The Mt. Sterling advocate., 1922-10-10
THE USES OF NATURE
MATERIAL IN THE HOME

The little child should make ma
ture's acquaintance as a friend and
playmate and in so doing he will
store up Joy and peace for his after
years. knowledge of nature makes
child realize more fully his part in
the infinite conception and gives him
background of beauty. Through
play the child can first be introduced
to the absorbing world of nature
about him.
The stringing of nature material in
the fall is is very fascinating to chill
dren because of the various colors
and shapes available. Corn and peas,
pumpkin and squash seeds may be
gathered and strung with the joint
weed that is found in damp places
and can be cut in inch lengths. This
reed grows to height of two feet,
and has black and white ring be-
tween the joints, which adds greatly
hips, thornapples, bitter-sweet and
mountain ash berries are very artis-
tic strung with this joint-weed, COM
bining one, two or three of the red
with one of the green We string
them in the fields, using No. 8
Sharpe's needles and No. 30 thread,
and let the children wear the chains
home
Milkweed pods give much pleasure,
and many things can be made from
them. By placing two black pins
near the thick end of the pod for
eyes, we make a bird with a beak.
Open the slit along the side. look in
side, and you see fish with scales
(seeds). he children take the con-
tents out, and use the empty pod for
boat, putting an inch stick across
the center for a seat, and sailing it
on the water. Out of doors it is fun
to blow some of the seeds up in the
air, and try to keep them up.
Mothers can make beautiful fluffy
pillows from the down of the milk
weed by taking off the seeds and put
ting the down in case. Do this be-
fore the down becomes too dry, or it
will fly away. The pillows are very
useful, as they are soft and fluffy.
Even the brown seeds may be utiliz-
ed if saved. In the winter, the chill
dren and even the older people can
play with them in masses on the ta-
BILE, making circles, squares, wreaths
and other fat pictures.
Still another use can be made of
the pods on the branches. They can
be painted blue to resemble blue
birds, or other colors such as bronze,
silver or gold. Use thin oil paints.
These with bitter-sweet berries, su-
mac, cattaiIs, colored teasels and
grasses. make a pretty winter bou-
quet.
Ferns and sumac leaves, oak and
maple leaves in clusters, may be
pressed in books or between sheets
tf newspaper and pinned on the walls
at Christmas time. They brighten the
rooms wonderfully. Small ferns and
pressed flowers may be used for place
cards or favors.
Horsechestnuts afford a great deal
of amusement. To make a baby doll,
use three sizes of these nuts, the
small one for the head and the large
one for the base. Punch a hole
through the center of the middle and
lower ones, and the base of the upper
one. Then put a toothpick through
to connect them and use half sticks
for arms. Mark or pierce eyes, nose
and mouth for the face. Select a big
fiat nut for a stool using three pins
for legs; or put row of five pins on
top along the edge and weave yarn
in and out for a back, and we have
chair. Both nuts and cones can be
use for hiding games and ninepins.
In gathering seeds. look for as
many of their seed houses as you can,
and in opening the pods, emphasize
the protection afforded by each. In
this way, the children come to know
more Of nature and her tenderness of
the species. These points can be am
plified when the children grow older
SICK .