Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-12-22
A rEM CHRISTMAS GIFrs.

A FEW CHRISTMAS GIFTS.
Many pretty and useful articles that are
fit for Christmas gifts may be made thai
are quite inexpensive, but will show the
good will and remembrance of the givel
as well as something costly and elaborate
and are also within the reach of almost
every one if they have little time and
ingenuity.
A pretty Christmas trife, new to me
may prove the same to others. The ma
terials are white wadding which comes in
delicate sheets, bit of pasteboard or thick
paper, and green worsted, plain or shaded
1t is mat for flower vase, cheaply and
easily made. For small mat, cut cir.
cular piece of pasteboard five inches in
diameter, cover the edge and one side with
bleached scrim or any thing white; cut a
round piece of the wadding seven inches
in diameter, work it around the edge in a
| button-hole stitch with the worsted; fasten
this and the covered board together with
blind basting, and this is the foundation
of the mat. Next, cut thirteen rounds oi
wadding, each FIVE inches in diameter, and
button-hole the edges of all with the
worsted. Fold one of these pieces flat
through the center, from pole to pole, to
| borrow geographical terms now make the
poles meet mot lap), fasten these poles
side by side to the edge of the foundation
with the worsted, also catch down the CEN
ter of the equator towards the center OF
the foundation. Loosen the wrought edges
and thus there are one within the other
two shells or calla-cups facing outward.
| Repeat the process with the thirteen
rounds until all are at equal spaces around
the edge of the foundation, forming a
cavity within the center, in which the
vase will stand.
If these directions are followed closely
the result will be clear and correct. This
makes the oldest, daintiest little mat,
| looking in its white and green like wax
work besprinkled with young grass, or
woodsey moss, that one can almost smell.
The same idea can be carried out as
well in other sizes, or in squares and other
shapes for lamp mats, etc, and can be
finished in other colors, losing, however,
the pretty effect which the greenery gives.
Leaving to others who will do it better the
description of many lovely Christmas gifts,
of handiwork or purchase, let me suggest
two or three things which will seem queer,
but which, after consideration, will seem
appropriate, and which the reader may be
glad to use, wondering that he had never
thought of them before.
GIVE YOUR PHOTOGRAPH.
A chorus of startled voices says GLOW
egotistical Well not do that" But
think. Have you not some dear friends in
other towns or States whom you do not
often see, or others whose loved faces you
cannot see more except in that fair Upper
Country where you hope to meet? And is
it strange but true, that by no fault on
either side, but by unfortunate circum-
stance, you do not possess their portraits,
which would give you comfort and pleas
ure untold, for your own inspiration and
communion, and for showing to others,
saying with love and pride, "See my
friends" Very well. Now take the case
home. You think with modesty that no.
body can value your plain lineaments,
shadowed forth on piece of paper. O.,
no. But | say to you that it is indeed GER
tain, Just possible, even highly probable,
even if you are not very distinguished
individual, that some one would regard
your photograph as one of the choicest,
dearest treasures in the world, who has
perhaps asked you repeatedly for it, and
you have carelessly said, eyes, indeed, as
soon as / have some taken" And you
have forgotten it.
Now go and sit for your photograph, or
| order some new ones printed or hunt up
one in the house even if it is a little bat
tered or ancient, and send it straightway
for Christmas present. Then see what
| kind of letter you will get in return.
You will have made your friend happy
and found out how much your pictured
face is worth besides.
GIVE SOME MONEY FOR A CHRISTMAS
TOKEN.
GLOW shocking. What i'll TASTE" is the
next chorus / hear. True, other things
are usually bestowed, and as rule what
ever is sent or given at Christmas-time is
far more acceptable than if it had been
chosen by the recipient, since it is the
givers thought or choice or handiwork.
Yet money instead may be the very best gift
you can make next Christmas to some one
whom you are desirous of remembering in
pleasing way. But he or she may be at
an inconvenient distance for sending, or if
far or near, you may not guess what may
be the most gratifying. Not knowing the
exact circumstances of the friend, study rs
you may upon the choice of gifts, you can
not decide what may suit his case. Then
do the plainest thing that will prove the
best. Send the money you would have ex-
pended, and tell him to invest to suit him
self. He will get what he wants and ap-
preciate it.
There are many other occasions also
where money will be the most pleasing
and welcome OF anything. Be you rich or
poor you have some friend more needy
than yourself. He does not expect to have
his purse replenished at Christmas, and
probably expects no gift at all. You
would like to both surprise, please and
help him with Christmas present. But
he is "poor and proud" more to his dis
credit. He is reticent. You apprehend
that he is suffering some need, but have
no means of ascertaining what it is Now
is your time for sending money that an
swereth all things" and no offense taken.
| At this peaceful time one does not stand so
much on ceremony or on fancied propriety
as at other times, and really one is only
| sure at Christmas that one can give money
without resentment. But no one can re-
fuse a Christmas present, let ii be what it
will.
NOW DON'T SEND A NICE PICTURE
Or set of jewelry to the woman who
does not know which way to turn for a
calico dress for herself, or for her chIldren's
supper. Don't send an elegantly bound
! volume containing TIE single poem illus