Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-12-26
A PIG PARTY FOR CHILDREN.

SO interesting a game as the above
named, and offer it for the use of
those wishing to entertain children
parties. The writer is Ladies World
says:
The invitations-small pieces OF
white paper. folded, and sealed with
drops of sealing wax-invited the
children to play farmer on the
lawn from three to five o'clock.
The appointed day arrived and the
little people came, bubbling over with
curiosity to know what was going
to happen. When all had been COM
fortably seated in a circle on the
grass under the trees, each child was
given little pink paper-pig, with his
or her name written upon it. Sophie
was then told to go to the farthest
end of the lawn and hide eyes,"
which she proceeded to do.
This was the sigal for the children
to leave their places and hide their
pigs, which they did, some in the
tall grass and others in the crannies
of the rockery What a scramble there
was! AT last all the improvised pigs
were out of sight and the small "far-
mers' back in their places in the
circle. whereupon Sophie was in
formed that she must find and re-
turn each pig to its owner. Then the
search began, each child watching
carefully and squealing If she came
near his or her pig.
First Sophie walked in the direc-
ton of the geranium hedge. There
was faint squeal from Jack, for his
pig was concealed under one of the
broad leaves. When Sophie chose
one particular plant and bent down
to examine it, there was loud squeal
from Jack, to indicate that she was
near the object of her search. The
next moment Sophie lifted up the
protecting leaf and with cry of de-
light pulled out the pig, which she
returned to farmer" Jack. The hunt
continued, and all the children clapp-
ed Or squealed to guide her and to
tell her when she was getting warm :,
AT last all the pigs were found, and
we decided that Jack should be allow,
ed to hide his eyes, next time, as
his pig had been the first one found.
Each child had his or her turn, the
squealing growing more exciting as
the game went on. When the last mig
had been found for the last time the
warm, but happy little farmers" were
summoned to the shady porch, where
welcome sight met their eyes-a long
table with plates of dainty sand
witches, little dishes Of Strawberries
and cookies of all shapes and sizes!
OF course, each little farmer"
brought his recreant pig to the table.
Some of the piggies were dirty and
bedraggled too, and one poor thing
had lost Its tail in a scramble in the
hedge. The children chung to them,
however. and when all We're seated
there was a paper trough filled with
candy for the pig. With much merrl-
ment the children stood the pigs up
at the troughs and thrust their pink
noses into the candy. With the live
stock provided for, the little "far-
mers" were at liberty to proceed to
do Justice to the refreshments set
before them.
Many impromptu games were origi-
mated by the children as they sat
about the table. First, the pigs were
made to march in a grand procession
around the edge of the table. Around
and around from hand to hand they
marched, and then came home to the
candy-troughs. Again the children on
the side of the table shut their eyes,
and one of the pigs on the other side
squealed. The blind farmer" guess,
ed whose pig had squealed.
3 1t was after five O'Clock when the
party was broken up and the, reluct.
ant little farmers, were. sent. home,
each bearing a much mauled. pink
paper pig.