Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1907-12-20
MRS. GEO. n. BARBER.

Nailu, u a dolIS trunk ana MI III WITH
clippings-just the sort you know your
friend will enjoy. The same thing
would be appreciated by any one. IL
the clippings are on subjects
ed with ones favorite fad.
Another pleasing gift for an invalid
is a wonder bag. This is an ordinary
bag made of pretty ~cretonne. with a
draw string OF silk ribbon. II should
be square, measuring half a yard each
way. Out OF the opening of the bag
should be as many narrow ibbons OF
different colors as there are gifts in
side. Any tiny thing which will amuse
the invalid will serve, Tie Zach secure
ly to n end OF n ribbon and hide in
the bag. with the other end of the
ribbon hanging out of the bag, to
which should be fastened a card giving
the date when IL shall he drawn. Any
thing perishable should be assigned
the first date.
A leather souvenir postal card may
quickly be transferred into n pretty
blotter by cutting a couple OF tiny Sits
In the center OF the top and also I'm
a piece of blotting paper the same size.
Tie them together with a small bow of
ribbon. The address Is of course hid
den. The picture on the post card
should have some association with the
person to whom II is to be given.
Buy plain glass sherbert cups and
fill them with red jelly. Cover with
parafine, wrap in tissue paper
with a sprig Of holly n tie with RIB
bon. II desired n jelly pooh could be
added very appropriately. Wrap 1t In
tissue paper and tie with ribbon TO the
handle of the cup.
A word about preparing packages to
send through the mail will not be
amiss. ms 80 many parcels are lost or
broken at Christmas time. This Is be-
cause people persist I'm wrapping arti-
cles In soft paper and tying them with
a bit Of thread.
In addition to the inner wrapping OF
soft tissue. the parcel should be placed
in q ~pasteboard o of just the right
size. Tie this Don tight and put the adj
dress on 1t. Then wrap 1t in heavy
paper, tie again and address 1t. II
the outside paper Is torn off the box
will still reach Its destination.
Christmas Trees and Their Decorations
Much OF the fascination OF the holi-
day season centers around the Christ
mas tree. To the children II seems to
have come from their beloved fairy
land, and to the grown people, though
1t represents much work II brings real
happiness In the work. A bird's-eye
peep into the ZONES Of this broad land
at Christmas time would discover
many sorts OF trees trimmed In an
variety Of ways. AS new ideas
are always acceptable, descriptions OF
a few which have been reported are
here given.
In one family the older children used
a huge oleander which happened to
be I'm bloom at the time. The branches
were hung with various ornaments n
the gifts were piled at the base. The
result was very pretty and the little
one were delighted.
Lemon trees are also used sometimes
where evergreens are hard to procure.
On the other hand, In the lands where
the evergreen grows the tree fs some
times trimmed and loaded with presents
while still standing In its native soil.
The choice Is made OF a tree In some
sheltered nook. The warmly wrapped
guests thoroughly enjoy h novel sit
uation.
There are many plans OF ornament
ing the tree. A very pretty effect Is
secured by tipping each tiny twig with
a grain OF popcorn fastened by thrust
ing through with a pin.
Instead OF bringing the ropes OF pop
corn and cranberries around and
round the tree as is commonly done,
top and brought from branch to branch
downward.
A tree full of blossoms Is produced
by the use Of chains OF tissue paper
flowers. Small circles are cut from the
paper and the edges scalloped slightly.
Pinch h center OF each. bringing h
edges together with a nuted appear
ance, thus forming a petal. String
our Of these petals through the apex
OF each. tie q knot in the string. leave
a space of an inch or so, then make
another blossom in the same manner
The colors are often a~lternated. They
are used either as pendants or are tied
in clusters OF three In a bunch.
Rather unusual ornaments are birds
made OF bright colored cloths stuffed
with cotton with tissue paper wings,
outspread. These are hung to the tree
by invisible wires SC that the birds
look as IL they were flying.
Sometimes the trees are trimmed with
bananas. lemons, grapes, apples and
nuts. Large punches of raisins are
hung from the branches. Little figures
are made OF raisins and prunes wired
securely. Oranges are made into quaint
ornaments by twisting fine wires
around them so tightly that they cut
into the skin. An end of the wire is
left at the top to fasten the orange to
the tree. Chinese faces are marked on
them and on each one Is pasted a round
cap cut from stiff paper making the
Chinaman complete.
The effect of a tree full OF icicles Is
pretty and Is given by many short
strings of glittering beads, silver and
Opaque. and of popcorn.
A ~snov-covered tree Is made by COW
ering the branches with cotton batting
to simulate drifts OF snow. To the ends
OF the branches are suspended glass
icicles. Frosted silver balls are hung
here and there and papers Of silver
shower scattered over the whole.
A frost covered tree Is made by spray
Ing II with a solution of four pounds Of
alum In half q gallon of boiling water.
II Is put on by using an ordinary
sprinkler. Half the solution Is sprayed
on, then the remainder Is reheated and
after twenty minutes the tree Is again
sprayed with II. Pulverized starch Is
then sprinkled all W the tree. The
work IL done out doors so that II can
dry quickly and TO prevent injury to
carpets.
A red and white tree is made by ty-