"Children," said Grandpa, one afternoon, "I am going to build a
bonfire this evening, to burn up this rubbish, so you may have a
silhouette party."
"Why, what is a silhouette party?" asked Lucy, opening her eyes
very wide.
"I know," said Ralph, "it is funny black pictures on something
white."
"That's right," laughed Grandpa. "Now you fly round and write
your friends and Grandma and I will get everything ready."
When the young people arrived at half past seven, they found a
blazing fire, and in front of it was stretched a sheet between
two large apple trees.
Quite a distance in front of the sheet were some seats, where
Grandpa told some of the children to sit, while the others took
part in the pictures.
He then disappeared with them in a tent close by where Grandma
was waiting to dress them in their different costumes. Shouts of
laughter came from the tent as the children put on their odd
dresses; indeed there was so much fun that it took quite some
time.
When all was ready Grandpa came out and addressing the children
who were waiting said, "These are to be Mother Goose pictures,
which you will all know. You must guess whom they represent
and the one who guesses correctly the largest number will receive
a prize."
He threw a large pine knot on the fire, which burned up brightly,
and there the children saw a shadow on the sheet, a little bent
figure with a broom over its shoulder.
"The old woman who swept the cob-webs out of the sky," cried some
one.
Following this, came a figure with a long cloak and tall peaked
hat, leading a dog.
"Old Mother Hubbard," guessed another.
Then came a boy and a girl carrying a pail.
"Jack and Jill," chorused the children.
After this a girl with a shepherd's crook.
"Little Bo-peep," again was guessed.
"Now," said Grandpa, "it is time the others had their turn at
acting."
So the exchange being made, the pictures continued.
"Jack Horner," "Little Miss Muffet," "Old King Cole," and "Mary,
who had a little lamb," followed in quick succeission.
Then Grandpa announced that the pictures were over.
"As we cannot decide who has guessed the largest number of
pictures," said he, "I will give you each a prize. And he passed
them each a card.
It proved to be a picture of Ralph and Lucy cut from black paper
and pasted on a white card.
"These," said Grandpa, "are silhouette pictures too. Will you
always know what a silhouette picture is now?"
"Oh yes," said the children.