continued or the game may
deal only in couplets or four-lined stanzas. In another quotation game
the first player repeats a line of poetry and the next follows it with
another line of poetry which begins with the last letter of the
previous quotation. Thus, if the first player says--

It was the schooner _Hesperus_
That sailed the wintry sea,

the next might cap it with--

A man's a man for a' that,

and the next with--

The quality of mercy is not strained.

Two Rhyming Games

Rhyming games require more taxing of brains than most
players care for. The ordinary rhyming game, without using
paper, is for one player to make a remark in an easy metre,
and for the next to add a line completing the couplet. Thus
in one game that was played one player said--

It is a sin to steal a pin,
Much more to steal an apple.

And the next finished it by adding--

And people who are tempted to,
With Satan ought to grapple.

But this was showing more skill than there is real need for.

An easier rhyming game is that in which the rhyme has to come at the
beginning of the line. The players are seated in a circle and one
begins by asking the next a question of any nature whatever, or by
making any casual remark, the first word of the answer to which must
rhyme with the last word of the question. The game is then started,
each player in turn adding a remark to that made by the one before
him, always observing the rhyming rule. Thus, the original question
may be, "Do you like mince _pies_?" The next player may reply, "_Wise_
people always _do_." The next, "_You_, I suppose, agree with _that_?"
The next, "_Flat_ you may knock me if I _don't_." The next, "_Won't_
you change the subject, _please_?" And the next: "_Eas_-ily; let's
talk of books."

Telling Stories

This is another of those fireside games that need more readiness of
mind than many persons think a game should ask for. The first player
begins an original story, stopping immediately (even in the middle of
a sentence) when the player who is appointed time-keeper says "Next."
The next player takes it up; and so forth until the end comes, either
at the end of the first round or whatever round seems best.

Another way is for each player to contribute only a single word; but
this is rarely successful, because every one is not at the same pitch
of attention. Except on the part of the person who is narrating there
ought to be absolute silence.