Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1884-12-27
SsEgN.t ~ SFr
Christmas Hints.

In every. household we would strong.
~ urge" the Christmas decorations.
There is much pleasure in united home
work. Where Allo1are interested and
busy There, is sure to be happiness. We
always trim with fir or hemlock.a For
some things the double, ,tr-we. call it
so-is lovely. Cedar, and the trailing
evergreen are pretty when they are
first arranged, but soon look dry and
faded, while the hemlock will remain
bright and glossy as long rs we care
for it, giving us no trouble about shed.
ding its leaves -, :
trees, some two weeks before Christ
mas. The" first thoroughly stormy
evening enough to secure MS from in
terruption-we7 take our miniature for.
est. into the kitchen. Does Bridget
carep Not she, indeed. The yenthusi-
asm is contagious, and she works with
the rest of us. She, with some of the
children, snip the pieces of hemlock
for o def fingers to arrange. We
cut the pieces for trimming about a
quarter of a yard long; that gives us a
good end. and tiny branch on either
side. We commence with one of these
pieces, holding the stem, the foliage
hanging down; then we place another
piece upon that, making it look like a
vine as much as possible. We need
yards of trimming made in like man
ner, securing each twig by winding
firmly with cotton yarn. In ~festoon-
ing the trimming over an arch wo
should use two separate pieces, max
ing each seem to grow toward the cen
ter. The ends require a twig of hem
look tied IN, hanging down to give
them a finish. We must loop the '
green over the doors and windows.
Where the dark green trimming falls
among our plants at the south win
dows the effect is lovely. This vine
like trimming is particularly attractive
in the evening when the shadows are
reflected upon the walls, giving the
appearance of vines creepipgall around
the room.- Over some Of the pictures
we would suggest a bow-knot Of ever
greens with long ends, over and under
others a cross, dove, or basket of How.
ers; Sadly aid lovingly we twins
CAuSto1S VI O~lt(cCSWooL, dTOtuu ZIG Die.
lures of some sweet, dear faces who
are with u now only in sweet memo
ries. If we have house plants, a, deep
dish filled with moses, ferns and other
plants, autumn leaves pinned here and
there, with q bouquet of natural, fresh
flowers, our home will then present .
very attractive appearance.
The work gives pleasure in itself. It
makes the,home seem CHEEKY and home
like. Any such work of mutual inter-
est strengthens the home love. It
makes happier and better children, Us
we'll as truer, more devoted parents.
Let us celebrate our anniversaries by
making them fruitful of much good.
Let us enlarge our sympathies, en-
bracing some of our kindly remem-
brances outside our family friends. We
should educate our children to be will
ing eo-workers. The boys should be
encouraged to make little brackets and
crosses, covering them with beautiful
MOSES. Making wax leaves, dressing
dolls, aud such other work as mothers
can suggest, must busy the hands and
hearts Of our little girls. How many
ways there are to interest children and
exert a lasting influence upon their
characters for good. together with i'm.
parting present enjoyment, if the moth
or realizes her work.