Bright Ideas for Entertaining. Mrs. Herbert B. Linscott
was a monarch who reigned in the East (Esth. 1: 1).
B was a Chaldee who made a great feast (Dan. 5: 1–4).
C was veracious, when others told lies (Num. 13: 30–33).
D was a woman, heroic and wise (Judg. 4: 4–14).
E was a refuge, where David spared Saul (1 Sam. 24: 1–7).
F was a Roman, accuser of Paul (Acts 26: 24).
G was a garden, a favorite resort (John 18: 1, 2; Matt. 26: 36).
H was a city where David held court (2 Sam. 2: 11).
I was a mocker, a very bad boy (Gen. 16: 16).
J was a city, preferred as a joy (Ps. 137: 6).
K was a father, whose son was quite tall (1 Sam. 9: 1, 2).
L was a proud one, who had a great fall (Isa. 14: 12).
M was a nephew, whose uncle was good (Col. 4: 10; Acts 11: 24).
N was a city, long hid where it stood (Zeph. 2: 13).
O was a servant, acknowledged a brother (Philem. 16).
P was a Christian greeting another (2 Tim. 1: 1, 2).
R was a damsel who knew a man's voice (Acts 12: 13, 14).
S was a sovereign who made a bad choice (1 Kings 11: 4–11).
T was a seaport, where preaching was long (Acts 20: 6, 7).
U was a teamster, struck dead for his wrong (2 Sam. 6: 7).
V was a cast-off, and never restored (Esth. 1: 19).
Z was a ruin with sorrow deplored (Ps. 137: 1).
BIBLE NAMES
Choose sides as in a spelling match, and let the leader of the first side give the first syllable of the name of some Bible character. The leader of the opposite side will then complete the name, if he can. Failing this, his side loses a member, selected by the leader of the opposite side. And so the contest goes on down the line, first one side and then the other proposing the first syllable of some name.
BIBLE READINGS
A good way to promote study of the Bible is a "Bible oratorical contest," in which four or five contestants recite, or give as readings, selections from the Bible. If well done, it will prove most entertaining, and many people will go home surprised that the Bible is such an interesting book.
BIRD CARNIVAL
The invitations to the carnival had various kinds of birds painted upon them, and each guest was requested to come representing the kind of bird designated on his or her invitation. There were two invitations of each kind, one sent to a lady and one to a gentleman, that there might be a "pair" of each variety of bird. As the guests arrived, each was labeled with the name of the bird he or she represented, and in this way it was easy for them to find their "mates" for refreshments. The house was profusely trimmed with flowers, vines, and leaves (many of them artificial, borrowed from a near-by store); every available space was covered, the banisters, the mantel posts, the door- and window-frames, the archways, etc., and even the walls of the dining-room were hung with the trailing vines, so that the place looked like a veritable woodland dell. All the stuffed birds that could be secured were perched here and there among the vines and branches, some on nests with their mates beside them; a large owl was placed high in one corner, and in a cozy nook in another corner was the nest of a meadow lark, with father and mother birds teaching their young ones to fly. Besides this canaries in cages were distributed throughout the house, lending their music to the general effect. Bird eggs of every description were also used to help decorate. In the centre of the dining table a nest was arranged, containing a mother bird and her little ones, while suspended from the gas jet by gayly colored ribbons and reaching almost to the nest, were many prettily decorated egg shells, the contents having been "blown" from them by means of small holes made in each end. Twenty-five rhymes about birds were pinned about the rooms, the guests being required to answer them. Following are given the rhymes and their answers. The hostess kept the "key" and read the correct list at the close of the contest, when a canary bird in a cage was given as first prize and a stuffed bird as second to the most successful contestants. At the close of the contest, the roll was called and each "bird" present responded by an appropriate quotation, these having been previously distributed by the hostess.
Bird Pie
After refreshments were served, an enormous "bird pie" was placed upon the table and each guest was given a slice. This pie was made of pie crust, and was filled with tiny trifles wrapped in tissue paper, most of them representing birds, eggs, nests, etc. On the top of the pie twenty-four little birds cut out of black paper were perched by means of pins stuck through their feet. Also pinned to the pie was this verse:
When this pie is opened
The birds begin to sing?
That is where you all are fooled;
We won't do such a thing!
BIRD GUESSING CONTEST
1.A flash of sky on wing.—(Bluebird.)
2.Oh, shall I call thee bird,
Or but a wandering voice?
Thy note from household clocks is heard,
And children's ears rejoice.—(Cuckoo.)
3.King of the water, as the air,
He dives and finds his prey.—(Kingfisher.)
4.Thy plaintive cry announces punishment,
And warns the luckless boy for whom 'tis sent.—(Whippoorwill.)
5.You introduce yourself throughout your song,
And tell the world your brief, old-fashioned name.—(Phœbe.)
6."Bob White!" you call
Along the marshy coast.
Speak not so loud
Or you will be on toast.—(Quail.)
7.Cooing 'neath barn rafters,
Pouting, sometimes, too,
Rippling like child laughter
All the winter through.—(Pigeon.)
8.An English emigrant, bird of the street,
So common that some like thee not at all.
Yet in the Holy Bible we are told
The Father careth if but one should fall.—(Sparrow.)
9.Red-breasted harbinger of spring
We wait in hope to hear thee sing.—(Robin.)
10. Yellow captive of the cage,
Silver notes thou giv'st as wage.—(Canary.)
11. A flash of