Another rustic flower-holder can be made by selecting three knotty
twigs, two and a half feet long and about an inch in diameter, and
nailing them together in the form of a tripod, one half serving as a
base, the other to hold a small flower-pot or a goblet whose foot has
been broken off. The lower half should be strengthened with cross
pieces nailed on, and both halves with twists of wild grape-vine or
green briar, wired at their crossings to hold them firmly in place.
When the frame is ready, melt together half a pound of bees'-wax, a
quarter of a pound of rosin, and enough powdered burnt-umber to give
a dark brown color; and pour the mixture on boiling hot. It will give
the wood a rich tint. Fill the pot with sand, place over the sand a
layer of green moss well pulled apart, and in that arrange a bouquet
of dried leaves, ferns and grasses, or, if it is summer-time, wild
flowers and vines.
* * * * *
Now, dear fancy-workers, little and big, surely Mother Santa Claus has
furnished you with ideas enough to keep you busy for more Christmases
than one. Just one thing more, and that is the manner in which the
presents shall be given. Nothing can be droller than to hang up
one's stockings, and nothing prettier or more full of meaning than a
Christmas-tree. But for some of you who may like to make a novelty in
these time-honored ways, we will just mention that it is good fun
to make a "Christmas-pie" in an enormous tin dish-pan, with a
make-believe crust of yellow cartridge paper, ornamented with twirls
and flourishes of the same, held down with pins, and have it served on
Christmas Eve, full of pretty things and sugar-plums, jokes and jolly
little rhymes fastened to the parcels. The cutting should be done
beforehand, and hidden by the twirls of paper; but the carver can
pretend to use his knife and fork, and spooning out the packages will
insure a merry time for all at table. And one more suggestion. Little
articles, wrapped in white paper, can be put inside cakes, baked and
iced, and thus furnish another amusing surprise for the "pie" or the
Christmas-tree.
* * * * *
We are indebted to Mrs. L. B. Goodall, Mrs. M. E. Stockton, Mrs.
Tolles, Miss Annie M. Phoebus, Miss M. Meeker, and Miss M. H. D.,
for designs and suggestions in aid of this article; and to the
"Ladies' Floral Cabinet" for some valuable hints on "Leaf-work."
* * * * *