This game is played as follows: Take as many small pieces of card-board
as there are players, and number them 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and so on. Then
place them all on the table and shuffle them together. Let each player
draw a card. The one who draws the highest number is the manager of the
game.
The manager lays the plaque before him on the table, and directs all the
players to stand with their faces to the wall. He then takes the pieces
of card bearing the numbers, and places one upon each picture--one on
the Black Knight in the centre, one on the White Cat, one on the
Skylark, and so on. Each player must now choose a number. When all have
chosen, the manager announces who has hit on the number representing the
White Cat.
Now the White Cat is supposed to be a Princess in disguise, and it is
the duty of the Black Prince to rescue her. But if a boy selects the
number representing the Princess, he can select any little girl who is
playing, and exchange tickets, saying to her, "You shall be my
Princess." In the same way, if a little girl selects the number which
represents the Black Knight, she changes tickets with any little boy,
saying, "You shall be my Black Knight."
When this is arranged, the Princess takes her position on one side of
the room, and the Knight on the other, and all the players march three
times round the room, each imitating the sound of the animal his number
represents. Then they draw themselves up in line in front of the
Princess, and facing the Black Knight. The latter takes a handkerchief
rolled up in the form of a ball, and throws it toward the Princess.
If he can throw it over the heads of the other players so that the
Princess can catch it, then she is released, and all the others have to
pay a forfeit, but it is the object of the other players to try to catch
the ball without moving from their places. If one catches it, he is
released, and so it goes on until either the Princess catches the ball
or all of the other players catch it. Then if she and the Knight are
left all alone, they both have to pay forfeits, which are cried in the
usual manner.
[Illustration: OUR POST-OFFICE BOX.]
Can it be possible that we have already reached the last day of January?
One month of this bright new year has flitted away. You have had time to
get used to writing 1882 on your school exercises, and time, we fear, to
forget some of the good resolutions it seems so natural to make in the
beginning of a year. Well, here is a chance for another start. If any
boy is a loiterer, or careless, or passionate, if any girl is untidy or
disobliging, begin to fight the bad habits now. February will bring us
into the final month of winter.
Will some of our little window-gardeners write to the Postmistress and
tell her about the callas that are opening their beautiful cup-like
flowers, and the hyacinths that are filling their rooms with fragrance?
There will be a snug little corner for plant-lovers in Our Post-office
Box during the whole of the next month.
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