Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-08-20
Homemade Games.

Boys do not like fun ready made they
like to manufacture IT, Supply them with
boards aud nails, saw and hatchet-and not
be too afraid TO " litter in the back yard,
and baru--and with ordinary ingenuity,
you viii soon sec manufactured STEAMBOATS,
with the aid Of the imagination.) " bowl
ing alleys" iu fact, enough Of everything to
keep them happy at home.
| visited family who we're supplied
with such articles 1t was astonishing to
see how little it took to make them con.
tentcd-and not only they, but the play
mates who invariably focked there Some
mothers would prefer less attractions. They
would assume the risk Of their children be.
ing injured morally, by playing elsewhere,
rather than have the noise and things at
loose ends"
In the yard where these boys lived. there
was large tree. From one of the limbs
they suspended ball ian old croquet BALL
BY a small rope They made a platform
about two yards square, and with black
paint marked spots to place the pins. Tho
ten wooden pins were about a foot in length.
A space was left IA FOOT on each side Of the
platform Four dots on the back three in
front lin front of the spaces Of them, then
two then one
The bali must be hung just low enough
to hit the pins Stand as far back from
The Platform as the rope will allow, then
drop the ball aud knock lown the pins
Each one can try three times The boys
made a blackboard, crossed and recrossed
IL with white paint and nailed it to the tree
90 keep tally" noticed block Of
wood, with a piece Of sheep skin fleece on)
uaicd ON, hanging near the black board, to
erase chalk marks The idea was not
original, perhaps, but as it was the only
homemade game of the kind I had ever
seen, | though IL might be new to many Of
our readers
Besides the ten-pin game, these boys
bad two swings, one above the other
call them swings, although there was very
litto old-iashioucd swinging done by the
boys The ropes were large, with an iron
rod fastened securely across the bottom.
They made a large bag filed it with straw,
and kept 10 under the swing, "in case they
did what they did not intend to do"
At first | held my breath in suspense
when | saw them perform their various an
tics, but | soon began to enjoy it, as they
invariably came right side up
There was a nice tent in the yard. 1t
was he place for the family to gather after
tea. The tent did not cost thirty dollars,
lmore or lessl perhaps not that and yet
1t was commodious and tasteful. The boys
bought (boys should be allowed a little
'pin money" not foo much some coarse
cotton cut and made 1t, and put it up-a
surprise to their parents How these boys
managed TO sew the seams | do not know
| DO know they did not rip.
They could take the tent down and put
it up again with ease at minutes notice
o feat they exhibited with pride. An old
lounge and rocking.chair furnished the
tent Those were for father and mother,
ald friends The ground suited the boys best
They considered their tent a success, in.
deed when Uncle John came from Flor.
ida to visit them for they often found
him sitting in the tent-the act telling his
appreciation.
There was a croquet-set in the garden
that was not homemade. Every family
should have one, however.
wondered then and now why every
family did not have more games upon their
own premises. Some parents do not en-
courage them; fear that solves the mystery
1t was not all play" with those boys,
neither did the parents mean it should be
'' all work
They had their regular work out Of school,
They brought in wood, worked in the gar
den, watercd aud fed the horse aud cow,
and fed and watored the hens, too. They
owned the hens; they bought grain for
them, and had all they could make tone
way to get pin money! from the eggs,
They worked as they played-with will.
Healthier, happier boys, never saw.
How they seemed to enjoy my visit.
They did not know the reason, but | did.
The reason was this they tried to make
me happy. In fact, they always had that
in mind with eyerybody-at least, it seemed
so 10 me.