Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-12-25
XMAS GIFTS.
How Presents Should be Dispensed
To-day.
Pertinent Points Which Can be Followed to
Adyantage---A Choice Menu for
Dinner.

lauen stocking, strangely changed from the
gaunt slenderneSs in which he had left it
the night before, to humpy, knobby plump
ness very suggestive of interior richness,
aud of gsyly drawing out the topmost
bundles, and trembEngly investigating the
far regions Of the toe, has missed one source
Ofjoy 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, enjoy gathering the
green themselves the day before Christmas,
and trimming off q spray for each stocking.
When the stockings are hung at bed
time, each is dressed with a tiny sprig OF
cedar, and after the children have wound
up their frOie with Christmas song, they
go to bed to dream Of the next morning s
pleasures.
When two or three families are to be
gathered together for the holiday season, 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 a Westinghouse aud
piano, OF 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 stock
ing, but of a short and stubby one, and
trimmed with green. 1t is hung in its place
by the mantle-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
treasures on Christmas morning at as early
an hour as wide,awake Juveniles and nap
loving elders can agree upon. Each gift is
done up in a neat package. plainly marked
with the name of the person for whom it is
intended. Some one is appointed TO un.
/ load the stocking and two or three assist
ants from among the children distribute the
/ packages rs the names are read.
Of Christmas trees there are all sizes,
shapes, and kinds. The tree may tower to
the ceiling in richly furnished psrlor, or il
may reach the height of few feet only in
some small cottage, but it is very doubtful
! if the lofty specimen will afford more pleas
ure than its lowly neighbor.
1t does not take much work to make q
tree look gay and festive. From branch tc
branch are hung chains Of gilt and silver
paper, made by cutting the paper into mar
row strips three inches long, and pastin2
half the strips into rings by joining the
ends together, then all into long chain BY
slipping the other strips through the ring;
already made, and joining the ends as be
fore. Wreaths of bright berries are placed
on the topmost boughs. Hollow egg shells
colored light shades, or those covered witt
gold and silver paper, are hung on the tip:
of branches by tying thread around
tassel made Of tissue paper cut into yer.
fine strips, passing the thread through tn
holes in the egg, and tying the other en-
around the branch. The best effect is %
tanned BY making the holes in the sides in
stead of the ends Of the shells. Tiny horn
ofcolored paper are also hung, large EN-
down, from the branches; wherever the,
can be placed with safety, are put small
candles. When the presents are arrange'
to show 10 the besi advantage, and the can
dies lighted the tree makes very prett
SIGHT to both young ewes and old.
In a certain family this Christmas thu
gifts are 10 be presented In the to!loWlr;
manner:
A week befoze Christmas each meube
of the family will find tied on his or he
door knob, in the morning, an invitation
from Santa Claus to be present in the from
parlor on Christmas morning at sever
o'clock. Each note is 10 be written Oh
bright cOlored paper, cut into fancy shape
and each different. The notes will be sc
curely sealed, and addressed in q scragg.
hand which can not be traced to anyon
about the house, and so is calculated t
provide the children with the mystery the,
so much enjoy. The friends who are Il
spend Christmas at the same house will re
ceive similar invitations.
The parlors on Christmas morning are t
be dimly lighted, and will disclose the sleigi
in which Santa Claus is making his rounds
ard the Jolly old gentleman himself, who
after few remarks Of Christmas greeting
calls on some one of the grown-up peopt
preseht TO carry the gifts, which he find
among his load of furs and bundles to tn
expectant company seated at respectful
distance.
Santa Claus is to be dressed in ful
coat and cap, and will have a full whit
beard and wig. The last have been manu-
featured at home out OF wool and cotton
Small bells sewed along. the sleeves of hi
coat, which will ring whenever ne moves
will add much to the effect. The sleigI
will be brought in whole or piecemeal, a
best suits the size Of the DOORS and after |
ia in it will be arranged in the back parlo
Close to the olding-doors leading into tn
front parlor, and in such position that th'
horses are supposed to have stopped JUS
after they had got out of sight. The sleigl
q to be provided with fur robes and hllet
with the gifts. some done up in packages
and others left without any wrapplngs. A
soon as Santa Clause has filed his arm
with the last of the presents the sleigh IS t
he cuietly drawn from sight and taken out
and when Santa Claus hands the last bundt
N his assistant he will discover that hi
team has started on without him, and wit
a grand flourish and good-bys and lou
"whoasl' he will run out after it.
| A Christmas pie afforded much amuSe
mept at a family party. Most of the gift
had been given in the morning, but one TO
each person present had been reserved TO
this dish, which was in the shape Of larg
old-fashioned pie, though really not pie
all.
The presents, which were sll smsll-oa
was a ring, one was locket another a 81
of old lace, third fve-dsllar gold piec
10 purchase some books certain boy tel
were necessary to complete his happiness,
were done up in small packages, tied witt
ribbon. and covered up with the fine whit
sand with which the bowl was filed. III
sand was rounded up on top, hiding tn
packages, and was decorated with wreatl
81 green around the edge, aud sprig o
holly stuck in the centre;
II was passed around the table, and eacl
persou allowed to put in his fingers an
draw out one package. Each package ha!
on II the name of the person for whom
Wss intended, and as few, if any, drew thea
own. there was considerable passing owe
of gayly tied packages, which added to tn
fun. -,