the spur of the moment. When there is any doubt as
to the letter used by the last player being correct, he may be
challenged, and he will then have to give the word he was thinking of
when adding the letter. If he cannot name the word, he loses a "life;"
but if he can, it is the challenger who loses.
This is an example of how the game should be played. Supposing the
first player commences with the letter "p;" the next, thinking of
"play," would add an "l;" the next an "o," thinking of "plough;" the
next person, not having either of these words in his mind, would
add "v;" the next player, perhaps, not knowing the word of which the
previous player was thinking, might challenge him, and would lose a
"life" on being told the word was "plover." The player next in turn
would then start a new word, and perhaps put down "b," thinking of
"bat;" the next thinking, say, that the word was "bone," would add an
"o," the next player would add "n;" the player whose turn it would
now be, not wanting to lose a "life" by finishing the word, would add
another "n;" the next player for the same reason would add "e," and
then there would be nothing else for the next in turn to do but to
complete the word by adding "t" and thus losing a "life."
It will be seen that there are three ways of losing a "life." First,
the player may lay down a letter, and on being challenged be unable to
give the word. Secondly, he may himself challenge another player who
is not at fault. Thirdly, he may be obliged to add the final letter to
a word, and so complete it.
This is a most amusing game for a large party, for as the different
persons lose their three "lives," the players gradually dwindle down
to two or three, when it gets very exciting to see who will be the
last person left in, for he or she will be declared the winner.
* * * * *
"DRAW A PAIL OF WATER."
"Draw a pail of water
For my lady's daughter;
My father's a king and my mother's a queen,
My two little sisters are dressed in green;
Stamping grass and parsley,
Marigold leaves and daisies,
One rush, two rush,
Pray thee, fine lady, come under my bush."
Two children stand face to face, holding each other's hands. Two
others also face each other holding hands across the other two. They
seesaw backward and forward, singing the above lines.
When they come to the line, "Pray thee, fine lady, come under my
bush," another child pops under and comes up between one child's arms.
They sing the verse again and another child creeps under another pair
of arms, and so on until there are eight children standing facing each
other. The must then jump up and down until one falls down, when she
is almost sure to pull the others over.
* * * * *