Here is a pastime for winter evenings that will compel the players to keep wide awake unless they want to incur any number of forfeits. The name of each person playing should be written on little pieces of card, shaken together in a wide vase or bag, and drawn from it, so that all the players have exchanged names, but they do not tell their new names until they appear in the course of the game.

At the beginning, one player alone does not put in his name, and does not draw for a new one. This player now stands in the middle of the circle, questioning the others, ordering them about, and trying in every way to take them by surprise, so as to make them answer or stir at their real names.

After every ten questions or orders, the names are rapidly drawn from the bag again. This leads to more and more confusion, because there is an inclination not only to answer the sound of real names, but that of the last names possessed. The questioner must have ten counters—marbles, shells, or anything small—to give away, and a counter has to be taken by any one who stirs for his own name, and by any one who hesitates, forgetting to answer to the name which is drawn by lot.

When the ten counters are given away, the questioner sits down, puts his name in the bag, and draws out another name, the owner of which has to be questioner instead, and goes at once to stand in the middle. It will be his object to get rid of the ten counters now, and the object of the players to keep their wits clear, and not be taken by surprise. The questions and orders should go very quickly, thus: "Give me your hand, Mary." "Ethel and Tom, change places." "Pull your hair, Alfred." "Kate, look miserable." "Have you long holidays, Kate?" "Ethel, count your fingers." Or, with a change of tone, "What a pretty locket, Mary!" when perhaps Tom is Mary for the time being, and Mary must not so much as stir her head.

The frequent changing of the names is necessary for the fun and confusion in this game.