FOURTH OF JULY PARTY
Mother will highly approve of a Fourth of July without fireworks, and when you ask to have a Fourth of July lawn party she will be quite sure to say “Yes.” If you haven’t note paper with a firecracker in the corner, why, you can get out your box of paints and do the decorating yourself. A red firecracker isn’t hard to draw and paint. For this party you will need two dozen tiny flags (the paper ones will do nicely), two tape measures, three shallow baskets, of different sizes, three red, three white and three blue bean bags, an archery set, with red, white and blue target. Beside all these, have on hand plenty of candy torpedoes, and as many red, white and blue baskets as you have invited children. Don’t forget to have several prizes ready.
An archery contest will be a great deal of fun, and you can use a gun (instead of a bow) with rubber-tipped arrows. Each circle in the target counts a certain number of points, and mother will probably consent to be score keeper.
Next comes a “soldier” game. Divide the children into two companies, and let each company stand in a row, facing the other, with a line drawn on the ground between them. The first row sing, to the tune of “Mulberry Bush,”
The second row sing:
The first company answer:
The second company then sing:
Jimmy and Tommy join hands across the line for a tug of war, and whichever one is pulled over must join the enemy’s forces. At the end of fifteen minutes the side which has the most “soldiers” wins.
Next comes “bean bag toss.” Arrange the three shallow baskets one inside the other, and let each child stand ten feet distant. Now, he must toss the bean bags into the baskets, and a bag which falls in the center basket counts fifteen, in the next, ten, and in the outer one, five. Give a prize to the child who wins the most points.
After this you can have a flag race. Choose two of your guests and give each twelve flags and a tape measure. The flags must be set in the ground one foot apart, and the one who has his row set out first wins. The children can run in couples, then the winners should race, and the victorious “flag planter” should be rewarded with a prize.
Next you will all enjoy a torpedo hunt. Distribute the baskets, and if you search in the grass, and among the bushes, and on the piazza, you will find torpedoes hidden. These won’t “go off,” but, better yet, they are filled with candy.
By this time you will be wondering if it isn’t supper time, and, sure enough, mother appears to lead the way. The table has been set in patriotic style, with red, white and blue paper tablecloth and napkins. At each place have a tall “cannon cracker” filled with bonbons, and in the center of the table may be a red, white and blue “Jack Horner” pie. Tricolor ribbons run from this to each place and are attached to a place card. Serve sandwiches, ice cream, lemonade and cake. After you have finished, draw your ribbons, and out of the pie will come a gift wrapped in red, white or blue paper.
Mother may be tired from the “party,” but she will be happier than if you had been playing with firecrackers all day. Just ask her!