Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-01-01
How to Trim Christmas Trees

Inc popular custom OF preparing Christ
mas trees Tor the delight, and amusement
OF young and old, increases yearly: and
tlle question, " How shall | trim one" is
oiten asked; SO | shall try to answer it. II
you can Obtain the tree from some pine
WOODS near at hand, select Il finely shaped
III palstm or spruce, with firm branches.
anu ABOUT nlne or ten feet in height Then
spread Il large sheet over one end of the
Ptrlor carpet, and put Il good sized tea
tlieSt III the center OF it. The lower limbs
% liie tree must be SlWn off 50 that it can
ne llflllly llXed INTO the box: and any small
heaVy articles, like weights and tiatirons.
can De put IN for ballast, to keep the tree
ilrlhiy IN place, Then fill up the box with
haIu coal. he chest must be concealed
WIN some pretty material; old curtains
" III answer the purpose, or the American
ila@; ana white furry robe is also suita-
pie Drape these articles close to the tree.
anu let them trail little on the floor. to
make graceful sweep.
Now the tree is planted. and we must
proceed to decorate it. Make chains of
popped corn strung together with needle
AMI thread; 1T least dozen wards will be
non" too much for Il large sized tree, and
tlle pure white ftstoon> cntwined amid the
dark green branches Of the tree produces
fine effect
We must also have claims made either
of glazed scarlet gilt or silver paper: cut
the paper into small strips. four inches
long and not half an inch in width; fasten
tle TWO ends of each strip together with
Hour paste. and make half of them into
rings then take the rest. and make into
similar rings, but first Slip each Strip
through two of the dried rings before ioin-
mo the ends. In this manner all the slips
OF paper are interlaccd. and we have a
cham OF rings which will greatly adorn our
trees. They must be f.stooned in long
graceful loops from limb to limb. and the
effect i very charming.
All this work the children can do. and il
VIII add greatly to the entertainment of
the long evenings. At this season. They
can also assist in covering English walnuts
WIN tIhfou, OF Gilt paper, and in filling
small apples with cloves which will serve
70 Keep moths from the drawers of our
bureaus, and therefore make acceptable
presents
If we possess Il cracked mirror we must
take 1t to the glazier'>, and ask him to cut
II INTO tWo-inch squares. Around the
cages and across the backs cnlortd Daper
must be pasted, and long ribbon loops at
tached to the backs by which to suspend
them behind the tiny wax candles. where
they VIII do duty Il rctlcctorS
Fancy glass balls of all colors can be
purchased for few cents each: ana sev-
eral dozens Of colored wax candles. with
TN rests to attach them to the tree, can be
bought. >clt-balancin@ candlc-holders can
also be found at some toy shops. and need
only to be placed on the branches. If these
cannot he obtained. common copper wire
can bc heated "A little and run up through
the candle Il little WAY. and the other end
can be twisted firmly about the branch. If
the Wicks are brushed over with little
Kerosene put on with a camel's hair brush.
they Will light very quickly
The light. showy Gifts can hc suspended
upon the tree. but the heavier ones must
be laid upon the piano or table, or else
wrapped III paper. and arranged around
the base of the tree. \ pair of scissors
must be in readiness to cut the riffs from
the branches. When such a tree is trim
med, filled with gifts and lighted. it is in
deed beautiful >ight-a graceful green
pyramid, with numberlcS~ little iet> Of
Hame, trembling and flashing mirrors.
garland> of bright Iue>-all brightness.
sparkle and color Try it. fair friends.
Ahd see for Yourselves how lovely it Is.