Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-12-21
Hints for Planting and Decorating the
Christmas Tree.

Christmas Tree.
Dull and dreary indeed would dark De-
amber be to Us all were it not for the de-
lghtful task of planting and adurning
CIrl~tmaS trees-ths trees which are of
nore interest IN the household than any
hat ever grew before beside its doors.
'or. all the autumn, preparations have
heen made for its adornment, and all the
pennies which each child could collect
have been carefully kept to buy some pref
ty thing for "mamma," some useful gift for
papa, some toy or candy for brother
or" sister," while mysterious bits Of work
are in hand, and long whispered confer
ences are held by the ladies OF the family
in relation to this, that. or the other article
which must be purchased before the long
expected Christmas eve arrives.
All over this extensive country these
trees are planted-not only in private
homes, but also in Sunday schools and
day schools; and il would seem as il hard
ly any child could live so poorly that
would not be the recipient of some longed
for toy or sweetmeat
In the cities one can purchase these
trees already planted in bit of plank and
pdltll uOCOtdJcu VI cuJlECIf ultu Wlbtl
toys, and ready to be brilliantly lighted at
any moment. Yet in the country, where
one must contrive, and save, and make
many of the gifts of the tree, and bake
many cakes which are covered with FROST
ing and sugar plums, and drive out into
the woods and select q tree, and cut 1.
down and bring it home, there is quite as
much fun in the preparations. and quite
as much real satisfaction, as in the city.
Several days before Christmas it is well
to bring home the tree, lest deep snow
should fall, and it might not be as easily
obtained, and all the children must help
carry it home. Select one that has a reg
uar cone from base to summit and is of
the proper height for your psrlor, and
lop off any branches that may interfere
with its beauty; and while selecting the
tree you can also gather quantities of run
ming pine, coral pine, and princes pine
wherewth to make garlands and crowns
and wreaths for adorning the halls. parlor
and dining room. Also bring home large
branches of laurels and clusters Of swamp
ederberries and boughs of bitter sweet
berries.
Plant your tree in q small wash tub,
filled in with brickbats or a hod of hard
COAL or anything that is heavy and will
keep il in place-dat-irons will do if there
is nothing eles at hand-and cover over
the tub with gavly-striped afghan, or a
fur robe, or a flag, and upon this base
many of the larger articles, such as books,
desks, etc, can be arranged.
Those of our readers who are fortunate
p,sessors of long purse can purchase at
the fancy stores every imaginable device
for decorating most artistically and beauti-
fuly--uch as silver doves. colored glass
balls, h,gs of every kind. giIded stars,
tiny looking glasses tnat, if suspended be-
hlnd the candles, will reflect their light
and make ii twice as bright, bells, wooIly
lambs and n bons OF every description; ;
while in the toy shops are whole regiments
of dolls, from the most elegant Partisan
bellies TO the knitted sailor boy for the little
I baby. and vast caravans of ANIMALS, aud
Npth's arks. and toys that surpass de
4criptlun But in thousands of village
homes these articles are not obtainable.
yet the children can manufacture many
beautiful decorations for the Christmas
Tree IN which they will t,ke quite as much
pleasure rs il they were from the fancy
shop of the city.
WI h Il few sheets of gilt, blue, scarlet
and silver paper cut INTO strips four inches
IN length and half An inch IN width, you
can make long chains to entwine from
bougn to bough of the tree. With bot.
lie of m clage paste the two ends of the
strips together until half Of them are
made into rings; then make up some
more by slipping one end through two
rings and joining them together. Let the
three rings become dry, and join them in
to long garlands. Suspend around the
outer branches of the tree from top TO
bottom. Twenty yards will be needed to
trim large tree, twelve for a small one.
These paper chains when once made can
be kept for years if carefully handled.
Parch large pan of popcorn, and string
them into chains with needle and coarse
thread Entwine them also about the
branches, and after the presents are dis
tributed break up the chains into necklaces
and throw around the necks of all the
guests.
If YOU possess a broken looking glass
carry it to glacier and have it cut into
bits three inches bv two. Paste Il bit OF
brown paper over the back Of the glass,
and bind the edges with strips of gilt OF
scarlet aud blue papers, and paste bit o.
ribbon or paper at the top to suspend
them from the boughs. You cannot have
too many tiny mirrors. Purchase a pound
or two of English walnuts and cut then
into halves and Cut out the meats. Saw
them to put into the middle of each smal
frosted cake. Purchase also a pound o
sugared carawnys, and fill half of one o
! a., -. Ifa tk nn1 To on fhf
other half Use common glue or gum
tragacanth for paste. Insert bit of mar
row ribbon in any color at the top OF thu
nut. Cut small round of gilt paper ant
cover it with paste, and wrap it carefully
} about the nut, letting the folds OF it lii
evenly about the bit of ribbon. Make a
many rs you can of these, for they are th
prettiest of rattle boxes, and everybod,
likes to possess such a trophy.
Little lace bags made of bobbinet lac
or wash illusion, by running them togeth
, er with scarlet, blue and gold colore
, worsteds, and using bit OF it for strins
2 to draw them together, are also very pref
> " and desirable when filled with nuts
raisins and sugar -plums for the children
Small apples closely stuck with cloves ar
1 also nice to perfume bureau drawers, an
dozen or more will not come amiss upo
. this most wonderful tree.
A Christ-chid or angel, made by dress
Z. ing doll in lace and silvered wings,
! very decorative when fastened to the tor
most bough of the tree. Small candles ca
: have bit of wire thrust through the lowe
end by heating it. and then fasten it st
n curely to the boughs of the tree. Apple
: and oranges can also be suspended wit
e thread wire. Cut rings of cardboard an
d slip over the candies, and they will cate
| the drippings Floral Cabinet.
r OYSTERS AND OYSTER FARMING.-Tf
, ovsIer il a strange sort OF an animal Chi