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POSTMAN’S KNOCK

One player begins the game by going out of the room, and then giving a double (or postman’s) knock at the door; it is the duty of one of the other players to stand at the door inside the room to answer the knocks that are made, and to ask the postman for whom he has a letter.  The postman names some member of the company, generally of the opposite sex; he is then asked, “How many cents are to be paid?” Perhaps he will say “six”; the person for whom the letter is supposed to be must then pay for it with kisses, instead of cents; after which he or she must take a turn as postman.

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“Our old Grannie doesn’t like tea.”

All the players sit in a row, except one, who sits in front of them and says to each one in turn:  “Our old Grannie doesn’t like T; what can you give her instead?”

Perhaps the first player will answer, “Cocoa,” and that will be correct; but if the second player should say, “Chocolate,” he will have to pay a forfeit, because there is a “T” in chocolate.  This is really a catch, as at first every one thinks that “tea” is meant instead of the letter “T.”  Even after the trick has been found out it is very easy to make a slip, as the players must answer before “five” is counted; if they cannot, or if they mention an article of food with the letter “T” in it, they must pay a forfeit.

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“I love my love with an A.”

To play this game it is best for the players to arrange themselves in a half circle round the room.  Then one begins:  “I love my love with an ‘A,’ because she is affectionate; I hate her with an ‘A,’ because she is artful.  Her name is Alice, she comes from Alabama, and I gave her an apricot.”  The next player says:  “I love my love with a ‘B,’ because she is bonnie; I hate her with a ‘B,’ because she is boastful.  Her name is Bertha, she comes from Boston, and I gave her a book.”  The next player takes “C,” and the next “D,” and so on through all the letters of the alphabet.

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CONSEQUENCES

One of the most popular games at a party is certainly “Consequences;” it is a very old favorite, but has lost none of its charms with age.  The players sit in a circle; each person is provided with a half sheet of notepaper and a pencil, and is asked to write on the top—­(1) one or more adjectives, then to fold the paper over, so that what has been written cannot be seen.  Every player has to pass his or her paper on to the right-hand neighbor, and all have then to write on the top of the paper which has been passed by the left-hand neighbor (2) “the name of the gentleman;” after having done this, the paper must again be folded and passed on as before; this time must be written (3) one or more adjectives; then (4) a lady’s name; next (5), where they met; next (6), what he gave her; next (7), what he said to her; next (8), what she said to him; next (9), the consequence; and lastly (10), what the world said about it.