VERY probably George Washington never had a birthday party, as he lived
in the days when children were “seen and not heard.” So it would be a
good idea to have a party in his honor on his birthday. Of course you
will need old-fashioned costumes, and these will probably be found by
ransacking the garret. But if, like Mother Hubbard’s cupboard, the
garret is bare, you can easily borrow a skirt of mother’s, fasten it
under your arms, tie a sash in Empire style, put on a kerchief, and
there you are!
All that you will need to have ready for this party will be silhouette
paper, and cardboard mounts for the silhouette pictures.
The afternoon may be spent in playing old-fashioned games, such as
“London Bridge,” “What is my Thought Like,” “Proverbs,” “Going to
Jerusalem,” and “Mulberry Bush,” ending up with a Virginia reel. Then
while you are resting, mother will make a silhouette picture of each
one of you. You must sit in front of a lamp so that your shadow will
fall clearly upon the wall or door. Then the paper should be fastened
so that your shadow will fall on it, and an outline be made with
pencil. This outline is to be cut out, and pasted upon a cardboard
mount, and there is a fine silhouette portrait! These portraits can be
hung about the room, as an art gallery, and you can have a great deal
of fun trying to decide “who’s who.”
By this time you will be ready for mother’s old-fashioned supper, so
you will sit down at “early candle light,” and enjoy stewed chicken and
waffles, hot biscuit, preserves, cake and ice cream. If mother wishes
to be very “colonial” she will have a large ball of popcorn in the
center of the table. A box of bonbons in the form of a three-cornered
hat, will be a nice souvenir for each guest.
[Illustration]
Acushla, mavourneen, O come to my party;
O come, for I bid yez, so cordial and hearty,
And so at my cottage I trust ye’ll be seen,
The day of St. Patrick, a-wearin’ the green.