STEEPLE CHASE.

THE OLD MAN IN THE ORCHARD BEARS a great resemblance to Tom Titler's Ground. A circle is marked out on the carpet, or garden. This may be done with shells, stones, or any articles not easily damaged. One of the players remains in the centre as old man. One or two (not more than three at a time), jump into the circle, demanding some fruit of the old man.

different fruit; for instance :

Each must ask for a

A." I want an apple.

B-"I want a peach.'

C.-"I want a pine-apple."

The circle marks the limit of the orchard.

The first one

the old man can touch in the orchard, takes his place.

STEEPLE CHASE.

THIS is a healthy and exciting game. A distant house, gate, barn, or tree, is fixed on as the goal; and the runners start from one point, but are at liberty to choose any road they please. The players will have a fine opportunity of testing the various theories and proverbs, such as, "The straight road is the shortest," "Most haste, least speed," "Neck or nothing," "Faint heart never won fair lady," &c., &c. Where the scene of the diversion is intersected by short cuts or interrupted by hedges and ditches, the agility of the players will be promoted. Anyhow, it is never worth while to seek danger when it may be avoided: and, for my own part, even though the crooked road was something longer than the straight one, I should most certainly patronise it if the straight one were unsafe.

LA GRACE.

LA GRACE.

THIS is a game especially suited for young ladies, as it causes some exercise, and induces graceful attitudes without any romping motion, and tends to expand the chest. It was in former times a favourite pastime advocated by mammas and governesses.

To play the game, two players require four sticks and two hoops, one large and one small. Each takes a hoop, crosses the sticks in her hand, lays a hoop on them and shoots it off towards her partner, who stands a few paces off, and should catch it on her sticks.

The simplest manner of opening the game is merely to exchange the large hoop.

Next simply to exchange the small hoop.

Thirdly-To exchange simultaneously.

Fourthly-To use four hoops and keep the four flying

between the players.

Fifthly-For four players to engage in a quadrille.

Sixthly-For any number to engage in a round game.

The sticks and hoops used are sold at Bazaars and Toy

Shops.

WITCH CRAFT

OR, HOW TO GUESS ANY OBJECT THOUGHT OF BY ANOTHER PERSON.

game must be played at by two persons.

The guesser

THIS is called the Wizard, or Witch, and leaves the room whilst the word is agreed upon by the party. When the Wizard returns, the confederate asks him a number of questions, as "Is it a tree?" Is it a dress?" Is it a book?" &c., &c.

The key is, that the confederate is to name something that has four legs, whether an animal or a piece of furniture, and the next thing he names will be the article agreed upon to be called for.

For example, the word is Rose-tree.

"PIGEONS, FLY!"

FOLLOW MY LEADER.

WITHOUT a bold and active leader this sport is dull and monotonous; with one possessing the necessary qualifications, it is quite the contrary. Any number may play at it. A leader is fixed on, and the other players range themselves in a line behind her. She commences the sport by some feat of agility, such as leaping, hopping, or climbing, and her followers in succession then attempt to imitate her. She then goes on to another trial of skill; the others, or so many of them as are able to do so, follow her example, and thus the sport proceeds. The most nimble and active should, of course, be chosen for a leader; she should perform such feats as to render the sport interesting, at the same time avoiding such as she knows can only be accomplished by herself, or by one or two of her followers. If one girl perform a feat, which those who are placed before her in the rank fail in attempting, she takes precedence of them until she is, in like manner, excelled by any of her companions.

PIGEONS, FLY!"

THIS is a very simple game. The players place a finger on the table, when the leader says "Pigeons, fly!" at the same time raising his hands: the rest of the players must do the same; but when the conductor names anything that does not

such as rabbits, they must not raise their hands; if they , they have to pay a forfeit.

SHADOW BUFF

of white linen is suspended At a little distance from it,

Is a game in which a large piece smoothly at one end of a room. Buffy, with his face toward the linen, is seated on a low stool. Directly in a line, and about a yard behind him, at table is placed with a candle on it; all the other lights must

be extinguished. The players then walk one by one, between the table and Buffy (who must not turn his head), limping, hopping, and grimacing as they please, so as to distort their shadows on the linen. If Buffy can tell correctly to whom any shadow belongs (guessing once only for each person,) the player, whom he so discovers, takes his place, and the game proceeds as before.