"Will you walk into my parlor?"

On the upper left-hand corner there was a picture of a spider spinning his web, and a fly struggling to escape from its meshes.

When the guests arrived they saw an old-fashioned spinning wheel in the centre of the room, with flax near by, all ready for spinning. They were told that all must try for the prizes that were to be awarded to the lady and gentleman who spun the best thread, after five minutes' trial. The mother of the hostess, who had done such work when a girl, stood near to give instruction, and to time the contestants. Those who have no knowledge of spinning can have no idea how much fun there is in trying to make an even thread, more especially when surrounded by interested young people of no greater experience. As the different threads were finished they were fastened to a tag bearing the name of the worker and then pinned to a square of black cloth that had been pinned to the wall for that purpose. When all had tried, a committee was appointed to help the hostess decide to whom prizes should be awarded.

While the spinning was going on the guests whose turn at the wheel had not arrived and those who had already tried were set to following the threads of what looked like an immense spider web wound around the rooms. It was composed of black and white threads, the black threads being intended for gentlemen and the white ones for ladies. They were instructed that when they found an end of one of these threads they were to begin winding it into a ball; but that they must do so very gently, or the whole web would be knotted so badly that it could not be undone. When they came to a knot it must be untied. These threads were so ingeniously twisted together and wound around pictures, bric-À brac, table legs, etc., that it took some time to reach the farther end, and every one had plenty of opportunity to talk with every one else. A card was fastened to the farther end of each thread, and all the cards had been so well concealed from view that some time elapsed before the guests knew what they were to find.

On each card were written the words, "You will take supper with the one who holds the mate to your card." Then the cards must be compared. Each contained a spider web, some with four circles, some with more; some with eight divisions, others with more or less; but there were always two of each kind, and through the peculiarities of these webs the partners discovered each other. The difference in webs was sometimes so slight as not to be detected without close observation; but it was always plain after having once been pointed out. It is surprising how many different designs can be worked out in these webs. The work is really quite fascinating when once begun, so the thought of it must not frighten any one from giving a spinning party.

When the prizes had been awarded to the best spinners, several tables were brought in and set about the room.

On the top of each there was fastened a heavy sheet of drawing paper, upon which five circles had been drawn. The outside circle was as large as the table would allow. The inner one was only two inches in diameter. The other three circles were drawn at equal distances between these two. In the inner space on one table were the figures 25; the next 20; then came 15, 10 and 5. On the next table the inner space was marked 30, and each of the other spaces 5 less. On the third and last table the inner circle was marked 50, and each of the others 5 less.

Each player was given a top, made from a spool, and all the guests took turns spinning the tops on the table having the lowest figures. When the top ceased spinning the player was credited with the number on which the point of the top rested. As soon as a player had twenty-five to his credit he advanced to the next higher table. There he must win fifty points before he could pass on to the highest table. When he had won a hundred points at the third table he was obliged to begin again at the foot table. The top must not be touched while spinning. Should it drop to the floor the player must make ten before he could begin to count again. Should he make 25 at the next trial he only counted 15; but he had a second trial when his top had dropped to the floor, before the next player spun his top.

Each player had a credit card tied in his buttonhole upon which numbers something like the meal tickets issued at restaurants were closely written. When added these numbers should make 500. The hostess had a punch with which she cut out the numbers to correspond with those won by the player. When any player had no more numbers on his card he was declared winner and the game was ended.