Each player is provided with a sheet of paper and a pencil. The game consists in one player writing down something that he has planted and the next player stating what came up. Anything may be planted, though the questioner must have in mind something that could come up from what he writes. He must sign his initials. The names of the plants that come up must bear some direct relation, punning or otherwise, to the things planted.
For example, a player writes, "I planted a kitten; what came up?" The paper is handed to the next player, who writes, "Pussy willows."
After the questions are written, the papers are collected and redistributed, and each writes an answer to the question he has drawn. They are then collected again, and the hostess reads the questions and answers. Any question not answered must be replied to by the player who wrote it. Examples follow:--
1. Plant an angry wise man; what will come up?--Scarlet sage. 2. Plant a box of candy; what will come up?--Candytuft. 3. Cupid's arrow; what will come up?--Bleeding heart. 4. Some steps.--Hops. 5. Days, months, and years.--Thyme. 6. Christmas Eve.--Star of Bethlehem. 7. Orange blossoms.--Bridal wreath. 8. A sermon.--Jack in the pulpit. 9. Cuff on the ear.--Box. 10. Grief.--Weeping willow. 11. Cinderella at midnight.--Lady's slipper. 12. A ship that has nowhere to go.--Portulaca (port you lack, ah!). 13. Star spangled banner and Union Jack.--Flags. 14. Claws and a roar.--Tiger lilies. 15. A Richmond caterpillar.--Virginia creeper. 16. Contentment.--Heart's-ease. 17. What a married man never has.--Batchelor's buttons. 18. Sad beauties.--Bluebells. 19. Labyrinth.--Maize.
A player is chosen as leader; the others are numbered consecutively from one up, and are all seated.
The leader, standing in front, says, "The Prince of Paris has lost his hat. Did you find it, Number Four, sir?" whereupon Number Four jumps to his feet and says:--
Number Seven, as soon as his number is called, must jump at once to his feet and say:--
Number Three immediately jumps to his feet, and the same dialogue is repeated. The object of the game is for the leader to try to repeat the statement, "The Prince of Paris has lost his hat," before the last player named can jump to his feet and say, "What, sir! I, sir?" If he succeeds in doing this, he changes places with the player who failed in promptness, that player becoming leader.