The Red Cloud chief., 1881-01-06
Christmas Day In Farm. Houses.

CHRISTMAS DAY in country houses.
far removed from business centers. Is
too frequently q dreary season. remark
able only for a big dinner and the abb
sence If the usual routine Of work.
Where there arc no children in the
household there is some excuse, posi-
bly. for the failure 10 observe this holi-
day in a joyful manner Otherwise il
is unjust To the young folk. who are
thereby deirauded Of a rightfll hertz
aye. Every child is a subject for SYM
patty to whom Christmas-tide ome
and goes without marking the 18th Of
December as a red letter day.
The failure TO provide In extra good
time At this season for young people is
the result, in a majority Of cases, OF the
inconvenience of procuring toys and
fancy articles as gifts from distant
towns, or the lack Of means TO make
other than absolutely necessary pur-
chases. The possibility OF a Christmas
tree that will bear fruit in shape of
presents for all the household, and
stockings running over with surprises
of appropriate nature for little folk, are
not considered. For the assistance of
such households a few suggestions for
rendering these possibilities certainties
may not come amiss. First then, put
IN a gala appearance in sitting-room.
dining-room and parlor with boughs OF
evergreens tackled over window cornice,
mantel and doorway. Brighten these
with autumn leaves or the pretty red
berries still hanging inthe woods. Pro-
vide any evergreen tree of suitable
shape and size and place it in a room
not to be used until Christmas Day.
The tree is most readily held in place
by boring a hole of sufficient size in a
heavy and square block of wood. Set
this on a rude platform and cover with
n piece of green baize or produce a
more picturesque effect with a covering
of MOSES and lichens. When wax
tapers are wanting, substitute the Ian
terms of the farm covered with gay
colored flannel or tissue paper. Make
festoons of popcorn strung on threads,
from which suspend popcorn balls.
The tree is now ready TO receive its
burden, and all articles TO BIO placed
on it should be given over
to the charge Of one person to insure
pleasant surprises. In selecting these
gifts remember that boys. who have
been keeping down weeds with heavy
hoes and chopping wood with a mans
AK, will be delighted with these nipple
ments if of size TO suit their strength,
and that a chest of tools is not amiss
in any household. Girls will attend
none the less cheerfully to homely du-
ties because the work-box and its
furnishings came from the Christmas
tree. or they are provided with their
W sewing chairs and stands. Dress
patterns, cloth for coat and trousers, q
half dozen new shirts and the like, not
adapted TO hanging on the tree. may
add to its effectiveness il arranged in
bright colored paper packages, tied
with gay ribbons or cord. and piled
here and there on the grecn-covered
platform. Knitted mufilers and nit
tens. fancy articles for parlor and bed.
ROOF decoration. and confectionery i'm
tasteful but homemade corpucopias,
will contribute inexpensive gifts.
In a word, with cheerful fires burning
on every hearth. make the house as
bright rs possible, and present in ac-
ceptable form the most practical and
commonplace of articles rather than see
the day go by without an interchange of
gifts.
The stockings hung up Christmas
Eve. the exhibition of the tree the fol-
lowing morning, with a Widespread
dinner at midday, and games after
ward in which old as well as young join,
concluding it may be with a dance in
the evening, will bring about a new or.
der of things in some homes. Try it
and see.-NcU York World.