Lots are drawn in order to decide who shall be the grasshopper; the
ants then seat themselves in a circle, while the grasshopper writes on
a piece of paper the name of a grain or food which a grasshopper might
be supposed to like. He puts this in his pocket and then addresses the
ants:
"Dear friends, I am very hungry; would any of you kindly give me some
food?"
"I have nothing but a grain of barley," says the ant spoken to.
"Thank you; that is of no use to me," replies the grasshopper, and
goes on to the next player. As soon as any one offers the grain
of food which the grasshopper has written down the paper must be
produced, and the one who guessed the word pays a forfeit and becomes
grasshopper. If no one guesses the word, the grasshopper pays a
forfeit.
The game then goes on in the same way, except that a different
question is asked on the second round.
"Neighbors," says the grasshopper, "I have eaten abundantly and would
have a dance. Which would you recommend?"
A waltz, a polka, a quadrille, etc., are suggested, and when this
question has gone the round, the grasshopper asks what music he can
dance to, and the ants suggest the music of the violin, the piano,
cornet, etc. Then the grasshopper says he is tired of dancing and
wishes for a bed, and the ants offer him moss, straw, grass, and so
on, to lie upon.
"I should sleep very comfortably," the grasshopper says, "but I am
in fear of being pounced upon by a hungry bird. What bird have I most
reason to fear?" The ants answer: The rook, the lark, the cuckoo, etc.
When the game is ended, the forfeits that have been lost must be
called.
* * * * *