Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-12-19

CHRISTIANS WITHOUT A Tree.
In these days Of crowded 6sts and
busy snothers, the rood old-fashioned
Christnas tree b often len out, because
there b no room for Il, Or becauee thers
ID no time 10 trim Il. lt sesms pity,
too, for Il b the very prettiest thing
about Christmas time.
But II We cannot have trees, We car
have various devices 70 take their place
with little trouble and far lees expense
A Christmas hunt can BE- instituted
and the presents put Ia hiding. IL b ar
ranged ike the well-known spider-we
party, al the family being assembled 10
the hall or parlor, and each being giver
. cord which, II followed, will lead Il
the right parcels. These cords criss'
cross al over the house, and there ID
much fun, 90 we'll - modification, In
trying to follow them.
Another sort Of hunt 10 Just . plain
searching all over the house for parcels
cunningiy hidden In unexpected places
A mammoth Christmas stocking, made
Of strong cotton goods Of some kind
will hold all the gifts Of . family unless
they are mammoth In size. IL can b
hung from bird cage bracket, or ths
chandelier, II not too heavy.
A merry game may Be made out OF the
presentation Of gifts by treating them q
forfeits,. TO be redeemed. The mother
and father Of family ought TO lead In
this game. In similar manner, . game
may be devised by which al viii have
to earn their gifts by irst entertaining
the company. Each one writes on
slip OF paper something that he or shs
would Ike to have another member oil
the party do. These slips are shaker
together In bag or basket, and each
draws one, being pledged to do exactly
what It says, - the wages by which hii
or her collection OF gifts can be earned
One fxmily party Was put In high glcs
when the mother drew Q slip readiDg
"Treat to something good" II 10 need
lees TO add that dish OF goodies from
the pantry very promptly appeared: !.
A snowdrift Of cotton, In which 81
the gifts are buried, IL another pleasing
device. Small gifts can be done up II
cotton wool, to look like snowballs, anc
piled upon the '.drift.n They ere mark
ed, OF course, and each 10 tossed 70 III
rightful owner.
A Christmas hamper--the wicker
clothes hamper, Of course-trimmet
with evergreen and lined with greer
cambria or paper, with little figure o.
Santa Claus standing on the lid, vii
hold a great many presents. Each pack
age ought to be done up 10 white paper
xith sprig Of evergreen stuck Into thu
green cord which holds It.
"Grandmother's pocket" will please
the children greatly, and 10 plan wortf
being tried by the auntie OF grandm,
Who, knowing that the children hsv,
everything they can possibly want, 10 q
her vita end TO present them with some
thing new.
The giver first prepares an old-fash
Toned pocket, such ~ our grandmother
tied about their waists with . string. II
consists of a large double 0blong, seam
ed together al around, with tapes fast
ened TO the two upper corners, and
Gilt near the top midway between tn
tapes. This IL TO be worn under plair
full skirt, with q pocket hole TO CORE
spond to the slit In the big pocket. Il
the wearer chooses TO dress Ia very
Quaint old style, with kerchlef aud cap
90 much the better.
Into the pockets are pat all sorts o.
little nicknacks, penny iron toys, such ~
hoes, rakes, and shovels; penny wooder
toys, ~ churns, cradles, and chairs
cray IONS, pencils, dolls, marbles, whistles
and 90 forth. The children are allowes
TO put their hands, In turn, Into "grand
mothers pocket 90 many times srount
a. the number OF gifts win permit.
IL IL quite likely that these few sug
gestions will lead to the devislng ol
others by the clever planner Of Christ
mas festivities. Even the children tir,
Of any one way Of receiving thell
presents, unless there 10 the fun Of ,
tree. Il pays TO introduce something
new 10 place Of the time-honored-bu
also ime-worn--methods Of putting th'
gift In the chairs at breakfast or dinner
or piling them on table, to be handet
around with appropriate remarks BY
some master Of ceremonies. IL will Civ
an added rest TO the appetites OF ever
the adults for their Christmas packages
Good Housekeeping.