Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1885-01-02
Christmas Hints.

In every household we would strong
Fly urge the Christmas decorations.
'pThere is much pleasure in united home
work. Where all are Interested and
busy there is sure to be happiness. We
always trim with fir or hemlock. For
some things the double tir-we call it
SOS 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 as we care
for it, giving us no trouble about she'd
ding its leaves.
We make sure of our branches, or
trees, some two weeks before Christ
mas. The first thoroughly stormy
evening-enough to secure us from in
terruption-we take our miniature for
est into the kitchen. Does Bridget
care? Not she, indeed. The enthusi-
asm is contagious, and she works with
the rest of US. She, with some Of the
children, snip the pieces of hemlock
for more deft fingers to arrange. We
cut the pieces for trimming about a
quarter of yard long; that gives us a
good end, and tiny branch on either
pieces, holding the stem, the foliage
hanging down; then we place another
piece upon that, making it look like
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 we
should use two separate pieces, max
ing each seem to grow toward the GEN.
ter. The ends require twig of hem
lock tied on, hanging down to give
them finish. We must loop the ever
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 creeping all around
the room. Over some of the pictures
we would suggest a bow-knot of ever
greens with long ends, over and under
others cross, dove, or basket of flow
ers. Sadly and lovingly we Irvine
wreathes of evergreen, intermixed with
clusters of bittersweet, around the pic
lures of some sweet, dear faces who
are with us 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 bouquet of natural, fresh
flowers, our home will then present a
very attractive appearance.
The work gives pleasure in itself 1t
makes the home seem CHEEKY and home
like. Any such work of mutual inter-
est strengthens the home love. 1t
makes happier and better children, as
well as truer. more devoted parents.
d I6t rs selshrste our anniversaries by
<<1ng them 4(szfill- 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 co-workers. The boys should be
encouraged to make little brackets and
crosses, covering them with beautiful
MOSES. Making wax leaves, dressing
dolls, and 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 lasting influence upon their
characters for good, together with inn
parting present enjoyment, if the moth
er realizes her work.