Part 24 (2/2)

Arrange the twines of several colors as described on page 104, and at the end place the gifts belonging to each child.

=Popcorn= (_Popcorn_, _popper_, _thread_, _needle_)

Pop the corn and string into festoons with which to decorate the tree.

=Christmas Bells= (_Red cardboard_, _scissors_, _thread_, _needle_)

Make bells as described on page 109, only make them of various sizes.

String, and use to decorate table or tree, or to festoon from the center of the ceiling to the corners and sides of the room.

=Kindergarten Lanterns= (_Red, gold, or silver paper_, _scissors_, _thread_, _paste_)

Take a kindergarten square of pretty paper or make a square of some attractive wrapping paper. Fold once into an oblong. Now cut a series of parallel lines from the fold toward the edge, stopping each about 1/2 inch from edge. Open and paste one end so that it overlaps the other, the cuts running vertically. This makes the lantern bulge out a little at the fold, giving a j.a.panese lantern effect. Suspend by a thread tied to the upper edge or paste a narrow strip of paper on for a handle. Use as decoration for Christmas tree.

=Paper Chains= (See pages 56 and 115)

=Reading=

Read a part or the whole of d.i.c.kens' ”Christmas Carol,” ”The Chimes,” or ”The Cricket on the Hearth;” or ”Is There a Santa Claus,” by Jacob Riis; or ”The Birds' Christmas Carol,” by Kate Douglas Wiggin. Longfellow's ”a.r.s.enal at Springfield” and ”A Christmas Hymn,” by A. Domett, are also appropriate.

CHAPTER IX

THE KEY BASKET

or

HOUSEHOLD DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Train the children little by little to bear certain light responsibilities in the home. Even in a home in which all the household tasks are done by trained servants let the girl and boy have some small duty to perform, if it be nothing more than to keep the match-safes filled. They will thus acquire an interest in the home which can be aroused in no other way.

Indeed, every child, boy and girl, should be trained to do easily and well the common household tasks upon which depend so much of the happiness and well-being of the home. Such knowledge and skill often prove of use in unexpected emergencies and make for general efficiency.

The ancient symbol of the housewife's office is her bunch of keys, hung at her waist or placed in the key-basket, so we have used this latter phrase as our chapter heading.

HOME TASKS

Here are a few brief directions for the usual home tasks in which both boys and girls may to some extent be trained.

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