It was a sensible party ; and that, you see, made it at once different from all every-day parties. The children did not come from eight in the evening to midnight, dressed in silk and lace, and jewelry even, like their grown-up sisters. Nor did they think that dancing, and a band, and a great supper, were a necessary part of the invitation, which read " From 4 to 8 p.m.," and had in one corner, "Old-fashioned plays."

As you grow older, you will often hear two sentences used by everybody; some knowing just what they mean, and many, not at all. But they are used all the same, and are, "the law of natural selection," and "the survival of the fittest;" applying just as much to plays as to people, and meaning for us that boys and girls, almost from the very beginning of the world, have had sense enough to make plays that were pleasant, and suitable for the place they were to be played in, and that, where there were too many, they were weeded out, and only those lived that were good and pleasant everywhere. All the boys the world has ever held have played ball and marbles, and flown kites, and had "buzzers " and "bull-roarers," or something that would make a dreadful noise; and all the girls have had dolls, and played house, and all the other girl's games. And so with "forfeits" and "stage-coach" and "button," and many other games under one name and another. They are sure to amuse if well done. We are far too fond of endless variety; and there is more real pleasure in a few well-understood and well-played games than in dozens of new ones, which are really often only changes rung on the old. So if you have been spoiled in this way, and think no game should ever be played twice in the same way, you must look in some of the many books of "home amusements," and make your choice there. The children at this party began with "stage-coach," because seven of the twenty were strangers, and this game gave them a chance to look at one another, and get acquainted, first slowly, then all at once as a great rush came. Curiously enough, perhaps because it is so old, it is given in but one of many books of plays I have examined.