One of the party announces that he will whisper to each person the name of some animal, which, at a given signal, must be imitated as loudly as possible. Instead, however, of giving the name of an animal to each, he whispers to all the company, with the exception of one, to keep perfectly silent.

To this one he whispers that the animal he is to imitate is the donkey. After a short time, so that all may he in readiness, the signal is given. Instead of all the party making the sounds of various animals, nothing is hard but a loud bray from the one unfortunate member of the company.

Games for All Occasions by Mary E. Blain

If “Earth” is called, the player to whom the hall is thrown has to mention something that lives on the earth, as lion, cat; if “Air” is railed, something that lives in the air; if “Water,” something that lives in the water; hut; if “Fire” is called, the player must keep silence. Always remember not to put birds in the water or animals or fishes in the air; be silent when “Fire” is called, and answer before ten can he counted. For breaking any of these rules a forfeit must he paid.

Games for All Occasions by Mary E. Blain

What is the difference between a blind man and a sailor in prison?
Answer: One cannot see to go and the other cannot go to sea.

Why is a plum-cake like the ocean?
Answer: Because it contains so many currants.

What pudding makes the best cricketer?
Answer: A good batter.

When is a sailor not a sailor?
Answer: When he’s aboard.

Why is the snow different from Sunday?
Answer: Because it can fall on any day in the week.

What trade would you mention to a short boy?
Answer: Grow sir (grosser).

What tree is nearest the sea?
Answer: The beech.

Why is a game of cards like a timber-yard?
Answer: Because there are always a great many deals in it.

Why is a tight boot like an oak tree?
Answer: Because it produces a corn (acorn).

Why is a city in Ireland likely to be the largest city in the world?
Answer: Because each year it is Dublin (doubling).

What is the easiest way to swallow a door?
Answer: Bolt it.

Why is a dancing-master like a tree?
Answer: Because of his bows (boughs).

Name a word of five letters from which if you take two but “one” remains.
Answer: Stone.

Games for All Occasions by Mary E. Blain

“Is this a new game to you?”

The second player could answer: “Oh, no! I played it years ago when quite a youngster.” He would perhaps turn to the third player, and ask: “You remember it, do you not?”

The third player might answer: “Yes, but we used to play it differently.”

This player, having used a word with an “F” in it, must pay a forfeit and remain out. The answers must be given at once, without hesitation, and the player who avoids for the greatest length of time using a word containing the forbidden letter wins the game.

Games for All Occasions by Mary E. Blain

What is the difference between a bottle of medicine and a troublesome boy?
Answer: One is to be well shaken before taken, and the other is to be taken and then shaken.

What makes more noise than a pig under a gate?
Answer: Two pigs.

When is a door not a door?
Answer: When it is a-jar.

What is the difference between a naughty boy and a postage stamp?
Answer: Because one you stick with a lick, and the other you lick with a stick.

Why did William Tell shudder when he shot the apple from his son’s head?
Answer: Because it was an arrow escape for his child.

What is that which the more you take from it the larger it grows?
Answer: A hole.

What is the best land for little kittens?
Answer: Lapland.

Why should a man always wear a watch when he travels in a waterless desert?
Answer: Because every watch has a spring in it.

Of what trade is the sun?
Answer: A tanner.

What relation is a door-mat to a dood?
Answer: Step-fa(r)ther.

What is that which you cannot hold ten minutes, although it is as light as a feather?
Answer: Your breath.

What is the worst weather for rats and mice?
Answer: When it rains cats and dogs.

What is that which never uses its teeth for eating purposes?
Answer: A comb.

Games for All Occasions by Mary E. Blain

“Are you fond of playing the piano?”

The answer “Yes, very much,” would be correct as the words do not contain the letter “a.” But if the answer were “Yes, and I am fond of singing too,” the speaker would have to pay a forfeit Any vowel may be forbidden, or if the player choose to make the game very difficult, two vowels may be forbidden. Say “a” and “e” are forbidden, and the question is, “Will your father be late home?” “I do not know” would be a correct answer.

Games for All Occasions by Mary E. Blain

How can a gardener become thrifty?
Answer: By making the most of his thyme, and by always putting some celery in the bank.

Why is it probable that beer was made in the Ark?
Answer: Because the kangaroo went in with hops, and the bear was always bruin.

“What was the biggest thing you saw at the World’s Fair?” asked a wife of her husband.
Answer: “My hotel bill!” said he.

Why is C like a schoolmistress?
Answer: Because it forms lasses into classes.

What is that which never asks any questions and yet requires many answers?
Answer: The street-door.

If a man bumped his head against the top of a room, what article of stationery would he he supplied with ?
Answer: Ceiling whacks. (Sealing-wax.)

Which is the longest word in the English language?
Answer: Smiles; because there is a mile between the first and last letters.

Which is the oldest tree in England?
Answer: The Elder Tree.

How many sides are there to a tree?
Answer: Two, inside and out.

What is that which happens twice in a moment and not once in a thousand years?
Answer: The letter M.

What sea would a man most like to be in on a wet day?
Answer: A dry attic. (Adriatic.)

Games for All Occasions by Mary E. Blain

To give an illustration: Supposing the two players who start the conversation decide upon the word box. They might talk about the people they had seen at the theater and the particular part of the house in which they were sitting. Then they might say how nice it looked in a garden, and one might mention that it grew into big trees. Perhaps one of the company might imagine that he had guessed the word correctly and join in, when the conversation would be immediately changed, and the two would begin to converse about a huge case in which a very great number of things were packed away. By this time possibly the person who joined in the conversation will leave off, completely mystified.

If, however, the word should be correctly guessed. the person guessing it chases a partner, and they together select a word, and the game begins again.

Games for All Occasions by Mary E. Blain

Why is a little man like a good book?
Answer: Because he is often looked over.

Why is a pig in a parlor like a house on fire?
Answer: Because the sooner it is put out the better.

What is the difference between a soldier and a bombshell?
Answer: One goes to war, the other goes to pieces.

Why is it dangerous to sleep in a train?
Answer: Because every train run over all the sleepers on the line.

Spell “enemy” in three letters?
Answer: F O E.

Which is the only way that a leopard can change his spots?
Answer: By going from one spot to another.

Why did Eve never fear the measles?
Answer: Because she’d Adam.

When is a tall man a little short?
Answer: When he hasn’t got quite enough cash.

What houses are the easiest to break into?
Answer: The houses of bald people; because their locks are few.

Why is a watch the most difficult thing to steal?
Answer: Because it must he taken off its guard.

Why is there never anybody at home in a convent?
Answer: Because it is an-uninhabited (a nun inhabited) place.

Why does a person who is not good-looking make a better carpenter than one who is?
Answer: Because he is a deal plainer.

What is the beet tree for preserving order?
Answer: The birch.

Why is shoemaking the easiest of trades?
Answer: Because the boots are always soled before they are made.

Games for All Occasions by Mary E. Blain

The players seat themselves round the room and the old man standing in the center tells them that some of their number have committed a crime and he is about to question them, in order that he may discover the guilty ones. He then begins – “Now. Mr. Lion, where have you been hunting, and what have you eaten today?” “I hunted in the forest and caught an antelope.” “Then you are twice guilty and must pay two forfeits,” says the old man; and the lion must pay his forfeit without being told the crime he has committed. The old man passes an to a Polar Bear. “Where did you hunt and what have you eaten?” he asks. “I hunted in the water and had a fine fish to eat.” The Polar Bear is pronounced innocent. The real game is that no animal may bring in the letter “o” either in their hunting ground or the food they eat. “Forest” and “Antelope” bath have an “o” in them, so the lion has to pay two forfeits whereas “Water” and “Fish” having no “o” the hear was declared innocent. The great fun is for the old man to keep the secret of “guilty” or “innocent” to himself ; but even if the other players know the secret, it is very difficult not to make a slip, as the answers must be given promptly.

When the game is over the players must pay for their forfeits in any way the old man decides.

Games for All Occasions by Mary E. Blain