The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1897-12-31
The Wonder.Ball Party.

One cold December afternoon, bright
looking boy was fitting about a certain
neighborhood in a large city. pausing.
now and then, at different doors to leave
white envelope taken from the package
in his hand. Occasionally while waiting
for a response to his ring he would look
the envelopes over.
"'Pretty good for an amateur is
mothers verdict be said to himself,
but Uncle Ferd declares they would not
disgrace a professional"
A disinterested observer, looking at the
envelopes, would certainly have agreed
with "Uncle Ferd.'' In the upper right
hand corner of each was a deity painted
holly wreath, and in the opposite corner
was the following return card neatly
done in German text with gold ink:
IF not delivered in five minutes, return
by lightning flash to Santa Claus. 800
Expectation avenue, Santa Claus Land.
The name and address of the person
for whom the note was intended were
neatly printed with red and green cray
Ons. the capitals with red. to represent
holly berries, the other letters in green,
representing the holly leaves.
Within each envelope was neatly
written invitation matching the address
in color. and running thus:
and requests the pleasure of your COM
pany at a. 'Wonder-ball Party to he
given on Christmas eve at the home Of.
"R. S. V. P"
AT the top of the sheet of paper was a
variegated ball about the size of a nickel:
at the bottom wreath of holly.
You may imagine that the reading of
curiosity. Some of the recipients had
heard of the "wonder-balls' given by Ger
man mothers to their little girls to encour
age industrious habits, but to most of the
invited guests the only suggestion was one
of wonder as to the sort of pleasure in
store for them.
When the guests came into the parlor
on the appointed evening they saw i'll
the center of the room large red yarn
ball surrounded by a wall of green. 1t
was really resting in a washtub, which
was skillfully covered with eyergreens.
Near this pretty device sat the hostess.
and as soon as the company was ASSEM-
bled-no regrets had been received-the
lady arose and said:
My dear young guests, You are about
to receive visit from a very important
see; no less a character. indeed. than
Santa Claus himself: but. as the old
gentlemen. in spite of his great age. is
still a little shy among strangers. he has
,sked me to act as his mouthpiece. He
will, when he appears, faSen upon each
of you a bit of colored ribbon. The one
to whom a scarlet ribbon is given will.
when the badges are all distributed, step
,p to this wonder balr and begin to I'M
wind the scarlet skein, at the end of
which will be found gift from Santa
Claus.
"A skein Of another color is tied to the
end of the red yarn: kindly break this
off and hold the end of the other skein
N the hand until the guest wearing the
corresponding color steps up and takes
It, when the unwindng is resumed. Let
each guest be careful not to drop the be-
ginning of the new skein until it is
claimed by the proper person.
''Santa Claus also requests that each
skein of yarn be manufactured by its
recipient into something that may be
given or sold to brighten the lot of some
less fortunate person. AS. the boys. OF
course: are not versed in the arts Of the
needle, they are expected to ask one Of
the girls to do the magic weaving for
them"
As the hostess ceased speaking there
was the sound of music from a concealed
orchestra. and in moment Santa Claus
came marching in, carrying small baS
ket filled with bits of bright-colored rib
hons. With dignifed bearing and leisure
ly step he made the circuit of the room.
fastening upon each member of the COM
pany one of the pretty badges;
When he had discharged this pleasant
duty he took off his steeple-crowned hat
and bowed low to the company. Amid
the prolonged cheers that followed he
took his place near the chair of the host
ess and remained standing there during
the unwinding of the ,skens. the orches-
ira meanwhile making sweet music.
When the gifts were all distributed,
Santa disappeared. refreshments were
served. and after more music the Gwen
der-Ball Party" was over.
In giving this entertainment special
gifts may easily be arranged for certain
ones, carefully noting the colors wound
after each article and decorating the
guests accordingly, or the matter may Ee
left entirely to chance, if preferred. c.
J. D. in Philadelphia Times.
An Adopted Partridge.
Miss Ona Ireland. Young lady living