All the players stand in a circle and join hands.
The tallest one in the room whispers a question to her right-hand
neighbor, who answers her in a whisper, and then turns and asks _her_
right-hand neighbor a question, who replies in like manner. When
questions and answers have all gone around, the party who commenced
states aloud the question her _left_-hand neighbor asked, and the reply
her _right_-hand neighbor gave.
Example: Suppose three players.
First questions.
Second answers, then turns and ask third.
Third answers, and asks the first, who answers.
Then, questions and answers having gone all around, first says aloud,
“My left-hand neighbor asked, and my right-hand neighbor answered.”
First Player: What is the brightest idea this season?
Second Player: Your eye, dear (idea).
How many blackbirds were baked in the pie?
Third Player: Four-and-twenty. What was the name of Goliath of Gath’s
grandmother’s straw bonnet maker?
First Player: Nobody knows.
When all have played.
First Player, aloud: The question asked me was, “What was the name of
Goliath of Gath’s grandmother’s straw bonnet maker?” the answer was,
“Your eye, dear (idea).”
Second Player: The question asked me was, “What is the brightest idea
this season?” The answer was, “Four-and-twenty!”
Third Player: The question asked was, “How many blackbirds were baked
in the pie?” The answer was, “Nobody knows.”
The one whose question has been most appropriately answered aloud,
must be entertained by the others, as he desires—by dancing, playing a
favorite game, by music, recitations or any other suggested amusement.