The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-12-25
Christmas Hints for Girls.


over, the all-important question is,
"What shall make for Christmas Z?
1t is sometimes harder to answer than,
"What shall 1 write my next compost
ton about ?"
often more of q love-token than any
thing we can buy; the heart, some way
goes with the work of the HANDS. Be-
sides, we have not, all of us, great
deal of money to spend. But we want
to give something to each member of
the family, and we are anxious to have
our presents pretty and acceptable.
What shall they be?
To begin with very little thing
Pen-wipers are always suitable for
father and brothers. A very comical
old lady can be made by taking a
hickory-nut for the head, and spool
for the body; the sharp, peaked end of
the nut makes an excellent nose, and
the eyes and mouth can be made with
ink, she should have muslin cap /; and
broadcloth skirt, on which to wipe
the pen.
Umbrella pen-wipers-velvet upon
the outside, and cloth within-are more
difficult to make.
Shaving-papers of tissue, cut in the
form of leaf, with an embroidered
cover, are simple and pretty.
Tasteful paper-receivers can be made
from the pasteboard boxes in which
fine handkerchiefs come. They should
be lined with bright cambria or silk,
and furnished with lacing at the sides,
and cord and tassel.
Common bed-tlcking-the white
stripes fannel-stitched with gay zephyrs
does well for slipper-cases. 1t also
makes pretty covers for the cushions OF
stools and chairs that are worn.
Silver cardboard can be fashioned
into numberless dainty little articles for
the dressing table collar-boxes and
glove-boxes, lined with silk, and finished
with quilting of satin ribbon (; hairpin-
cases, with ends of tufted worsted air
castles, and cunning little boxes, that
shall swing from the gas-fxtures, to
catch the burnt matches.
A case for toilet articles is quite q
necessity to person who travels. A
very pretty one can be made of Russia
crash. This material should be doubled,
and the pockets lettered, in worsted,
Oscar ;" "Brush," etc.; then bound
all around with braid, and initiated
upon the outside. 1t is neat, compact,
and easily washed.
There is an endless variety of mats,
tides, pin-cushions, scrap bags, bureau
covers, that can be knitted, crocheted,
or embroidered, all of them pretty and
convenient.
The most unique scrap-holder that /
ever saw was originally a muff-box. 1t
had been covered with canvas, wrought
in some gay-colorea Persian pattern,
and lined with quilted silk. Two rings
served as handles; and it stood upon
the floor, o useful addition to the furni-
ture of the sewing-room.
Coquettish sweeping caps, of cambr 8
blue or pink domestic aprons, with
capacious pockets or even dish-m ops
and holders, will be acceptable to those
who pride themselves upon their house
keeping.
The little folks must not be forgot.
ten. We can make bright balls for the
baby, crocheted of soft worsted strong
reins for the three year old, knit
of red, white, and blue yarn, and
studded with toy sleigh-bells mittens.
scarfs, and wristlets, for those who love
to frolic with Jack Frost till the old fel.
low nips their fingers and ears.
Now is the time to use the treasures
of the MOSES, shells, and brightly
tinted leaves that were gathered in the
long summer rambles. They can be
grlmmed upon cardboard in the form
of wreaths or monograms, or fastened
to -gnar,ed sticks and curiously-
twisted roots,-forming graceful, rustic
fowcr-stands.
If we were in the region of "spatter-
work" last year, we shall be pretty sure
to have a store of pressed ferns and del
icate grasses, A little taste in their
grouping will enable one to make tides.
lamp-shades, and fire screens, to suit
the most fastidious.
Holiday gifts having a trace or
shadow OF summer lingering about them.
are doubly welcome in this Northern
latitude. They, with our Christmas
trees and holly, are tokens to remind us
of the June life wrapped in snow and
slumbering beneath our feet. Chicago
tribune.
THAT dreaded disease, diphtheria, is