The Garden Gate is a very pretty game. A ring is formed of all the players except one, who stands in the middle. The others dance round her three times, and when they stop she begins to sing:

"Open wide the garden gate, the garden gate, the garden gate, Open wide the garden gate and let me through."

The circle then dances round her again, singing:

"Get the key of the garden gate, the garden gate, the garden gate, Get the key of the garden gate and open and let yourself through."

The girl inside the circle, pretending to sob, replies:

"I've lost the key of the garden gate, the garden gate, the garden gate, I've lost the key of the garden gate, and cannot let myself through."

But the dancers dance round and round her, singing:

"Then you may stop all night within the gate, within the gate, within the gate, You may stop all night within the gate, unless you have strength to break through."

The captive then rushes to the weakest part of the ring, and tries to break through by throwing her whole weight upon the clasped hands of the children, and generally contrives to break through, the one whose hand gives way being made captive in her stead.

CHARADES

A back drawing-room with folding doors makes a very nice theater for acting charades. Almost anything may be used for dressing up--shawls, anti-maca.s.sars, table-cloths, handkerchiefs, cast-off dresses, or a dressing-gown. The latter is a very useful garment in representing an old gentleman, while tow or white fire shavings make excellent wigs.

The great thing in a charade is to try and puzzle your audience as much as you can. You must choose a word of two or more syllables, such as "Bagpipe." First you must act the word "Bag," and be sure that the word is mentioned, though you must be careful to bring it in in such a way that the audience shall not guess it is the word you are acting.

Next comes the word "Pipe," and this must be brought in in the same manner. When you have acted the two syllables, you must act the whole: "Bagpipe."

Before beginning the charade, you should arrange who is to bring in the charade word or syllable. You must also settle what you are going to say, or at least, what the act is to be about. Let every scene be well thought out and be as short as possible. You must be as quick as ever you can between the acts, for all the fun will be spoiled if you keep your audience waiting. If you have no curtain or screen, the actors must simply walk off the stage at the end of the scenes.

To act charades well, one requires a little practice and plenty of good temper, for, of course, only one or two can take princ.i.p.al parts, and therefore some of the children must be content to take the smaller ones. It is a good plan to take it in turns to play the best parts, and if the elder children are kind and thoughtful, they will try to make some easy little parts, so that their younger brothers and sisters may also join in the fun. Here we give you a very simple charade, the words of which you may learn, and then act, after which you will very likely be able to make up charades for yourselves.

THE "BAND-BOX" CHARADE

SCENE 1: A STREET

This can be made by placing a row of chairs with open backs near the wall facing the audience; a child is stationed behind each chair, and, looking through the open back, pretends to be looking out of a window.

BAND

First Child behind chair.--Oh! dear, how dull our street always is. I declare nothing nice ever comes this way.

Second Child.--No, I quite agree with you. Why, I haven't seen a "Punch and Judy" for months. I wish my mother would go and live in another street.

Third Child.--Never mind, let us go out and have a game.

(Enter five or six children--or a lesser number, if more convenient--carrying toy musical instruments.)

First Child.--Hurrah! Here comes a German band. Come along, children; let's go and listen to it.

(The band groups itself at the end of the street, and the children stand round. After tuning up, the band begins to play.)

Second Child.--Now, Mary Jane, we can dance. I'll dance with you.

Third Child.--No, I want to dance with Mary Jane.

First Child.--I don't want to dance at all.

Second Child.--You must.

Third Child.--Yes, you must.

(Band ceases playing and one of the bandsmen comes round for money.)

First Child.--I haven't any money.

Second Child.--But we haven't begun to dance yet.

Bandsman.--You shouldn't have been so long arguing then. Surely you'll give the band a nickel, after all the pretty music it has played?

First Child.--I won't.

Second Child.--I won't.

Third Child.--And I won't.

Bandsman.--Well, you are mean. Come along. (Beckoning to the rest of the band.) We'll go, and it will be a long time before we come down this street again.

(Curtain falls.)

BOX

SCENE 2: A ROOM

Tommy (hopping about the room, waving a letter in his hand.)--Hurrah!

hurrah! Uncle d.i.c.k is coming. Hurrah! hurrah!

(Enter Tommy's brother and sister and papa and mamma.)

Papa.--What's the matter, Tommy?

Tommy.--Uncle d.i.c.k has written to say he is coming to spend Christmas with us, and he is bringing me a Christmas box.