This game is played with a penknife.  A piece of turf is usually the best place to play.  Various positions for throwing the knife are tried by each player, following a regular order of procedure, until he misses, when the knife is surrendered to the next in turn.  When he receives the knife each player tries the feat at which he failed before.  The last player to accomplish all the feats has the pleasure of “pulling the peg,” The peg consists of a wedge-shaped piece of wood the length of the knife blade which is driven into the ground by the back of the knife and must be pulled by the teeth of the unfortunate one who was last to complete the necessary feats.  The winner has the honour of driving the peg, usually three blows with his eyes open and three with them closed.  If he succeeds in driving it out of sight the feat is considered especially creditable and the loser is greeted with the cry, “Root!  Root!” which means that he must remove the sod and earth with his teeth before he can get a grip on the peg top.  There are about twenty-four feats or “figures” to be gone through in a game of mumblety peg, throwing the knife from various positions both right and left handed.  In each feat the successful result is measured by having the knife stick into the ground at such an angle so that there is room for two fingers to be inserted under the end of the handle without disturbing the knife.

ONE OLD CAT

This is a modified game of baseball that may be played by three or four.  Generally there is only one base to run to, and besides the batter, pitcher, and catcher the rest of the players are fielders.  Any one catching a fly ball puts the batter out and takes his turn at bat, or in another modification of the game, when one is put out each player advances a step nearer to batsman’s position, the pitcher going in to bat, the catcher becoming pitcher, first fielder becoming catcher, and so on, the batsman becoming “last fielder.”

PASS IT

This game may be played on a lawn.  Four clothes baskets are required as well as a variety of objects of various sizes and kinds, such as spools of thread, pillows, books, matches, balls, pencils, umbrellas, pins, and so on.  Two captains are chosen and each selects a team, which stands in line facing each other.  Two of the baskets are filled with the various articles and these two baskets are placed at the right hand of the two captains.  The empty baskets are on the opposite ends of the line.  At a signal the captains select an object and pass it to the next in line.  He in turn passes it to his left and finally it is dropped into the empty basket.  If the object should be dropped in transit it must go back to the captain and be passed down the line again.  Two umpires are desirable, who can report the progress of the game to their own side as well as keep an eye on their opponents.