The Project Gutenberg eBook of Recreations for Girls, by Lina Beard and Adelia Beard.

in which the customers may carry away their goods. Cut newspaper into uniform sheets of two or three sizes and lay them conveniently near for use. String will not be necessary if you twist the paper into cornucopias. Hold the lower right-hand corner of a sheet of paper with your right hand and the other lower corner on the same edge with your left hand; pull the corner in your right hand forward, continue to bring it toward you until it stretches out and up from the corner in your left hand and covers well within the upper corner diagonally from it. Hold these two corners together with the right hand while with the left you roll the bottom corner, held in that hand, outside, forming the lower point of the cornucopia. Fold up the bottom point to keep the cornucopia from unrolling (Fig. 523), and it will be ready for whatever it is to hold. The top point, B, can be turned down as a cover.

Flower-pots or tin cans, large and small, may serve for pint and quart measures. Always give generous measure and full weight when selling your supplies. This item is very important; remember it every time you make a sale, for the act will help to build up true ideas of justice and honesty.

necessary to use in the store. Take ordinary white writing-paper not too heavy and lay it over a coin; hold the paper down securely with the thumb and first finger of your left hand while you rub an old spoon or smooth metal of some kind over and over the paper-covered coin. The metal end of the handle of a penknife is convenient to use for this purpose. After one or two rubs you will see indications of the print of the coin; a few more rubs will bring out the lines distinctly. Make as many coins as you will need, of different denominations. Money of any country may be coined in this manner.

After printing all money necessary, cut it out ready for use and put the change into

It requires only a few moments to make them. Cut a piece of smooth paper eleven and one-half inches long and seven wide (Fig. 524). Fold down diagonally the two top corners until they meet (Fig. 525); fold the other two corners in the same way (Fig. 526). Fold the top point down to meet centre of folded edge (Fig. 527); do likewise with the bottom point (Fig. 528). Turn the top over and fold to centre (Fig. 529); bring the bottom up to meet the edge of the folded top (Fig. 530). Now fold back and under one of the sides (Fig. 531), fold under the other side (Fig. 532), and bend back lengthwise through the centre until top and bottom meet (Fig. 533). Lay the pocket-book down on one side and the lower part will resemble Fig. 534. The lower portion of the sides O and P, Fig. 534, must be fastened together that the bottom may be tight and secure. Cut a strip of paper a trifle shorter than the length of (Fig. 534), and insert it at the bottom by first folding the strip through the centre lengthwise, then sliding one edge in at O and the other in at P. Push the two sides of the strip well up in the pocket-book, and the bottom will be tightly bound (Fig. 535). Turn the pocket-book right side up, and you will find two nice, firm little pockets. Slip your finger in one pocket and pull out the point to serve as a cover (Fig. 536). Cut a short slit through one layer of the front of the pocket-book for securing the point of the cover when the pocket-book is closed (Fig. 537).

and let your little friends call and purchase whatever they choose.

Be careful in making change that there are no mistakes, and insist that each customer count the money received in change before leaving the store. If you wish to be very business-like, take account of all goods sold. Write down the articles with the measure or weight and the price received, as nearly as possible as accounts are kept in real stores. Should customers keep you too busy to put down the items yourself, let another person act as bookkeeper and cashier, and when you make a sale call out to your assistant the item with amount sold and money received; for instance, should a boy purchase a pound of sugar, call to the bookkeeper: "One pound of sugar, ten cents;" then turn your attention to the next customer while your comrade writes down the amount. If the weather continues fine, you can leave your store undisturbed for several days in succession and conduct it after school hours.

manufacture it of strips of bright-colored paper rolled into the form of paper lighters about the length and thickness of ordinary stick candy. These mingled together in a separate glass jar or piled upon the counter add to the attractiveness of the store. Hard lump candy of various-sized pebbles will probably sell well, but if upon trial the demand is not as great as desired, you might wrap each pebble in a bit of bright paper to enhance its appearance; then the customers will doubtless invest more liberally in the gay-colored sweetmeats. Small candy balls, red and white, may be made of the red and white clover-heads picked close to the blossom, leaving no sign of the green stem visible. Keep the different colors separate, placing all of the red clover candy flat down in one layer on the inside of a box-lid, where it will look bright and pretty. The upturned edges of the lid prevent the clover from rolling out. White-clover candy will appear to better advantage if you place a piece of colored tissue-paper in a box-lid, allowing the edges of the paper to stand up a trifle beyond the sides before arranging the white clover in the lid. Gather a variety of grasses, roots, and leaves, tie them up in little bunches with strings formed of several pieces of long grass twisted or braided together, and sell them as soup-seasoning herbs. Large bouquets of white clover-blossoms with long stems and no leaves when bunched together, forming a white mass on the top, and then surrounded by large green leaves tied in place with braided grass, make excellent imitations of cauliflowers. Use the round, flat hollyhock-seed for crackers; peel off the outside green cover and the crackers will be white. You can pretend large-sized poppy-seed vessels are green tomatoes, which your customers will be glad to buy for making pickles. Have everything connected with your store neat and orderly, and conduct it in a business-like manner.

Do not forget to make bars of soap of moist clay or earth. Have the clay only soft enough to mould and cut with an old knife; when of the right consistency form the cakes, making them all the same size. Cut the edges smooth and even and lay the soap on a board in the sun to harden sufficiently to handle with ease.

You might also use moist clay for butter, and cut off portions as customers call for it, weighing the butter in your scales to obtain the exact quantity desired by each purchaser. Now try and think of other supplies you can make of the moist clay.

CHAPTER XXVIII

SELECT one rose from the many you have gathered and hold the blossom tenderly while you look down into its heart and breathe in its beauty and fragrance; then gently turn the rose over and find how wonderfully all the petals fit in and are held together in their pretty green cup with its long green streamers, which we call the calyx. Is there any flower more beautiful? See how daintily it is formed, how exquisite the coloring and how wonderful the texture! Could a manufacturer furnish you with such enchanting material from which to make your toys?

Carefully detach the rose petals one by one, beginning with the outermost and largest. Be cautious not to bruise or injure the fragile little things. Cut the sail and mast all in one piece from tissue-paper (Fig. 538). Fold the mast over twice, according to the dotted lines, that it may be stiff and able to stand erect. Bend the lower portion of the mast as in Fig. 539. Paste the inner sides of the fold together, and it will form a flat piece extending out on each side of the mast (Fig. 540). Over the bottom of this spread the least bit of strong paste or glue and place the mast well forward on one of the largest rose petals. The portion of the petal which grew inside the calyx forms the front part or bow of the boat. Have the mast stand perfectly erect; if it is inclined to bend toward either side, straighten it and keep it upright. Before launching the vessel allow a few moments for the glue to dry, then lift the boat very carefully by the top of the mast with your thumb and first finger and set it down on the water, which must be without even a ripple. When once the boat is well launched the waves may come with slight risk of damage to the craft.

Let the first boat be of a large pink rose petal and have its sail of the same color.

of white rose petals with white sails and join the boats with a strip of white tissue-paper. Paste one end of the paper strip on the inner part of the right-hand side of one boat and fasten the other end of the paper strip on the inner part of the left-hand side of the other boat, allowing sufficient space between the two boats to keep them from touching. The twins will then sail together like two beautiful white sea-gulls floating on the crest of a wave.

Take one of the green leaves and fasten on it a green sail different in shape from the white (Fig. 541). Place this boat with the other pretty craft on the miniature lake in the large glass dish or basin. Though not so fragile and delicate, the green bark is charming. Agitate and move the water as the boats lie at anchor, and watch the effect. Drifting, floating, and dancing, the fleet of tiny boats will begin to move: the mingling of the different tints and colors, the various beautiful reflections cast in the clear water by the little vessels with their spreading sails, form a delightful fairy-like spectacle. Fig. 542 gives only a faint idea of the actual scene, which is all color, life, fragrance, and beauty.

When you keep the dainty fleet on the water in-doors, it ought to remain in good condition for several days. If you wish to have the

dig a hole in the ground sufficiently large and deep to hold the pan you intend to use as a lake. Sink the tin in the hole, fit it in perfectly steady and firm, then pour clear water into the pan, and when it is quiet launch the fleet.

like Fig. 544, to help you enjoy the boats, a girl who can stand by the water and watch the sailing-vessels; you can make such a one of a rose turned upside down. Choose the largest and most fully blown rose for the rose girl. Cut the stem off about two inches from the blossom, and push a common wooden toothpick through the stem midway between the rose and the end of the stem. The toothpick forms the girl's two arms (Fig. 543).

Fashion the head from an old seed-vessel, which you will probably find still clinging to one of the rose-bushes. First make a small hole quite deep in the top of the seed-vessel; then push the end of the stem of the rose up into the head (Fig. 543). Run each toothpick arm through a green leaf and use a white or pale-pink rose petal for the girl's face (Fig. 544). Pin the petal to the head with four rose thorns, using two for the eyes, one for the nose, and one for the mouth. Pin a rose petal on the top of the head for a hat. Turn backward two petals, without breaking them from the rose, to form the dress waist; pin or gum one petal to the arms and neck in front and the other to the arms and neck at the back. Then stick three wooden toothpicks in the top of the rose (Fig. 544); place the toothpicks so they will form a tripod, two on a line across the front and the third a trifle back of and midway between the front ones. These three toothpicks will enable the rose girl to stand alone; the two foremost serve as legs and the other as a support. You can make feet of two green leaves stuck on the ends of the two front toothpicks (Fig. 544).

of her own, enclosed by a fence made of green leaves, thorns, short slender sticks and a pliable rose stem. Bend the stem into an arch and pin it down to a board with ordinary pins, each end over a green leaf (Fig. 545). Begin at the bottom and attach the leaves to the arch with thorns, allowing all leaves to point upward. Decorate one side, then begin again at the bottom and fasten leaves on the other side; finish the arch by pinning a leaf upright in the centre. Build the fence of green leaves pinned together at their sides with slender sticks or broom straws; stand the fence upright in a circular form, and fasten one end leaf on each side of the arch (Fig. 546).

you might call it "The Feast of Roses," and decorate the four corners of a wee table with vases which would rival in color and beauty the famous "Peachblow Vase" for which such a fabulous price was paid. Make the little vases of large pink rosebuds; those beginning to unfold are the best. Peel off the outside petals and, grasping each bud, in turn, near its base with the thumb and first two fingers, gently work it back and forth until it is loosened and can be removed entire without damage. Stand each vase on a level surface and gather spears of grass to place in them. Push some of the grass ends down into the vases, but do not crowd them; have only two or three in each vase (Fig. 547). The pink color of the vase will contrast pleasingly with the green of the grass, and the feast will be laden with the delicate perfume of roses. You might candy different colored rose petals by dipping them in hot sugar syrup boiled until it spins like a thread, and then drying the petals separately on oiled paper; they will be appropriate for the party.

to take out walking in her garden. Cut a green leaf of a rose like Fig. 548. Cover the top with a rose petal gummed on around its edges, and the turtle will be ready for a stroll (Fig. 549).

for the finger-head by lapping two petals over each other, leaving the outer edges for the sides and bottom of the cap. Gum one petal upon the other and put the cap on your finger (Fig. 550).

We have not enough rose petals to serve for a shower, as had a Roman emperor long ago when he made bushels of them rain down upon his guests from the ceiling of his banquet-hall, but we can collect sufficient

some pretty designs. You will need neither paints nor brushes, for the roses are the colors and deft little fingers the brushes. You must take the paints as you find them and work this way: Place two cream-colored petals on a smooth blank paper laid over a flat surface (Fig. 551); arrange two pink petals partially over the light ones (Fig. 552); lay down a stem from which you have taken the thorns (Fig. 553); add to the flower a fifth petal, which should be pink, and you will have painted a pansy (Fig. 554). Cut two of the green leaves of the rose according to Fig. 555, and place them as if growing at different distances on opposite sides of the stem (Fig. 556). Glue or strong paste dropped sparingly on the paper where you intend to put the centre of the flower will hold the petals in position, and, if necessary, you may use a trifle more glue as the work proceeds.

Rose butterflies do not look exactly like real ones, but they are very pretty, and you can readily paint one. Arrange two large red rose petals for the front wings (Fig. 557); slightly over-lapping the lower edges of these lay two smaller white petals, and make the body of a green leaf cut like Fig. 558. Gum it down over the lengthwise centre of the group of petals.

are very easy to paint. Take the rose calyx, cut off its lower half and place the calyx flat down on smooth blank white paper; it resembles a five-pointed star.

Under the tip of each point slide the inner end of a rose petal, any color you choose. Between each two rose petals gum a green leaf (Fig. 559). Now take away the star centre and use rose petals in its place, and you will have a "rose window" design. Try alternating red and dark-red velvet petals, or use all yellow petals. In this way you may form a variety of patterns painted with roses.

pin them together in a long row with slender sticks or broom straws (Fig. 560). You can weave larger and more substantial wreaths, strong enough to place on your mother's head when crowning her "Queen of Beauty and Kindness." Use the entire blossom mingled with buds and green leaves, all short stemmed, not longer than three or four inches. Bind the stems with string on a circle made of a piece of willow or some other pliable material, and be sure to remove the thorns from all the stems before weaving the wreath (Fig. 561).

Try to find some new beauty in every rose you see this summer. Write it all down, and the following June you will discover still other beauties to jot in your rose book.

CHAPTER XXIX

THERE is a charm in the very word picnic, for it brings with it a breezy, wholesome, out-of-door atmosphere, quickening the pulse and causing the lips to smile with delight and the eyes to sparkle with merriment. A genuine American picnic means a jolly little party in the open air with plenty of space for all sorts of games and amusements; and then the dinner! Its equal could not be enjoyed in an ordinary dining-room. There is no need of chairs when the party is gathered around the feast, for the novelty and fascination of sitting on the ground while dining are thoroughly enjoyed, and everyone knows how delicious a mere bit of bread and butter may taste when eaten from the low, green table, the general enchantment of place and scene giving an added flavor.

June is the ideal time for picnics; in this month there are so many perfect days, when none should work, but all should play, that one is prompted to plan for a little fun and frolic, including an informal

which shall form part of the programme of the entertainment. Choose for the ride a large, roomy wagon, remove all the seats except the one reserved for the driver, and fill the bottom of the vehicle with plenty of fresh, clean straw. Let all the party be seated on this, have within reach warm wraps for protection in case of cooler weather or a shower; and stow the luncheon away under the seat of the driver. The horse should not be too spirited for such an occasion, and the driver must be a strong, reliable man who understands perfectly the management of the reins. Thus equipped, with two or three grown persons in charge, the girls and boys may throw care to the winds and enjoy their ride over hill and dale, through sweet meadows and along leafy lanes dappled with golden sunshine; again on the highway, past field and wood, driving gayly along until the picnic ground is reached.

Should the ride be more than a mile or two, the way may be beguiled with gay songs and choruses, or games in which all may join while sitting quietly in their places. Such a game is the old one

It is played with the hands only; each person doubles up his right hand, resting it on his lap and allowing his thumb to stand erect (Fig. 562). When all are in position the leader calls out: "Simon says 'Thumbs down,'" at the same time turning his thumb downward (Fig. 563). All follow his example; then comes the bidding "Thumbs up," and many will resume the first position before they realize that the leader omitted to prefix the order with "Simon says." Therein lies the catch, for no command must be obeyed unless it comes from Simon.

The leader proceeds with "Simon says, 'Thumbs up,'" then up must go all thumbs, and when "Simon says 'Wiggle waggle,'" all move their thumbs from side to side while the hand rests in position (Fig. 564)—dotted lines show the swing of the thumb. If any neglect to do so it counts one against him; next comes the order "Stop"; the thumbs continuing to wag, the leader calls "Simon says 'Thumbs stop.'" The leader may command a change in the position and movement of the hand and thumb according to his fancy, but the hand cannot be unclasped nor the thumb folded down during the game. Three failures count the player out, and he must then content himself with watching the others until the play ends. The leader, being privileged, follows all directions in order to confuse the others. The game is short, consisting of ten commands from the leader. It may be played with sides, the group dividing into two parties; the young people at one end of the wagon form one side, while those at the other end constitute the other side. The party losing fewest players wins the game.

At a given signal each boy and girl must close both eyes tight and make a wish, not opening the eyes until the leader calls out "Look," when all may scan the blue heavens and the surrounding country in search of birds. The first to discover one cries out "Bird," which insures the fulfilment of the wish. The other players are obliged to try again. There being but three chances in this game, only three of the company can be sure of successful wishes.

Ask each boy and girl to repeat in turn these lines:

The words must not be recited too slowly, as that would spoil the sport. Let the verse be said a trifle faster than ordinary speech. The tongues of most of the players will probably become twisted, causing the words to sound unintelligible to the rest of the company, and a hearty laugh will follow the effort. Only one trial is accorded each player. When the line has gone the rounds, repeat in the same manner:

These little trials of skill in speech not only give you much fun, but at the same time they cure hesitancy of speech and brighten the mind; but do not let that frighten you and deter you from profiting by the sport. Never be afraid of advantageous learning; let it come in what guise it may, it will surely add to your pleasure as well as your worth.

When the picnic grounds are reached and all have had time to look about, everyone will be ready for exercise. So prepare for a grand rush after one of the group chosen as

who, stepping directly in front of the others, calls "Ready," when the group standing still immediately sings to the air of "Yankee Doodle,"

At the word "ready" the "deer" starts to run, and as the pursuers cannot follow until the song is ended, the "deer" has time to get a certain distance ahead before the others give chase; this they do as they sing the last word in the verse. The "deer" runs a short distance, circles around and returns to the starting-point, or "home" as it is called, the followers endeavoring to catch him before he reaches his goal.

After resting from this game bring the rope from its hiding-place in the wagon, also the long board stowed away flat against the side of the vehicle, and in less time than you imagine the rope can be securely fastened on a strong branch of a tree to serve as

while the board may be used for a "Teeter-tarter"; balance the plank across a log or the lower bars of a fence; then when two players take their seats at the ends of the board, if it is properly adjusted, they will rise and sink alternately as the ends move up and down, keeping time as the players sing:

If the players are of unequal weight, the heavier one shortens his half of the plank by shoving it along farther across the fence or log, preserving in this way the equilibrium. To start the "Teeter-tarter" one of the players should give a slight spring upward with the feet while retaining his sitting posture on the board.

early, as the brisk drive in the morning air tends to stimulate the appetite. Bring the lunch-boxes to the place selected for the meal; let one person take full charge and give directions, while the others unpack, build the fire, and go to the spring for water.

The lunch should have been packed in paper boxes, to avoid the care of baskets. In the first box might be the loaves of fresh uncut bread and a tin baking-powder can of sweet butter, the bread to be cut into thin slices, buttered and prepared for sandwiches of various kinds. These can be easily made by adding either the chopped nuts that have been packed in a separate small box, or crisp lettuce leaves which have been detached from the stalk, well cleaned and sprinkled with fresh water, then carefully placed by themselves in a box lined with waxed or oiled paper such as is used by confectioners for sweetmeats. Or the sandwiches may be of sliced ham, tongue, roast-beef or lamb, each kind of meat being folded in waxed paper and packed in its own box. When the different articles of food are managed in this way they are much more attractive and palatable, each retaining its own flavor, and there is no danger of their being mashed and jumbled together, as happens too often when the dinner is indifferently arranged and put together in a thoughtless manner.

Fig. 525.—Fold down the two top corners until they meet.	Fig. 526.—Fold the other two corners in the same way.
Fig. 527.—Fold top point to meet centre of folded edge.	Fig. 528.—Fold bottom point to meet centre of folded edge.

Fig. 532.—Fold under the other side.	Fig. 533.—Bend backward until top and bottom meet.	Fig. 534.—Showing under part of pocket-book.
Fig. 535.—Bottom of pocket-book tightly bound.	Fig. 536.—Pointed cover of pocket-book.	Fig. 537.—Pocket-book closed.

Fig. 550.—Rose-petal cap for finger-head.	Fig. 551.—Two cream-colored rose-petals for part of pansy.	Fig. 552.—Pink rose petals partially over light ones.
Fig. 553.—Pansy ready for last rose petal.	Fig. 554.—Pansy ready for green leaves.	Fig. 555.—Pansy green leaf cut from rose leaf.