Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1884-12-25
How to Give Christmas Presents.

After the momentous question Of
what to give at Christmas has been de-
eided, comes the one of how the gifts
shall be bestowed.
The time-honored stocking rs re-
ceptacle for the gifts bestowed by Santa
Claus heads the list. The child who
has never had the pleasure of timidly
taking first look at his laden stocking,
strangely changed from the gaunt
slenderness in which he had left it the
night before. to humpty, knobby
plumpness very suggestive of interior
richness, and of gayly drawing out the
topmost bundles, and tremblingly in
vestigating the far regions of the toe.
has missed one source of joy that
should have fallen to his lot.
A pleasant fashion is to put sprig of
cedar ON the front of each stocking
near the top. The children, no matter
how cold and stormy the weather, en-
joy gathering the green themselves tho
day before Christmas, and trimming
off spray for each stocking.
When the stockings are hung at bed
time, each is dressed with tiny sprig
of cedar, and after the children have
wound up their frolic with Christmas
song, they go to bed TO dream of tho
next mornings pleasures.
When two or three families are to be
gathered together for the holiday sea-
son, an appropriate holder for the gifts
is large stocking, roomy enough to
hold all the presents, large and small,
excepting, of course, such things as
rocking-horse and piano, or such of
their cousins in size as may be included
in the collection.
The stocking should be made Of
bright-colored cambria, cut the shape
of a stocking, but of a short and stubby
one, and trimmed with green. 1t is
hung in its place by the mantel-piece
before the younger members of the
party are obliged to say goodnight.
The gifts are given into the charge of
one or two persons to be placed in the
stocking, which is emptied of its treas
ures on Christmas morning at as early
an hour as wide-awake Juveniles and
nap-loving elders can agree upon.
Each gift is done up into a neat pack
age, plainly marked with the name of
the person for whom it is intended.
Some one is appointed to unload the
stocking, and two or three assistants
from among the children distribute the
packages as the names are read.
OF Christmas trees there are all sizes,
shapes, and kinds. The tree NAV
tower to the ceiling in richly furnished
paIlor, rit may reach the height of a
few feet only in some small cottage, but
it is very doubtful if the lofty specimen
will afford more pleasure than its lowly
neighbor.
1t does not take much work to
make tree look gay and festive. From
branch TO branch are hung chains of
gilt and silver paper. made by cutting
the paper into narrow strips three
inches long, and FASTING half the strips
into rings by joining the ends together,
then all into long!chain by slipping the
other strips through the rings already
made, and joining the ends as before.
Wreaths of bright berries arc placed on
the topmost boughs. Hollow egg shells,
colored light shades, or those covered
with gold and silver paper, are hung
on the tips of branches by tying thread
around tassel made of tissue-papor
cut into very fine strips, passing tho
thread through the holes in the egg,
and tying the other end around the
branch. The best effect is obtained by
making the holes in the sides instead of
the ends of the shells. Tiny horns of
colored paper are also hung, large end
down. from the branches; wherever they
can be placed with safety, are put small
candles. When the presents are ar
ranged TO show to the best advantage,
and the candles lighted, the tree makes
very pretty sight to both young eyes
and old