The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1891-12-19
Presents for Christmas.

This is the time when every one is Won
dering what to give every one else for
Christmas. And papa, perhaps, has prom
ised each of his children 81 for spending
money. And, perhaps, he has only prom
ised 80 cents, and, perhaps, he has not
promised any money at all. But no one
need imagine that money is going to stand
in our way. Not a bit ofit Money never
has to, when good thoughts and good
wishes are to be put into the gift. And
really it is the good thoughts and good
wishes that make the best part of every
thing given at Christmas time. But here,
besides good wishes, are directions for
making pretty presents ont of almost moth
ing
Think of making one only costing one
cent Take an envelope, cut through its
face two lines like this, X, being careful
that these lines are even. Then turn back
the corners and what do you suppose you
have? A picture frame, and you never
would have thought of it In it you can
put that last photograph of the baby or
the one of dear mamma that you love, or,
if you have nothing else, then the painted
card you have been keeping so long. If
your envelopes are blue lined with white
or white lined with blue, see what. good
combination of colors you get. And if you
can draw, see how nicely you can decorate
those corners you have turned over. If
you cannot draw you can write initials or
dates in each corner. You can make this
frame staud up by pasting narrow strip
cut from visiting card on the back and
bending it. Or you can hang your frame
from the wall with narrow ribbons. If
you want to you can, for half a dozen
more pennies, paste half dozen envelopes
together, making half dozen frames in
one They can hold all the family photo
graphs. Tack these frames OF paste them
on stiff boards to keep them firmly.
And here is something else that will
only cost about six cents. Get piece of
pink OF yellow or green cartridge paper. Ii
your house has been papered lately, you
will be sure to find scraps in the house +;
otherwise, buy il from the paperhanger. l
am sure if you tell him what you want,
that for penny you can get enough paper
for dozen presents. Cut this cartridge
paper in strips two inches wide and eight
inches long. Then cut ordinary writing
paper into strips one and half inches
wide and eight inches long. Put the strip
of writing paper over the strip of cartridge
paper, tying them together round the cen
tire with piece Of ribbon matching your
cartridge paper To the knot in the bow
of this ribbon fasten securely a piece of
long string or of narrow ribbon. At the
other end Of the string fasten pencil.
Then, if any one wants to leave name or
a message at your front door who has for
gotten to bring pencil or card, why, there
is your memorandum slip all ready lying
on the front hall table, The pieces of writ
ing paper can be changed every day, yon
know
If you buy ribbon by the piece it is al
ways cheaper So when you are buying
some for the memorandum slip (I hope,
though, you have the ribbon in the house)
buy piece if you can. Take what is left
and make book-mark for dear mamma or
papa, or, better still, make one for dear
grandma, who has more time for reading.
Measure her prayer-book or the Bible she
always uses, some day when she is not
looking, so as to surprise her on Christmas.
Then cut your ribbon so as to make three
different marks for her, one for the Psalms,
another for the Gospels, and another for
the places she loves best to turn to. Sew
these ribbons together with some pretty
stitch at the top, if you have no pretty
ivory ball in the house. Fringe the ribbon
at the other end. Or if you have box
Of water colors and know how to use them,
then paint some dainty flower above the
fringe You will find tat grandma never
goes a day without using those markers,
The ribbon can be had for six cents yard,