First you must

Cut from gilt or colored paper three scalloped disks four inches in diameter (Fig. 400). Through the centre of each disk pass a needle threaded with doubled black linen thread, cover the under side of the disk with paste, separate the two ends of the thread and hold them down on each side of the large end of a shell, as shown in Fig. 401; then draw the disk down and paste it upon the shell over the threads. If the ends of the thread extend below the disk, clip them off with sharp scissors. Wait until the paste is quite dry and the paper firmly attached to the shells, then hang the eggs by their threads in a door-way so that they will be just one foot higher than you can reach.

There must be at least two girls and two boys to play the game. Fold a shawl or wide scarf until it forms a narrow band. Wrap it around the waist of one of the girls, fasten it securely, and blindfold her with a handkerchief. Let a boy stand on either side of her, grasp the band firmly, and then march her up to the door-way where the eggs are suspended, chanting these words:

Reaching the door-way they must halt just before it, and when the girl says "Ready" she must jump, the boys at the same time lifting her by the band around her waist. As she jumps she must try to catch one of the eggs. She can have but one trial, and if she succeeds in bringing down an egg it is hers; failing, she must wait until her turn comes again for the chance of securing a prize.

One of the boys must have the next trial, while the two girls become the "lifters." The same ceremony must be gone through with for each player, a girl and a boy alternately, and the same verse repeated.

It is not necessary to expend any strength in the "lifting," for the players should jump, and not depend upon the helpers to be lifted up within reach of the eggs. When the eggs have been pulled down, the fun consists in eating the candy, with always the certainty of finding some bitter drops among the sweet, and the uncertainty of how soon and how often the bitter will be found.

The egg dance is very old, so old that it is a novelty to young people of this generation. It is said that this dance formerly created much mirth, and no doubt it will afford our modern girls and boys an equal amount of merriment.

To prepare for it, take thirteen eggs, blow the contents from the shells, color eight red, gild four, and leave one white. The object in removing the egg from the shell is to save the carpet from being soiled should the eggs be trampled on. If the carpet is protected by a linen cover hard-boiled eggs may be used.

Place the eggs on the floor in two circles, one within the other. The outer circle, formed of the red eggs placed at equal distances apart, should measure about eight feet in diameter; the inner circle, formed of the gilded eggs, should be four feet in diameter, and the white egg must be placed directly in the centre of the inner circle.

The eggs being arranged the company is divided into couples, each in turn to try the dance. The first couple takes position within the outer circle—that is, between the red eggs and the gilded ones—and, to waltz music, they dance around the circle three times, keeping within the space between the two circles. Entering the inner circle they waltz three times around the central egg, and all this must be done without breaking or greatly disturbing any of the eggs. When an egg is broken or knocked more than twelve inches from its position, the dancers retire and give place to the next couple. The broken eggs are not replaced, but those out of position are set in order before the succeeding couple commence the dance. When each couple has had a turn and none have accomplished the feat, all change partners and the trial begins again.

The first couple to go through the mazes of the dance without breaking or disturbing any of the eggs win each a first prize; the next successful couple receive second prizes, and the third are rewarded with one colored hard-boiled egg which they may divide between them.

The appliances for this game are manufactured at home, and consist of three toy hoops, such as children use for rolling, eight bamboo walking-canes, and eight hooks made of wire like Fig. 402. A piece of twine three-quarters of a yard long is tied to the small end of each stick, and to the other end of the twine is fastened a hook.

Smooth, stiff, light-brown paper is pasted or tacked over each hoop like a drum-head, and in this paper covering of each hoop six round holes are cut, just large enough to admit the small end of an egg, or about the size of a silver quarter of a dollar. Four of the holes are made at equal distances apart, twelve inches from the edge of the paper, and the other two are near the centre (Fig. 403).

Eighteen eggs to be angled for are provided. They are not boiled, but the shells are emptied and prepared for decoration in the manner previously described.

They may be painted with water-colors, with designs of spring flowers and butterflies, gilded or silvered, or colored with dyes.

A circle of gilt paper is folded twice, which forms Fig. 404, and an eight-pointed star is cut by following the dotted lines in Fig. 404. In the centre of this is cut a round hole, and when opened, the star (Fig. 405) is the result.

A piece of narrow white satin ribbon, three inches long, is folded and pushed through the hole in the centre of the star, forming a loop; the ends are then pasted to the point on either side of the star.

When the egg-shell has received its decoration, this star and loop are glued to the large end of each shell, as shown in Fig. 406.

In twelve of the egg-shells are hidden trifling gifts of candy, a tiny penknife, silver thimble, or a trinket of any kind; in four are slips of paper on which are written "Prize Ring," and in the other two are also slips of paper; on one is written "First Prize," and on the other "Second Prize."

Every shell being supplied with its gift the holes at the small end of the egg are covered by pasting over each a small round of white paper, the edge of which is cut in points to make it fit more easily to the shell.

1st. Eight players only can take part in the game.

2d. The three hoops are placed on the floor, paper side up, at some distance apart. In each of the two ordinary rings are placed six eggs standing upright in the holes, small end down; four eggs contain presents and two the papers bearing the words "Prize Ring." In the third, or prize ring, are four eggs containing presents, and the two which hold the papers with the words "First Prize" and "Second Prize."

3d. There must be no distinguishing mark upon any of the prize eggs.

4th. Four players stand around each of the ordinary rings. Having once chosen their places they must keep them until all the eggs have been taken from the ring.

5th. Every player is provided with a fishing-rod which is held by one end, not in the middle.

6th. The endeavor of each player is to insert his hook through the ribbon loop on one of the eggs and lift it out of the ring, doing this as quickly as possible and catching as many as he can.

As each egg is taken from the ring its contents are examined and the player who first gets a prize-ring egg ceases angling until the other prize-ring egg has been caught.

7th. When the eggs have all been taken out of both ordinary rings, the two players in each ring who have the prize-ring eggs move to the prize ring and angle for the eggs which it contains.

8th. Two prizes, the first and second, fall to the lot of the two players who are fortunate enough to secure the prize eggs in the prize ring.

The prizes given for the prize eggs at the prize ring should be of a little more importance than those contained in the eggs. Instead of trinkets these eggs may contain only candy, which will give more prominence to the two real prizes given at the end of the game.

Everyone knows about the egg-rolling where the eggs are started at the top of a hill and rolled to the bottom, for it has become almost a national game, being played annually on the White House grounds in Washington on Easter Monday; but there is a new game of egg-rolling to be played in the house, in which any person in any place may take part. This is played, not with cooked eggs, as in the Washington game, but with empty egg-shells, which have been blown and left as nearly perfect as possible; and the field for the game is a table with a chalked line across either end about eight inches from the edge and another line directly across the centre.

The players are divided into

On no account must the egg be touched except in placing and replacing it on the centre line, which is done whenever a score is made, and when the egg rolls off the table; in all other cases it may be moved only by fanning. Each time the egg enters a goal it counts one for the side at the opposite end of the table, and when the score is marked the egg must be replaced in the centre; then, at the given signal, the fanning is renewed.

The winning score may be ten, fifteen, or twenty-five, but it is best not to make it too large, for several short games are more enjoyable than one long one.