The Sunday Oregonian., December 13, 1903, PART FOUR, Image 35

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THE SimDAT OREGOSTIAN, P0RTLA2JD, DEOEMBER 13, 1903.
32
7N PAGE OF et-fRISTMAS HIMTS FO"R BUSU HOUSEWIVES
MRS BORDEN'S CHRISTMAS ANGEL
BY ANNA S. RICHARDSON
NEW IDEAS FOR DAZZLING THE EYES OF
YOUTHFUL BEHOLDERS
ymDLiLIONS for advertising, but not
11 one cent for sentiment!" ex-
claimed John Borden, with that
firm set of ills colorless lips, which James
Cartwrlght his Junior partner, knew so
welL Still, Cartwrlght made one more ef
fort. "We've done It, Jack, ever since the firm
was organized, and evry mother's son and
daughter of 'em, from foremen to stock
boy, will bo looking for It. Besides. I
don't know but It will hurt our credit to
have the story get around that tho firm
of Borden, Cartwrlght & Co. had failed,
for the first time In eight years, to treat
their ctaployes at Christmas. It's only the
matter of Ave each for the foremen and
candy for the Test and "
"The best answer I can offer y,our ram
bling remarks, Jim, Is to refer you to our
books for the months of September and
October. I'll be hanged if ril add to the
losses the expense of this fool Christmas
treat. I leave tomorrow night for St.
Louis. The Burrell Company is putting
in a shoe department, and I want to cinch
their trade."
"Well, wire Johnson to Jump down
there."
Johnson was their Western man. Bor
den frowned and snapped a rubber band
viciously around a roll of papers.
"I prefer to handle this deal myself and
take no chances. Some one has got to
hustle."
The Implied suggestion of easy tolerance
fell lightly from James Cartwrlghfs
shoulders. If his senior partner "was
bound to give himself up body and soul
to the firm's success the Junior member
would not stand In his -way. Secretly ho
was registering . "ow to have Borden's
mother down for Christmas dinner. The
white-haired old lady. In her impressive
but colorless apartment, had become a
pathetic figure to Jim Cartwrlght and his
sympathetic young wife.
The pathos would have deepened had
ho seen her the next evening at dinner,
when her son remarked carelessly:
"Ha-ve my bag packed by 9 o'clock,
mother. I'm running out to St. Louis or
a few days."
The slender, deep-veined hands of the
little mother fluttered up to straighten her
lace cap. The fingers touched the rib
bon bows, but one arm was carefully held
to shadow her face. Jack was always an
noyed at the sight of tears. Just then he
was carefully mixing the -dressing for his
salad and did not notice that it was some
time before she replied, hesitatingly:
"But day after tomorrow is Christmas,
dear. '
"I know, I know," he answered rather
impatiently. "Jim Cartwrlght has talked
of nothing else for a week. But jou and
I are old enough to have got over such
foolishness. Jim said something about
having you up to dinner, and Mollle's
chatter will keep you from missing me."
"I miss you every hour, every moment."
The words trembled on her lips, but did
not fall. She hud long since ceased to raise
the slightest protest against her son's busi
ness plans. But her salad was taken away
untouched, and good-hearted Irish Maggie
imparted to the cook the information
that either the blunt mange had been
burned or Mr. Borden was in one of his
tantrums, for the lady of the house had
not eaten more than a spoonful of the-des-sert
,
And then they went Into the library, with
Its orderly array of shelves, Jack's severe
and well-appointed desk, and the unfllck
erlng gas log. Somehow that equable, uni
form flame seemed to typify her whole
life.
She took her regular position In the
square rocker.1 Her son took his papers
to the Morris chair, with Its leather p
holstcry. He liked leather. It reminded
him of the shoe business, in which he was
bulldmg up a fortunfe.
In her shadowy corner, reached but
faintly bv the rays from the gxeen-shaded
student lamp, Mrs. Borden rocked gently
and dreamed. She closed her eye's to the
handsome room which represented the
best years of her son's life. At least that
was what he said. To her the beautiful
appointments represented a blank in her
life. The best years? Why, those were
the years when she and her husband, with
their golden-haired boy, had lived in a
small town In Western New York. They
all passed in review before her the flrst
trousers ho had worn, his flrst frightened,
awesome day In school, his torn clothes,
his pinched fingers, his little Joys and
smaller sorrows, his birthday treats, hl3
Christmas trees, his well-fllled stockings!
Yes, those had been the best days, before
he had invaded the big Massachusetts
town to make the shoes his father had
been content to sell. As his business had
grown, he had passed moro and more out
of her life. Surrounding her with every
i
THE NEW STYLE CHRISTMAS TREE, SHOWING THE DOMINOES OF
CAKE, BROWNIES, XJTTLE JAPANESE IANTERNS IN PLACE OF
CANDLES, FLAG DECORATED APPJLES AND STRING PAPER? OB- ,
ANGES HOLDING GIFTS. ,
comfort, giving her a liberal allowance, he
felt his duty done. Himself be gave to the
accumulation of wealth,, The review of .
years seemed suddenly to gallop faster J
and faster. Her head drooped. A figure
in soft white draperies seemed to bend
over her. The face was the face of an I
angel, and a vplce murmured gently, "I
bring back your boy."
With a glad cry Mrs. Borden started
up and found her hot, trembling hand
clasped In the firm, cool one of her son.
"well, I am oft, mother. The cab's at
the door. You've had a nice nap. Take
good care of yourself until I get back."
And with a perfunctory kiss he was
gone. Mrs. Bordon's head drooped again,
and the tears fell freely.
"Where are we, porter?" demanded
Borden, waking to a sudden realization
that the train was not moving, and that
daylight was streaming under the curtain
of his berth window.
"Just east of Syracuse, sir," replied the
colored man. "Your shoes will be ready
in a minute, sir, and the first call for
breakfast has been given, sir."
"But what are we stopping here for?"
Borden demanded with the irritation of
interrupted rest. He could never sleep
on board a train unless the car was in
motion. ,
"Freight wreck, sin. Rear-end col
lision and two men killed, sir."
"Too bad," said Borden, ducking back
Into his berth; but he was not thinking
of the two men only of a probable wait
of hours. Waiting always got on his
nerves.
He dressed deliberately, having the
washroom and smoking apartment prac
tically to himself. The rest of the male
travelers were tiding over the delay in
slumber.
The dlnlng,-car was also deserted at
this early hour, and each of the elx
waiters looked at him with expectant
eyes and Itching palms. He took a seat
midway down the car and studied the
menu with the air of a man who had
time to kill. Then Tie leaned back to
make the best of the Albany papers.
There was a stir at the door. The
dining car conductor stepped forward to
usher in a trim figure, clad In a pedestrian
skirt of mannish material, a tailored
shirtwaist and a smart, stiff hat with
coquettish wings on one side. Hers was
not a girlish face, but the face well pre
served and brightened by experience
cheerfully accepted. She was well
groomed and radiated not the slckenlngly
heavy perfume which some women af
fect to offset the fetid atmosphere of the
train; but the, clean, almost keen air of
one who has Just returned from a brisk
walk In the Winter air.
"Fruit yes, oranges and cracked
wheat"
The Albany paper slipped to the floor
and Borden swung round so suddenly
that his tweed coat sleeve almost knocked
over the cream pitcher. f
He had not heard the voice for seven
years, jet it came to him with the clear
ness of a bell and something' more. The
girl was looking out of the window now,
and he studied her profile curiously. It
had changed. The roundness was gone,
with the dimpled mischief that had
brought on his flrst affair of the heart
By Jovel he wondered, had his mother
thrown away the little pearl ring? It
bad laid in a box with some other boyish
trinkets.. She had returned it in a fine
pet, when he told her he was going away
from Clayville to make his fortune. She
had wanted to be married then and let
the fortune be earned Jointly.
No doubt shehad forgotten that little
affair she looke prosperous and happy.
And she had a certain air of self-restraint
and self-confidence never shown In those
earlier and happier days. Yes, he sud
denly realized that they had been happier
days. A vision came to him of shaded
lanes and apple orchards, a fluttering
hand that rested quietly only in his, and
a head that had once cuddled confidingly
on his big, square shoulder. There were
no curls now. Just well-arranged waves,
but Borden liked them better. He liked
the firm poise of her head, too; the
straight, self-reliant figure. He decided
that he had best make himself known.
Sho turned with distinct evidence of
annoyance. Mildred Davis did not care"
for casual traveling acquaintances. Then
the look of hauteur gavo way to & sud
den expression of almost girlish pleas
ure. "Of all people to meet here, in the
dead of Winter, and dear knos how
many miles from where," she exclaimed.
"Certainly, have your breakfast brought
right over here. My dear boy, you have
yes you have actually grown, since wo
met let's see It was seven years ago or
eight?"
Jack Borden sat opposite her and made
a pretence of eating his breakfast The
waiter reported In, the tiny pantry that
the young chap was evidently hard hit
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THE
Fair Babble she has richest gifts, ,
E'en diamonds and pearls,
Which good Kris Kringle sends to her,
The sweetest of his girls.
Borden was hard hit, but he did not
know It His parting with Impulsive, girl
ish Mildred- Davis had not occasioned any
particular pain, and had soon been for
gotten in the scramble for business recog
nition. Yet his meeting with the new
Mildred, calm, self-contained and some
how radiating a social superiority that
mere wealth! cannot give, had thrilled
him.
"Where am I going? Why, home for
Christmas, of course," she was saying
in even tones. "Xou heard of mother's
3eath, I presume."
Borden flushed. He had heard nothing
from the old town in years. He mur
mured some words of sympathy and
noted that she looked wistful, but there
was no trace of tears In her eyes. The
old Mildred had been given to tears.
"I had my position In Albany two years
before she feft me. No, there Is no ono
for me to stay with at Clayville except
the Applebys, but they always take mo
In at Christmas time. I simply cannot
stay in Albany, then. Even second or
third cousins are better than business
friends."
They returned to the sleeper after a
breakfast drawn out until the dining car
began to fill up. He forgot his Inevitable
after-breakfast cigar, and passed the
smoking compartment without flinching.
He had so much to tell her about his
success, and their beautiful home. Per
haps, then, she would understand why
Clayville was only a memory to him.
She listened appreciatively, but asked
more questions about his mother than
about his great factory. The train
started up. Three hours had passed on
wings. She would leave him at Syracuse,
to take the accommodation north to Clay
ville. He said something expressive of
regret but he said It awkwardly. This
brought to him a realization that ho had
somehow lost his grip on the little arts
of politeness.
"It does seem odd," sho murmured, with
a audden softening of her clear, bell-like
tones, "that you are off to St Louis, and
I to a Clayvillo which holds nothing but
SOUTHERN Plum Pudding. This pud
ding differs much from tne time-honored
English one, in that it is steamed in
a 'mold, instead of boiled in a cloth or
bag, and Is somewhat more digestible
while not a whit less toothsome. The re
ceipt given here, which was secured from
a Virginian, will be found sufficient for 14
persons, and can either be.cooked in one
largo mold, or, if desired, tho mixture
placed in smaller ones. It will keep well
and indefinitely, and. like fruitcake, is
improved by age. If the lamily be small,
it Is well to use the small molds, and to
reheat as requlrea.
Weigh 1 pound of raisins, 1 pound of
currants, 1 pound of suet -pound of
citron. 1 pound of grated bread and -pound
of brown sugar. Stone and chop
the raisins, clean and dry the currants,
chop the suet fine, sprinkling with a lit
tle flour, and cut the citron Into thin
strips. Measure 1 even teaspoonful each
of ground cinnamon and nutmeg and
teaspoonful each of cloves and allspice.
Put all the fruits into a bowl and mix
tightly with a handful of flour. Add the
sugar and spices, the chopped suet and
the bread, and mix all .thoroughly. Beat
S eggs until very light and mix them with
-pint of brandy. Pour Into the fruit
mixture and stir until well blended. Pack
In a greased mold and steam for six
hours. Turn out of the mold and dec
orate with blanchard and split almonds.
For Christmas day stick a sprig of holly In
the top and place lumps of sugar sat
urated with brandy on the dish, thus en
circling the pudding. Ignite these and
send to the table surrounded by flames.
Serve with brandy sauce.
rTench Glace Plum Pudding. One of the
most delicious variations of the Christmas
dessert Is a frozen pudding or cream,
which Includes the traditional fruits. To
make a sufficient quantity to All a two-
SOAflB FAMOUS C-HKISTMAS PUPDIVIGS
BEST GIFT OF THEM
" A'ITA FITCH.
But from the heap she turns away
(Sure something Is amiss),
And sighing thinks alone of one
Dear paltry Summer kiss.
memories, and your dear little mother,
who was once so precious to us both, will
bo sitting alone watching for the Christ
mas dawn. Fate plays such strange tricks.
Why, it seems like Just a few months
einco your mother and my mother had
that Joint Christmas tree."
She was looking steadily out of the win
dow, where the snow flew by like the
pure, sweet memories she was reviving.
Her profile was softer than It had been In
tho dining car. Borden coughed and
frowned. Ho suddenly recalled the pitiful
expression on his mother's face as he had
Implanted that perfunctory kls3 on her
forehead.
"Why must you go to Clayville? It's an
awfully dead place," he said harshly.
Mildred turned to him in amazement
He was looking straight ahead, and his
forehead had contracted Into i frown,
which did not reflect the thoughts surging
through his brain. The brakeman hurried
through the train.
"Next stop Syracuse! Change for the
Clayville and Northern branch!"
"Why can't you go back to West Taun
ton and spend Christmas with mother?
She'll be deuccdly lonesome and"
"Why, how absurd"
"It's not absurd. We could catch tho
noon train back"
"We?"
Her face had flushed and sudden anger
shono In her eyes.
"Yes; oh, I say, Mildred, I've been the
biggest Idiot It Isn't all money though It
counts tremendously: yes, It was worth
working for," he added, his cautious na
ture reasserting Itself. "But I've lost a
lot Mother's lost more. I didn't realize
It until I saw you. I've hurt her awfully,
I know I have. Will you go back with
me and help make It up to her?"
The din of the rushing train almost
drowned the word, but Mildred caught
them and more. She saw In his eyes that
which had not been there In the days of
love's young dream.
The man ahead was gathering up his
bags. They were on the outskirts, of Syra
cuse. quart mold, prepare a rich chocolate ice
cream as follows:
Allow 1 quart of cream, 6 eggs, J,-pound
of sugar and 5 ounces of unsweetened
chocolate. Separate the whites from the
eggs, beat the yolks to a cream; then
add the sugar and beat again. Whisk
the whites to a stiff froth; beat them Into
tho yolks, and mix with the cream. Break
the chocolate Into bits and stand over a
kettle of boiling water until It Is dis
solved. Add to the cream and cook the
whole In a double boiler until it slightly
coats a knife-blade dipped ihto it Strain
and stand aside to become cold. Prepare
a scant half-pound of seeded raisins and
currants, mix and boll them until plump
Add enough thin slices of citron, candled
cherries and apricots to make a generous
three-quarters of a pound. Cover them
with sherry and let stand until softened.
Freeze the cream. Remove the cover of
the freezer can and stir the fruit lightly
through the cream. Replace the cover
and turn the dasher until the cream is
well mixed. Pack In a mold, cover tight
ly and pack the mold In Ice and salt for
several hours. Serve with the following
sauce:
Beat the yolks of 2 eggs with 2 table
spoonfuls of powdered sugar until they
form a cream. Place In the double boiler
and stir until the cinrs bedn to thicken.
then remove from Ihe Are and beat until !
cold. Add 1 tablespoonful of maraschino
and stir In lightly -pInt of -cream which I
has been whipped to a stiff froth. i
A Famous Nesselrode Pudding. This i
well-known pudding. In some of its slm- I
pier forms, Is familiar to mos lovers of i
good things, but the receipt given here Is J
exceptionally good, and approaches close-
Iy to that Berved to the famous Russian
Minister from whom It takes its name:
To make a sufficient quantity to fill a ,
three-quart freezer, allow 2 dozen French
chestnuts, the yolks of 8 eggs, 1 pint of
ALL.
When Io! Dan Cupid saunters in.
With buds and missive small;
And Babbie Joys In Bobble's heart,
The best gift of them all.
"Mildred, don't say no. I don't deserve
you but mother does. Come-home to us.
and St Louis may go hang."
It was boyish, but It was earnest She
hesitated then smiled.
"It's a shame to waste that ticket to St
Louis but for the good of your soul and
your mother I am going to West Taun
ton." At Syracuse they sent two wires. One
went to Clayville and conveyed Miss Mil
dred Davis Christmas wishes and regrets
to the house of Appleby. The other went
to Jim Cartwrlght, and read:
"Provide Christmas treat for employes.
"JOHN BORDEN."
It was past midnight when he opened his
own door very softly and just as softly
summoned the astonished Maggie. His
mother's hearing was slightly Impaired
and her door was closed. The two con
spirators wore safely shielded In the dining-room,
and they trimmed the little tree
to stand by the mother's chair. The be
wildered Magglo, too excited to sleep,
waited out In the kitchen to conduct this
mystifying visitor to the guest chamber,
and returned to the attic to Inform, the
cook that these were strange doings. In
deed, for a well-ordered household, but
l her tones belled her words
Tho next morning Mrs. Bbrden had the
same dream of the Christmas angel, only
the figure was cldd In something soft and
blue. The voice which eald "Merry Christ
mas, dear Mrs. Borden," was not angelic,
but very firm and cheerful and womanly.
The little white-haired woman sat straight
up In bed, laughing and crying together.
When sho could see through her tears she
found her son hovering In the background,
looking sheepish but happy, and when she
reached once more for the firm but caress
inghands of Mildred Davis, she saw that
tho little pearl ring was back In Its place.
It had been Jack's only present to his
promised wife, but that was only because
every Jewelry store In town had been
closed on their arrival.
cream, -pound of sugar, 3 ounces of
preserved pineapple, 3 ounces of French
glace cherries, 2 ounces each of citron and
Sultana raisins, 1 saltspoonful of salt and
a large wlneglassful of good maraschino.
Boll the chestnuts, peel and press the
pulp through a fruit press. Beat tho
yolks of the eggs light and add to them
the sugar nnd -plnt of cream. Stir the
chestnut pulp thoroughly through the
cream and cook In a double boiler until
It forms a soft custard. Then strain Into
a largo bowl and stir In the salt thor
oughly. Cut tho pineapple Into thin slices
and the citron into thin .strips-. Make a
syrup by boiling a little sugar and vrater
together. Pour over all the fruit and let
stand until tender. When the chestnut
cream Is cold add the maraschino, pour
Into the freezer can, pack with Ice and
salt and freeze until firm. Have ready an
extra half-pint "of cream whipped to a
stiff froth; drain the fruit and add it and
the whipped cream to the frozen custard.
Stir lightly until well blended; remove the
dasher and recover the can. Pack In ice
and salt until Arm. Serve with the sauce
as directed for the frozen plum pudding,
flavoring with chestnut pulp.
Christmas Surprise Pudding. Make
good rich vanilla Ice cream by any fa
miliar receipt Select a square or brick
mold and line It with the cream of a
thickness of 1 Inches. Have ready cream
whipped to a stiff froth, in which glace
cherries and pineapple, cut Into bits have
been soaking. Fill the center of the
mould with tho mixture. Cover the top
with Ice cream and smooth With a knife
dipped In cold water. Cover the can
tightly and pack In Ice and salt for two
hours. Serve plain or with whipped
cream. For a two-quart mold, one quart
of Ice cream, One pint of good candled
cream and one-half pound of candled
fruit will be required.
ESS than $2, properly expended, will
decorate tho Christmas tree beauti
fully In a novel fashion, and give no
end of pleasure.
The chief thing to consider Is the color
nd effect The materials employed are
really secondary. There will, of course,
be a cobwebby mass cf loose silver tinsel
colled in and out and over the tree In
a bewildering labyrinth, and strings of
popcorn, hollyberrles and cranberries.
Tradition demands their use In connection
with the novel ornaments.
Small and Inexpensive souvenirs of Jap
anese lanterns and opened parasols will
give a unique touch of Oriental color to
tho Christmas tree. From every available
tip tiny bells, hearts, stars, guitars, ban
Jos and paper Tnacne annuals, such as
rabbits, donkeys and reindeers, should be
suspended.
If desired the animals may be made of
cake, as molds arc made especially for
this purpose. The stara and hearts may
be cut from biistol board and given a coat
of glue, then dipped In mica or 'metallic
flock.
Small red and green apples may be used
to good advantage for decorative pur
poses by sticking them with tiny crepe
paper flags. They should be suspended
from the boughs by braids of red, white
and blue paper.
Walnuts, hickory nuts, peanuts, pine
cones, etc., will help the decbratlve scheme
also If they are glided The best thing
to accomplish this result is smalt which
Is kept by paint dealers, and comes In
gold, silver and all the metallic shades.
First, dissolve a cake of glue In boiling
water, place a tack In the end of the t
nut or object to be Immersed, dip In the
liquid glue, roll In the smalt and dry.
Later, when ready to suspend from the
tree, attach bright red 'ribbon to the
gilded tack, and hang In some of the
places that look bare.
Another novelty which will please the
children Is to take the shells of the wal
nut, split so they will be Intact, remove
the meats, gild or sliver the empty shells,
then place a tiny doll, motto or candy In
side, and tie with bright-colored baby rib
bon. It is almost Impossible to have too many
objects for trimmings, as the tree Is like
a yawning chasm hard to fill.
Little Chinamen, dangling by their
queues, and Japanese lads and lassies,
peering furtively out from among green
boughs, will create a great deal of amuse
ment for the Occidental boys and girls
whose eyes are eagerly fixed on the tree.
Milkmaids, n Jack Homers, Brownies,
gnomes and fairies will also be an attrac
tion, and they may serve as bonbon re
ceptacles as well.
To make a milkmaid, for Instance, use
brlstol board, and shape In an oblong
round box. Fit a bit of pasteboard for
a bottom, and make a, cover likewise.
Fill with candles and nuts. Then take
an ordinary bisque doll, which may be
purchased at any 10-cent store, break off
the legs and glue the body to the box.
Next proceed to dress the little cripple
In a diaphanous crepe paper gown of some
dainty color.
One of the latest novelties for these doll
bonbon boxes Is to dres3 them In evening
gowns, en train and decollete, adding a
picture hat, a wrap and boa In some con
trasting shade. Black accessories are
very fashionable for these midgets. An
other pretty Idea Is to make tiny closed
parasols of crepe paper, glued to a tooth
pick, and fastened In the hand of little
milady a simple matter, as a trial will
convince. Plumes for the hats are made
by slashing a strip of folded paper, curl
ing the fringe over a toothpick and
plaiting on the hat Muffs, too, are beau
tifully fashioned out of paper, with a
bunch of tiny loIets added for trimming.
With long coats, boas and picture hats,
these bonbon dolls are quite stunning,
especially the golden-haired, blue-eyed
ones.
A useful gift which will help to make
the tree look pretty, Is 'the twine doll,
dressed handsomely In crepe papers pink
and black, red and yellow, yellow and
black or blue and black, with hat to
match and white paper petticoats. Quite a
good sized doll will be needed for this
novelty, at least a 14-lnch one. Break the
legs oft close to the body, and glue the
body to a twine receptacle. In which Is a
ball of twine. The costume will, of course,
need to be voluminous.
Little pixies can be made to peer out of
unexpected qooks on the tree. They, too,
are made of small bisque dolls about six
Inches long, fastened on an oval piece of
cardboard three inches in diameter for a
standard. This cardboard should be cov
ered with crepe paper, which may conceal
several layers of felt or chamois skin for
a penwiper. Lavender and white paper
with plenty of gliding will give a beauti
ful effect.
Shaving balls made of tissue papers in
dainty colors, and immense fluffy balls to
which are fastened loops of paper ribbon
with bows, are useful gifts and unique
for tree trimmings.
Electric light shades made in the shape
of an enormous cabbage rose, yellow for
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"REALLY,"
SHE SAID, "IT'S AWFULLY JOLLY.
SO EXCITED IN MONTHS."
Instance, with two buds dangling, and an
abundance of green leaves against the
wire frame, .will be welcome gifts to soma
one after they have served as Christmas
tree decorations.
Still another clever idea Jfior- the tree
which will serve for trimming first and
gifts later on are hatpin holders, which
are made of empty talcum powder boxes.
Remove the top and stretch a piece of
tarletan across It Fasten securely, then
"dress" the box in crepe paper, making
a double frill at the top. To trim make a
pond lily or rose with a bud. leaving the
long stem to wind gracefully around the
box. Fasten the blossom securely In
front and the useful ornament Is finished.
Women who are forced to stab hatpins in
cushions or leave them loosely In their
dresser drawer, because of no better place
to put them, will appreciate such a gift
trifling as it is.
There was a time when ugly chains were
made of pajer and looped on the trees.
Nowadays, Instead of this barbarity,
beautiful tissue and crepe papers are
fashioned Into garlands, fans, parasols,
horns and such gifts as are described la
tho foregoing.
One of the prettiest suggestions for dls-.
trlbutlng the smaller gifts L to have
them Imbedded In artificial oranges. This
may be done with either muslin or pa
per, and though many of the articles will
not fit the receptacles, they can be mado
to do so by a little padding with cotton
or tissue paper. Orange colored crepe
paper makes the most realistic oranges.
They are not only pleasing to the children
as novelties, but add greatly to the ap
pearance of the tree Itself. They should
be suspended by orange satin ribbon, or
by braided lengths of crepe paper, which
Is more effective, to carry out the idea.
When nestling among the dark green
boughs of the tree they look exceedingly
pretty and suggestive.
m Some of the small packages may be
converted Into snowballs by wrapping the
gifts In cotton batting and sprinkling
with tinsel powder. If there are lights on
the tree, the glittering snowballs will be
the chief attraction to the animated little
people.
A "Domino Tree" may be easlly
trlmmed as" follows: Make a layer cake,
baking In a shallow tin. When the cake
is cold, it should be cut into oblong pieces
the shape and size of dominoes. A tin
cutter can be purchased or the tinner can
make one. Dip the tiny cakes in a boiled
Icing, using toothpick "spears" to accom
plish this result. When the icing is cold,
make the domino lines and dots with
melted chocolate, using a toothpick for
the purpose. Each domino may be tied
separately to a tiny twig with red baby
ribbon, or the cakes may be strung In
loops. Several hundred of these goodies
scattered about the tree will give a daz
zling effect and please the little folks Im
mensely. Snowball cakes may be made by baking
cup cakes which should be trimmed Into
shape, then Iced generously several times
and rolled In desiccated cocoanut A
toothpick spear may he thrust in each one
to suspend It.
Attractive ornaments can be fashioned
for the tree out of candles. For Instance,
make some glace with half a cup of wa
ter, one-fourth teaspoonful of cream of
tartar and a halt pound of loaf sugar.
Boll until It thickens In cold water. Dip
Into this fresh rose or violet petals. Spread
the glace thin In a pan and score It Into
butterflies' wings. Cut marshmallows In
to thin strips for thebodIes and press the
wings into them. Next proceed to cover
thfi white body with streaks and fleck3
of chockolate dotting the wings with
tinted fondant.
Other oddities In the shape of dolls may
be made of chocolate creams. Take one
bonbon for the head and two more for
the body. Each one should be speared by
a toothpick. Pinch one side of the choco
late cream until It looks something like
a nose. Cut out a piece on either side
for eyes; make another slash for the
mouth, then with a toothpick make Imita
tion hair on the "Topsy." Dress in a
crisp red paper gown, w Ithri" black sash,
and suspend from tho tree with black
baby ribbon.
Artificial snow on the topmost branches
of the tree will add to its Wintry ap
pearance. To make, dip bits of cotton Into
glue, then sprinkle with mica to Imitate
the sparkle.
A pretty little ceremony may be par
ticipated In by the children before and
after the distribution of the gifts. When
everything Is In readiness, the little peo
ple are Invited Into the room and told to
sing their welcome to Santa Claus, for,
of course, the patron saint Is expected.
In the midst of the lively song, "Santa
Claus Is Coming," good old Saint Nicho
las appears on the scene, snow be
sprinkled and Jolly, with a pack on his
back and to the music of sleigh bells. The
children salute him with "All hall. Good
Santa Claus, on this merry Christmas
Eve.!" .
I HAVEN'T BEEN
XSai.0 J