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January 335 |
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ing to an adjoining room, saying, "Thus I draw aside the curtain that veils our future," and upon the floor are twelve candles in a row, all alight and each of a different colour. She explains that each candle stands for a month of the coming year—the white one for January. February has a blue candle, tied with red and white ribbons, to suggest the national holiday. March, pale green; April, bright green; May, violet; June, pale pink; July, bright pink; August, yellow; September, lilac; October, crimson; November, orange; December, scarlet.
Each person in turn is invited to jump over the candles, one at a time, and if the feat be accomplished without extinguishing a single candle, prosperity and happiness are in store through all the months in the coming year; but, whichever one or ones are put out, ill-luck threatens in the month whose shining is thus eclipsed, while to knock one over presages dire calamity.
That this is a children's game, and a favourite, need not deter their elders, if the young women are careful to wrap their skirts safely about them. I have known even "Going to Jerusalem" to be enjoyed by those whose nursery days are but distant memories.
After the vigorous activity of such a testing of the fates, the guests may enjoy a pad-and-pencil game. The hostess announces twelve guests, whom they are all expecting to meet, though not in evidence yet, except in suggestion upon cards, distributed by way of introduction, each bearing the following lines:
"Twelve daughters these of ancient race Rich and gifted and fair of face. Their grace by poets ofttimes sung, Their virtues known to every tongue. |
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