GAMES OF PENANCE.

HERE the punishments which would seem merely accessories of games are, in reality, the foundation of them. The sole object of many games is to furnish an opportunity for accumulating forfeits, and, consequently, penances. Many gentlemen, and even many ladies, would care little to join in them if they did not hope to perform some penance at the conclusion. Frequently, even when vanity renders the players anxious and attentive to avoid forfeiting, the thought of the agreeable penance attached to it, induces. them skilfully to feign abstraction, or inattention. By increasing then the number of rounds, and applying to several what has been prescribed to one only, the penance becomes a game.

THE POSTMAN.

When any one is ordered as a punishment to perform the office of postman, he must commence in the following manner :-He must get together in a bag, or reticule, or in the corner of

a shawl, as the sex may be, several pieces of paper folded up as letters. He then stands up in front of the players, and, adressing the player who was on his right hand, when he was seated, presents a letter, saying, "It is from such a place, &c." and takes care to make some allusion to the acquaintance, friendship, or relationship existing amongst the players. The party to whom the letter is sent asks how much the postage is? The postman demands as much as he chooses: for instance, he may charge four, six, eight, ten, or twelve pence: the postage is of course paid in kisses. But the lady may refuse to take in the letter, if she thinks the postage too heavy, as a proof that she is not satisfied; and the postman must pass on. This is a lesson for those gentlemen who are too bold; for a postage of two or three pence is, almost by the rules of the game, paid immediately in ready cash.

This penance is generally prescribed to a gentleman, who addresses himself to the ladies only. But if, by the casting of the lots, it comes to the turn of the lady, she presents letters to the gentlemen only in the party. In this case, the postage is very trifling, as the lady generally says the postage is paid, &c. &c.

If a successor is found for the postman, by the

substitution of his right hand neighbour, this penance becomes a game.

The postman receives a forfeit from every one who refuses to pay the postage, on account of the demand being exorbitant: the lady, on the contrary, receives forfeits from those that want to pay the postage.

This game is amusing enough for two or three rounds it is not often played longer, because it accumulates plenty of forfeits and offers no variety.

THE BAILIFF, OR THE CREDITOR.

The gentleman condemned to act as the bailiff, says to a lady," Pay, or I must put in a distress for so many kisses ;" and at the same time he endeavours to get possession of her gloves, handkerchief, bonnet, reticule, or shawl. "But," says the lady, "I am short of money; at all events take off something; the interest is usurious;" with similar phrases. The creditor stands out for the full amount of his demand; but as the lady will not surrender, they bargain between them till finally the lady pays.

When the lady resolutely refuses, and “ says I am insolvent," she lets the importunate creditor carry off some trifle belonging to her, that he has

been able to get possession of, and which he is afterwards obliged to return.

But when this penance is turned into a game, the article seized becomes a forfeit. The creditor passes from one lady to another to the end of the circle.

In the second round, the ladies become creditors, and distrain on the gentlemen; but, instead of demanding kisses of their debtors, they require a song, a declamation, and very frequently an extemporary verse. If the unfortunate debtors cannot comply, the lady endeavours to enforce the distress: this however, as the gentlemen are on their guard, is not always easily effected.

The creditors, both male and female, are replaced in the same manner as in the preceding game.

PATIPATA, WHO SHALL KISS THAT?

The company being seated in circle, one of the players, who is the penitent or Patipata, kneels down before a person of different sex; but to prevent fatigue, especially if the penitent be a female, she is seated on a footstool or cushion. The person on whose knees the penitent's head reclines, takes good care that he can see nothing;

and, pointing with his finger to some person or object in the room, says, "Patipata, who shall kiss that?" The penitent names any one he chooses; and the person so named is obliged to obey. As soon as that is performed, Patipata is again asked, and another player is named, and the game continues till Patipata names himself, for then he kisses the object pointed out, and is absolved from his penance.

This game of penance in which a great many - players join, is extremely amusing, in consequence of the curious circumstances which the chance decisions of the penitent produce. He frequently sends one gentleman to embrace another; and a lady to kiss the hands or hair of another lady; a third is obliged to kiss her own arm or knee; and a fourth to imprint a kiss on his own cheek or forehead. The door, the walls, the vases, the furniture, chimney, clock, &c., come in also for their share of the kisses which the blind distributor orders.

As Patipata can answer I' whenever he chooses, he generally takes care to do so immediately after any disagreeable object has been embraced, because he knows they change the object but it frequently happens that he is mistaken in his conjectures, and, when he expected

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