—beautiful bubbles, which float and glide in the air with all the charm of clay-pipe bubbles? Mix strong soapsuds, dip one end of a large spool in the water; wet the spool, then blow. If the bubble refuses to appear, dip the spool in the water again, put your head down to the spool and blow a few bubbles while the spool is in the water, then quickly raise it and try again. Nine times out of ten you will succeed, and a bubble will swell out from the spool as in Fig. 510. These wooden bubble-blowers last a long time, with no danger of breaking when accidentally dropped on the floor, and you may always find enough to provide each of your playmates with one when you meet for a trial of skill in bubble-blowing.

After you tire of this sport try the

Cut a butterfly (Fig. 511) from bright-colored tissue-paper or thin writing-paper, bend at dotted line and paste Fig. 511.
Fig. 511. on the large end of a very small cork. Fit the small end of the cork in top of the hole Fig. 512.
Fig. 512. of an empty spool (Fig. 512). Then blow through the spool and see the butterfly ascend rapidly to the ceiling and float down again. If you could make several different colored butterflies, you might invite some young friends to help you fill the room with the pretty winged creatures.

Take another empty spool and stick a common wire hairpin partially into the hole, bend the hairpin slightly down against the edge of the hole, do the same with three more hair-pins, and you will have a spool with a funnel-like opening of hair-pins at the top (Fig. 513). In the funnel place a small, light-weight ball made of a crushed bit of bright paper wound around with thread. Raise the spool to your lips and blow gently (Fig. 514). The ball will rise and fall in mid-air, in the same way that you have seen one of rubber dance at the top of a small fountain or jet of water.

Spools may do duty as

and from them sticks be made to fly quite a distance. Select a large-sized spool, cut the rim off one end, cut two dents, one on each side of the shaved end of the spool, and then tie over this end a piece of black cotton elastic. On each side tack a large button-mould; these serve for wheels and also cover the fastening of the elastic. Paint the cannon black, and it is ready for use. Insert a stick, pull it back with the elastic, and fire; the stick will shoot swiftly through the air.

There are many other toys, besides useful articles, which can be made of empty spools. Find out by experimenting what they are, so you may have the triumph of originality, of making things which differ from articles made by others.

The empty spools do not cost money, nor does the pasteboard from old pasteboard boxes, yet they may furnish more genuine enjoyment than could be derived from the most expensive toys.

When the air is cold and frosty, and people move quickly through the streets, stopping to loiter only in front of the shop windows; when groups of merry girls hurry along on their way to school, their cheeks, glowing rosy under the brisk greetings of a northwest wind; when the evergreens displayed for sale upon the sidewalks send forth a spicy odor which ascends like incense and the very atmosphere seems pulsating with pleasurable excitement, there is no need of a calendar to tell us that the holidays are close at hand. As surely as a cloudless sky betokens a fine day, so surely do these signs indicate that Christmas will soon be with us.

Purse-strings, even if kept tightly drawn the rest of the year, are loosened now, and money is spent freely and ungrudgingly, not only for gifts, but also for Christmas greens with which to decorate and beautify the home.

Stars, wreaths, and ropes of evergreen and holly will soon adorn the interior of almost every house. There are always plenty of willing hands ready and eager to help, but there should be a head to devise a plan of decoration and to direct and superintend the carrying out of the idea; for there is no necessity for festooning a room and hanging up stars and wreaths in the same way year after year. A great variety of new designs may be made.

For instance, Fig. 515 shows a beautiful and

composed simply of ropes of evergreen fastened to the curtain pole by looping one end of a rope over the pole, bringing it down and tying it securely to the same rope just under the pole. Each piece is fastened on separately and hangs loosely down.

Fig. 520 is a

grouped to form a pretty wall decoration, the design symbolizing the star of Bethlehem and the shepherds who, watching their flocks by night, heard the angel chorus “Peace on earth, good-will toward men.”

Make the star of five flat sticks (laths will do), two and a half feet long, and put them together as shown in Fig. 521; then cover the frame with holly so that Fig. 521.
Fig. 521. none of the wood is visible. Make the crook of a broomstick, to which fasten with strong twine, or flexible wire, a piece of rather stiff wire bent in the shape of Fig. 522. Wrap evergreen closely around the wire and stick until every bit is covered and it looks like one piece. Then place the crook behind the star and wire or tie it in place.

Fig. 516 is

on a background of evergreen, the rays being made of strips of tinsel which is sold for decorating Christmas-trees. The frame for the background is made like Fig. 517, and should be about two feet square. Over this frame stretch ropes of evergreen, close together, and fasten with tacks at each end. Cut the Fig. 517.
Fig. 517. star from card-board, cover it with crumpled tin-foil and fasten to the centre of the frame with a small nail. Sew tinsel threads on the points of the star before it is secured to the background; then when the star is in place spread out the tinsel in straight rays and fasten it to the frame as shown in illustration (Fig. 516).

Fig. 518 is a design for

upon which one or more candles may be placed. The tin which forms the back of the sconce reflects the light and produces quite a brilliant effect.

Nail a block of wood one and one-half inches square to a piece of tin seven inches wide and fourteen inches long (Fig. 519). Silver or gild a number of pine cones and hang them from the lower edge of the block; then tack evergreen around the three sides as shown in illustration (Fig. 518). Fasten the sconce to the wall with small nails driven through each corner of the tin and place on the bracket a candlestick containing a lighted candle.

One of the most quickly made

and one which has never been thought of until now, is of tin-foil, the common kind of foil to be found at the florist’s. It also comes around cakes of chocolate, rolls of cream-cheese, and large packages of tea. You can make the trimming any length desired by pasting strips o f the tin-foil together, but, before joining the pieces, fold one at a time and cut slashes on each side nearly across to the opposite edge as in Fig. 523. Unfolded, the strip resembles Fig. 524; pulled at each end it opens and lengthens out into Fig. 525.

This decoration catches the light and glistens beautifully, but it must be handled Fig. 525.
Fig. 525. carefully and not laid down after it is stretched open. As soon as ready hang the strips upon the tree, where they will be Fig. 524.
Fig. 524. safe. The best plan is to make these loopings after the other decorations are finished and on the tree. When the pieces are cut they are more easily handled if but a few are put together at a time before they are pulled open; then the decoration will appear in perfect shape and look like polished shining silver hanging in delicate, graceful festoons.

Another effective trimming made of tin-foil is in the form of

Fig. 526 shows fringe partially cut; use three layers of the foil and cut them into fringe; then take a strong, coarse string and twist the tin-foil fringe around and around it, forming a rope of silvery fringe (Fig. 527).

An ornament that delights children, the idea of which comes from Germany, is a jolly little black

with his funny broom held high in air. He wears a peaked white hat and carries a bag filled with goodies. He is made entirely of prunes (Fig. 528)—one for the head, two for the body, one for each arm, one for each hand, two for each leg and one for each foot. The prunes are Fig. 528.
Fig. 528. strung together with a coarse needle and thread. If he is too limber, give him a backbone by running a slender stick through the back of the head and body. Make him a paper hat shaped like a wide-mouthed horn, and cut out a paper face and paste it on the little man’s head; then tie the sheer white bag across his shoulders, fasten it at the side with a pin and fill the bag with sweets; the broom can be fashioned of a wooden toothpick with a bunch of broom-straws bound upon one end. The happy child who receives the chimney sweep from the tree may devour the prunes when tired of the toy.

Home-made

cut in odd shapes make fine decorations and will be eaten with delight by the young people. Select a simple recipe, roll the dough out flat and cut into the shapes of men, women, animals, and birds. When baked, ornament the cakes with icing put on in thin, slender lines; in most instances outline the figures in white sugar.

Yellow is a color which stands out well in the midst of the dark green foliage of the fir, and

may be used to supply it. A few can be hung to the tree by means of ribbons; others may be made into pretty little Fig. 529.
Fig. 529. baskets and filled with the candied sections of orange. Tie a piece of tape or any kind of band around an orange as a guide for cutting the rind evenly; stick two pins on each side to designate the location and width of the handles; then, with the small blade of a knife carefully cut Fig. 530.
Fig. 530. the handle, keeping it the same width all the way from side to side. Next cut the rind along the edge of the tape (Fig. 529). Remove the skin, in bits if necessary, to avoid tearing the handle or edge of the basket. Work the inside juicy fruit free from the remaining rind and take it out of the basket (Fig. 530). If there is difficulty in doing this, cut the fruit out in pieces. Pass a narrow ribbon under the basket and up over the handle, tie the ends; then bind them around under and over Fig. 531.
Fig. 531. the middle of the handle, finishing with a bow-knot on top. The ribbon strengthens the handle, without it the weight of the basket when hung on the tree would cause it to break from the handle and fall.

Fill the orange basket, with sections of the fruit, which have received a brittle coating by being dipped in clear, hot, home-made sugar candy (Fig. 531).

Make a number of pretty,

of pasteboard cut in different shapes and covered with various colored paper. One in imitation of a large stick of peppermint candy may be made of a strip of stiff white paper ten or twelve inches long and three and one-half inches wide; unruled writing-paper will do. Paste the two lengthwise edges together, forming a cylinder. Around this paste a long, narrow strip of bright-red paper, wrapping it spirally around the white tube. Slash two circular pieces of paper around the edges so that the disks may fit into the ends of the roll when the slashed portions are bent forward. Fix one of the round pieces in the bottom of the box with mucilage. When dry fill the box with small bits of candy or kernels of nuts; then glue a loop of narrow ribbon or one of red worsted at the top, fasten in the round cover, and hang the box on the tree.

Be sure to save some of the prettiest paper for

Cut them according to the dark portion of Fig. 532, and make the white-paper lining extend higher than the outside. Fig. 532.
Fig. 532. Fig. 533.
Fig. 533. Glue the two papers together, inserting a narrow ribbon for a handle between outside and inside papers. Let the colored paper project a quarter of an inch beyond one side of the lining in order that the edge A may fit neatly over the lining B (Fig. 532), avoiding unnecessary bulkiness where the two sides join. Ornament the cornucopias in different ways, according to fancy and the material you happen to have for the purpose. Fig. 533 shows a gold-paper cornucopia decorated with white beading on a scarlet ground and a fancy picture in a red and white embossed frame. You can also make little bright-colored cheese-cloth

by cutting them out and sewing the edges together with far apart button-hole stitches of gay worsted. When finished fill them with sugar-plums or small cakes.

made small and button-holed in the same way, with drawstrings of worsted, look well on the tree when filled with nuts or pop-corn, and little bird’s-nests of egg-shells covered with moss and filled with eggs of sugar are charming.

of gold paper with scarlet-paper berries will make the tree very gay. Cut the gilt paper into a number of squares Fig. 534.
Fig. 534. (Fig. 534), fold each piece through the centre (Fig. 535), and fold again, forming a small square (Fig. 536). Crease this diagonally through the centre and Fig. 535.
Fig. 535. cut according to the dotted lines of Fig. 537, clipping off the point C to make a hole in the centre of the design. Open out the paper, and it will be a conventionalized group of Christmas holly leaves (Fig. 538). Fold smaller squares of red paper in the same manner and cut the design shown by Fig. 536.
i_254-fig536-537.jpg Fig. 536.
Fig. 537. Fig. 538.
i_254-fig538-540.jpg Fig. 538.
Fig. 540. the dotted lines of Fig. 539, unfold and the paper will be a formal pattern of red berries (Fig. 540). Now lay the berries (Fig. 540) out flat on the leaves (Fig. 538), adjust the two together; then lift the berries, put a little glue on the edge of the hole and fasten the berries on the leaves, pasting them together at the centres only. Fasten another layer of leaves on the other side of the berries, also at the centre, putting the berries between the leaves. To the tips of the large leaves on the last group (D, E, F, and G—Fig. 538) fasten the tips of corresponding Fig. 539.
Fig. 539. leaves on another bunch; at the centre of these glue more berries, then leaves, with their four tips pasted to four Fig. 541.
Fig. 541. other leaf tips, and so on, following, in order, leaves, berries, leaves with points pasted to points of other leaves, then berries again (Fig. 541), making the rope of golden holly as long as needed. Tie a strong string to a small circle of gilded card-board and run it through the holes in the festoon. You can close the holly and berry garland up flat against the card-board ring by shoving the leaves and berries together down the string, as an accordion shuts flat when one side is pushed toward the other. In this way the trimming may be kept in good order and packed safely to serve again next year.

look tempting on a Christmas tree. They are easy to make, and taste very good indeed. Have the fire clear and hot, with no flames, and put in the popper at one time only enough corn to cover the bottom a single kernel deep; shake the popper constantly while the corn is over the fire until it has all popped. Then boil one-quarter of Fig. 542.
Fig. 542. a cupful of molasses with a little sugar until it hardens in water, remove from the fire before it turns brittle and pour it over two quarts of corn. Mix well with your hands, make into balls about the size of lemons, suspend the sweet, white ornaments from the twigs, and use the remaining corn for a different decoration. String a lot of the flower-like kernels with a large needle and strong thread, loop the strands from branch to branch, and the snowy ropes will lighten up the foliage beautifully (Fig. 542).

with knots of narrow red satin ribbon tied here and there on the strands, make a fine Fig. 543.
Fig. 543. decoration.

wrapped in yellow, red, white, light blue, and pale-green fringed tissue-paper (Fig. 543) and tied on pendent lengths of string, three or four to each (Fig. 544), and attached at varying lengths to the limbs of the tree are a Fig. 544.
Fig. 544. splendid decoration, for these peanut kisses give quite a gala appearance to the tree.

Do not forget to have some form of

bracelets or necklaces—not of gleaming precious stones nor yet of gold or silver, but of toothsome nut kernels and delicious, dark rich raisins. With needle and strong thread string first a peanut, then a raisin, a peanut, a raisin, an almond, a raisin, a filbert, Fig. 545.
Fig. 545. a raisin, and so on, using as many kinds of nuts as you deem best (Fig. 545). The girl or boy receiving this necklace will be charmed and later may devour the queer beads one by one as they are pulled from the string.

A simple decoration is made of

the first link being formed of a narrow strip of paper pasted together into a ring; the next link is a piece of paper passed through the first ring before the two ends are joined. Each succeeding link of the chain is made in a similar manner. Rosy apples are acceptable as ornaments and are always to be found on the tree in Germany, the land that first introduced the Christmas tree to other countries.

There is one style of ornamental gift which in Germany must hang on the tree until New Year’s Day—the

(Fig. 546). The preparation of these can be made a delightful frolic if there are several young persons in the secret. Fig. 546.
i_258-fig546-548.jpg Fig. 546.
Fig. 548. Fig. 547.
Fig. 547. Crack open the nuts so there will be two perfect half shells to each (Fig. 547). Inside the empty nut place a motto or device which will tell the fortune, or part of it, of the recipient of the gift. Ideas will come to you as the work goes on. For a hint to help a little at the Fig. 549.
Fig. 549. start, cut two hearts of red paper and fasten them together with a dart made of a pin and piece of white paper (Fig. 548). This denotes that the girl or boy who gets it will be the first to marry. Fig. 549, the water-color brush, means that the happy lad or lassie to whose lot it falls will be an artist. Fig. 550 signifies ability to appreciate music. Fig. 551 ensures Fig. 550.
Fig. 550. plenty of worldlyworldly goods. One suggestion gives rise to another, and you will think of more than enough for all the empty nutshells. After the “fortune” is placed within the nut, glue the halves firmly together. When dry, work a tack in the end where the stem grew, twisting it slowly that the shell may not split or break. When the tack seems firmly in place, gild the entire nut, including the tack; tie a strong string on this and hang the “fortune” on the tree. As Fig. 551.
Fig. 551. all the nuts look exactly alike, no one can tell which is which—not even those who made them will know who receives the different “fortunes” until the nuts are opened and the secrets revealed.

Most of the ideas given are for a daytime Christmas tree where lights are not used. If candles are employed, no paper festoons can be placed on the tree. Lights are always dangerous, and the tree may be quite brilliant without them.

Toys and useful little articles, such as you can make as presents for all the members of the family, big and little, and for friends, will surely add to the interest and appearance of the tree.

“Christmas gift! Christmas gift! Ah, I've caught you! Hand over my present!” With a gay laugh the children exchange this salutation, without a thought of the request ever being granted, but simply for the fun of being the first to call out the Christmas greeting. Sometimes the forfeit is paid, usually with a handful of nuts or candy, a pretty trifle or anything the captive happens to have convenient at the moment. The giver enjoys the fun fully as much as the recipient, and with a hop, skip, and jump departs in hopes of likewise finding a fellow-playmate or some member of the family off guard, that she may, in turn, be the first to wish a “Merry Christmas” and claim a gift.

is a charming device for delivering gifts intended for one person, and the fun and expectancy last the entire day.

Cover the outside of a new tin pan with plaited white tissue-paper, and paste the paper along the top and over the bottom edges. Decide on the number of gifts you intend the pie to contain, and cut a corresponding number of slits in the circular piece of white tissue-paper which is to form the top crust (Fig. 552). Wrap each present in a bright-colored piece of tissue-paper, and tie with a narrow ribbon Fig. 552.
Fig. 552. of like hue (Fig. 553); be sure to fasten the knot on top of the package securely, so there will be no possibility of its slipping from the parcel when it is jerked out of its bed of bran. Fill the pan with bran or sawdust, arrange the gifts on top in the order you wish, then put more bran over the parcels, heaping it in the centre; thread each ribbon through its respective slit in the cover and bring the cover Fig. 553.
Fig. 553. cautiously down over the pudding without tearing. Gather the edge a little at a time with your fingers, and paste it down over the sides (Fig. 554).

Paste a double-edged fringe of white tissue-paper around the top edge of the pie. To do this, fold several Fig. 554.
Fig. 554. slips of paper, as in Fig. 555; fold again through the centre and cut in a fringe (Fig. 556). Open the fringe, gather it in the centre with thread and needle, and at short distances sew on tiny bells; then fasten the fringe in place (Fig. 557). Puncture a hole with a large needle in the centre of the top of the pie, and insert a twig of holly.

Cut as many small squares of writing-paper as you have ribbons, label each with the hour when the present Fig. 555.
Fig. 555. Fig. 556.
Fig. 556. is to be drawn, slip them on the ribbons near the ends, and below each tie a little silver bell, as shown in illustration (Fig. 557).

If there are to be only three packages, let one be drawn in the morning, another at noon, and the last in the evening. If more, distribute the gifts as evenly as possible through the day.

is another means of delivering the Christmas gifts, and the delight of the children when they see their presents come tumbling down the chimney in a way they have only dreamed of, will repay the thought expended in preparing the surprise.

Two wooden packing boxes, one about four feet square and a foot and a half deep, the other somewhat smaller but of nearly the same depth, form the framework of the fireplace. Stand the large box on its side—the longest side if the box is not exactly square—and the smaller box within it as shown by Fig. 558. Remove the top pieces of both boxes (A B, Fig. 558), and over the top of the small box tack a piece of doubled light-weight wrapping paper. At each end of this false cover fasten securely a piece of strong twine, then puncture two small holes near the centre of the paper and pass the ends of the twine through them, drawing it down as shown by letters C D, Fig. 559. Saw the board, which was taken from the top of the small box, into two pieces, and place them in a slanting position reaching from the top edge of the small box to the upper corners of the large one (letters E F, Fig. 560). The Fig. 558.
Fig. 558. boards are kept from slipping by small nails driven half way into the edge of the small box. Cover the spaces at the sides and top, between the two boxes, with heavy brown wrapping paper, tacking it smoothly down along the edges. This paper should be marked to represent bricks. Pile a few sticks of charred wood on the inside hearth Fig. 559.
Fig. 559. and, to make it appear that they are still smouldering, tack red tinsel paper upon them here and there.

Into the receptacle at the top of the mantel (letter G, Fig. 560) place all the presents, resting them upon the paper top of the small box. Things Fig. 560.
Fig. 560. that are easily broken should be covered with soft wrappings, for in the grand climax, when the toys roll pell-mell down into the fireplace, the fragile articles might come to grief.

When the last package has been stowed away, replace the top of the large box. Decorate the completed fireplace with evergreen, and bring the two strings, C and D, which hang down upon the hearth, outside, looping them back over tacks at either side of the fireplace, as shown in Fig. 560.

At the appointed time the group of eager children will stand and gaze with awe at the wonderful and mysterious fireplace, which, like a fairy house, has shot up in a night.

Two persons, one on either side, must grasp the strings tightly, and simultaneously give a pull. With a ripping, tearing sound the paper gives way and whiz! bump! bang! the toys come tumbling down, rolling and bounding out on the floor.

Because it is Christmas we find ourselves longing to render little services, to make others happy and cause their eyes to brighten and sparkle with pleasure, for this is the season of giving as well as receiving, and the privilege belongs to all.

If there is a little convalescent in your family or among your acquaintances, one who will not be allowed to share the Christmas dinner, prepare for her a

You can make it very attractive.

Have a Christmas tree for a centre-piece (Fig. 561), a very modest yet charming little affair—only a wee tree fashioned from a branch of boxwood, beautified with homemade toys and decorations cut from gilt and bright-colored papers. Use a large-sized button-mould for the tree stand; push the end of the stem into the hole in the centre of the mould, and the tree will stand alone. Should you have no boxwood, take any green twig and turn it into a miniature Christmas tree by trimming off the ends of the branches until the little tree somewhat resembles a cone in shape. It will require only a few moments to Fig. 561.
Fig. 561. make the tree, and the sick child will exclaim with pleasure at the sight of it.

A house with

climbing down the chimney (Fig. 562) is, in reality, a piece of prosaic bread and butter transformed. After spreading the bread with butter, cut out the door with a sharp, small-bladed knife; then the two windows, and the chimney. Procure a jolly little paper Santa Claus and fasten him in place by making an incision in the top of the chimney and inserting one leg of the figure; serve this on as pretty a plate as you can find, preferably a decorated one.

A Christmas pie is another form of bread and butter. Cut the shape out with a large-sized tin biscuit-cutter, and after buttering the bread mark it into wedge-shaped pieces. Cut a slice or two (Fig. 563), leaving the rest to be cut by the child. If permissible, a little white sugar sprinkled over the top of the pie will enhance its appearance. Layer Fig. 562.
Fig. 562. jelly cake is made of two round pieces of bread and butter, spread lightly, with a Fig. 563.
Fig. 563. layer of chicken jelly placed between and over the top of the cake. Odd designs are always attractive to children and may be introduced in

Make the toast very carefully, allowing the bread to turn only a light brown on both sides, and keep it hot between two hot plates. Toast should be eaten immediately after it comes from the fire; it loses its delicacy Fig. 564.
Fig. 564. Fig. 565.
i_267-fig565-566.jpg Fig. 565.
Fig. 566. by being scorched or served warm or stale instead of fresh and hot. After the rest of the meal is ready on the tray and the two plates are heated, set several tin cake-cutters in the oven to heat; then make the toast with a fork, not a toaster, one piece at a time, and as each is done, cut it while hot into queer forms with the warm cake-cutters. Arrange the pieces on one of the hot plates and cover them with the other. The child will be entertained by the fanciful shapes (Figs. 564, 565, 566), and eat them with a relish.

In place of the family roast, a lamb chop will probably have to do duty as the

Select the best cut and broil the chop skilfully over a clear fire. Let it be well done but not burned; sprinkle with a Fig. 567.
Fig. 567. little salt and pepper. Have ready some fringed tissue-paper and wind it around the end of the chop; decorate with a pretty sprig of Christmas green tied with a narrow ribbon (Fig. 567). Eggs of blanc-mange (Fig. 568) Fig. 568.
Fig. 568. are made by using empty eggshells as moulds. The shells must be wet on the inside when the blanc-mange is poured into them to harden. If it is best for the patient to have only a little blanc-mange, mould in small shells and serve one or two.

is acceptable and can be given in most cases of illness. Instead of using a regular mould pour the liquid jelly into a wineglass, and if the white of an egg has previously been beaten up with the jelly, it will rise in a white foam at the top of the glass; after the jelly has hardened the resemblance will be so close it will be difficult to believe the glass does not contain wine (Fig. 569). The child will enjoy this little make-believe. If fresh

are allowed, cut them as Southern people cut their watermelons (Fig. 570). Slide the knife-blade in the side of the Fig. 571.
Fig. 571. apple, and cut downward, making a slanting outward incision about an inch and a half long; draw out the knife, insert it again at the top of the first cut and make another slit in the opposite direction, the two slits forming the letter A without its cross piece. Again take out the knife and, commencing at the bottom of the second cut, bring the knife upward and outward, as in the right side of the letter V; continue cutting these points until the last one meets the first, being careful to push the knife to the centre of the fruit at each cut. When finished pull the two halves of the apple apart.

Plum pudding the child cannot have, but a fine baked apple will answer the purpose and may be made almost as attractive. Select a baking apple free from all flaws, wash it well and “bake to a turn”; serve steaming hot, with a sprig of holly in the top (Fig. 571).

The next best thing to seeing one’s friends is hearing from them, and the more interesting the letter the greater the enjoyment, particularly when the communication is intended to be passed around the entire home circle. There is a delightful way in which to express yourself differently from ordinary writing, a method used by the early Egyptians, called picture writing. The Egyptian pictures were not at all like those made by modern artists; their representations were crude and unfinished, yet they answered very well for the people and the times. You have advantages over those ancient people inasmuch as you need not even attempt to draw the designs. All that is necessary for you to do is merely to look over the newspaper and magazine advertisements, select the prints needed, and after cutting out and pasting them on a sheet of paper, with a few connecting words between, you will have produced an odd, interesting letter, and the work will be pure fun.