The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1884-12-20
The Handy Housewife.
How She Provides Ornaments for the
Christmas Tree-Candles, Pop Corn
and Candy.
N. Y. .LouranZ.


A Christmas tree may be prettily trim
med at very little expense. Of course
it is best to get good tree. Not ne
cessarily large, but with branches close
together, and of as conical shape as
possible. A box of candles more than
sufficient to allow one for each branch,
can be bought for ten cents, and nice
little tin holders, ready to pin on the
tree, for five cents a dozen. About
three or four dozen will be needed.
The next thing to think of it the pop
corn. A fve-cent cob will make a
large quantity. To pop it have very
hot fire, put the corn in good, large
pan, if you have not a pepper, and shake
over the fire until popped, taking great
care not to burn. Have ready a cup
of water, in which little maple syrup
SrITRs ST mElfsses md fnd hs have es been mxsd
and pour it on a large dish. Then
take strong thread and very long nee
die and string yards of the popcorn.
This is very effective, and should be
draped fantastically over the tree in
every direction. Some people, how
ever, prefer to use raw cotton, as it
more closely resembles snow.
After trimming your tree with the
popcorn and candles the next thing
will be candy. Bright colored sticks
and canes, baskets, and chocolate rats
put on by the tail are the best and
cheapest to get. Put them on with
odds and ends of bright-colored ribbons
and bits of silk, which will beighten
the effect. Ofcourse few wax balls of
green and crimson make the tree look
prettier, and as many may be put on as
desired, although there is such thing
as having too much on a tree. The
green should predominant. The chill
dren's stockings should be hung up in
the same room in which the tree is to
be placed, and their presents grouped
about the foot of the tree. For 81 or
$3.50 very handsome tree all decora-
ted can be had.
Always dress your little girls doll.
Nothing will make her more sad than
to receive doll attired in anight-dress.
If you have not some kind young lady
friend who will undertake the job, do it
yourself. Hunt up one of the baby's
old embroided petticoats and in half an
hour you can turn it into a beautiful
white dress for dolly. Then make her
a jacket and muff out of piece of vel
vet or cloth, and tiny little princess
bonnet or hat, with small piece of an
ostrich tip for the plume. A little
handkerchief and a tiny hair-brush and
comb, which costs only ten cents, will
greatly delight the little girl.
If you cannot afford to buy bed
stead for the doll, you can easily make
it at home. Get an old cigar box, or
larger box if you can, and after remov-
ing the cover nail on the bottom four
empty spools all the same size. 2 These
-wiiitio=f tire-fegs. -Then-tate-the-
cover and saw off one-third. Take
the two thirds, round the two top ends
and nail the bottom on to the box for
the head of the bedstead. Take the
other third and tack on the bottom,
and you will have very pretty bed
stead. Cover with a coating of paint
if you have it, if not, varnish with shell
lac. Then make little mattress, boil
ster and pillows, with sheets, blankets
and spreads.
Avery pretty trunk for Dolly's clothes
can be made out of a pasteboard box,
by covering it with red Turkey cloth
or piece of plush or velvet.