[Illustration]

Next wind the string round your hands, not including the thumb, as in
Fig. 2.

[Illustration]

Slip the second fingers through the string on your hands and you have your cat’s cradle, as in Fig. 3.

[Illustration]

You must now ask a second person to put his thumbs and first fingers through the cradle, as in Fig. 4.

[Illustration]

Draw out the string and take it under the cradle, and you will have
Fig. 5.

[Illustration]

Slip the thumbs and first fingers again into the side pieces of the cradle, draw the string sideways and take it under the cradle, and you will have Fig. 6.

[Illustration]

Now curl the little fingers round the string, slipping one under the other as shown, and draw out the side pieces.

[Illustration]

Slip the thumb and first fingers under the side string, bring them up the middle, and you have your original cat’s cradle again.

[Illustration]

* * * * *

PERSONATIONS

To play this game the company seat themselves in a circle, while one of the players commences to describe some person with whom most of the other players are familiar, and continues until one or other of the company is able to guess from the description who the person may be.

The one guessing correctly then commences to describe some one.  If, however, the company are unable to make a correct guess, the player goes on until some one is successful.

* * * * *

FROG IN THE MIDDLE

One child is seated on the ground with his legs under him, while the other players form a ring round him.  They then pull him about and give him little pushes, and he must try to catch one without rising from the floor.

The child who is caught takes the middle, while the frog joins the circle.

* * * * *

GIANT

This game must be arranged in the nature of a surprise for the company assembled.  The giant is formed by two youngsters, one of whom seats himself on the shoulders of his friend.  A large cloak should then be thrown over them, to make it appear as if it were only one person, and the top boy might wear a mask to prevent recognition.  The giant then enters the room and commences dancing.  Great amusement is afforded the little folk by this game.

* * * * *

COCK FIGHTING

This is a most amusing game, and although only two boys can play at it at one time, they will keep the rest of the company in roars of laughter.  The two who are to represent the “cocks” having been chosen, they are both seated upon the floor.