Evening star., 1948-03-24
Readers C1earingHouse
AMUSING sHUT-M

AMUSING SHUT-N.
(From Mrs. II. J.. S., Alexandria.
To Mrs. H. 8. NJ, Arlington In re
to a little 3k-year shut-in boy for
entertainment: I have a little bow
~ years and although he's never
been sick, each day he has his quiet
period and he gets big bang out
OF jig-saw puzzles. They nave
them at the 10-cent stores with
about or 4 pieces to the the puzzle
and also at children's stores (more
expensive). Your little nephew
could have a goldfish or one of
the more interesting ones to watch
and feed. Have a cigar flower box
to plant orange seeds. grapefruit,
seeds, etc., in and watch. Modelling
clay is wonderful with a simple
picture book to 60 by and of course
a work bench for his lap, If a good
breakfast tray Is being used, oilcloth
could be put on 1t with tacks.
A good hobby is collecting small
animals. My boy does this with
ones he uses in his bath and of
course the dime store ones. He has
them on the bookcase and, of course.
books, songs, crayons and if a VIC
trola is available the childrens
stories are wonderful. Scrapbooks.
My child loves books and gets all
sorts Of the inexpensive type and If
see it he gets the article the book
tells about. For instance "Tuffy
Tugboat." We got all models Of
boats we could find. And "The
Taxi" We got q little taxi. These
have become his special toys as they
have a 'story" to them and he has
seen by the pictures what they do.
Fancy soaps to wash his face and
hands. A clock Of his own to wind
each day (if he can handle these
things. My little one is very inter-
ested in such things). He could re-
ceive a box with q surprise" for
each day Of the week in it to be
opened each day.
(Front Mrs. B. r., ArHngton.)
For Mrs. D. S. M, Arlington: For
the little boy who Is temporarily
shut in I would suggest an mex
pensive electric phonograph and
some unbreakable records. My 3z-
year-old will play them for hours
on end. Teach him how to run 1t
himself and buy him a new record
once each week. They are very
reasonable, especially the little ones.
Make up shelf of bed toys and
here are some ideas: Large colored
beads to string; a game called peg
town; large simple puzzles; cray
ons and color book; a box of but
tons to string; a cheap slate, sponge
and slate pencil; a bag of marbles
and some little pill boxes to put
them in; a box Of old greeting
cards: blunt pair of scissors and
10 cent books to cut out.
Some miniature building blocks
and above all get good sick bed
adjustable table so the little fellow
can play and eat in comfort. Prop
him up with large clean pillows
and let him choose his occupation.
Also, II you can manage, q bowl of
sprouting bulbs which he can watch
grow and bloom.
X X II n
SURPRISE PARTY?
(Fron1 Mrs. E. c., TdkoD1d PnrE.)
I am planning a surprise birth
day party for my husband. First I
wish some reader will kindly tell me
If a surprise party is too childish
for adults? I have been to many
parties, but now that I am plan
ming one I'm all confused as to
whether it should be q surprise
party or not and what to serve.
I'd like to have sandwiches and
cake.
Will every one have q good time
just dancing, or are there some
adult games we might play?
4 4 y
THE NIGHT BEFORE EASTER"
fFrou Mrs. G. A. M, Washington J
With the Easter season at hand, I
thought some of our readers Of this
page would enjoy this poem for
their children.
It was clipped from a Philadel-
phia paper for my son, some twenty
years ago.
THE NIGHT BEFORE EASTER"
Twas the night before Easter
And all through the house
There was something a-stirring
I thought was a mouse.
But soon l was certain
Twas bigger than that
And then I decided
1t might be the cat.
30 I pulled all the covers
Up over my head
For I feared that the creature
Might jump on my bed.
listened and waited
Expecting a leap
But somehow or other
fell fast asleep.
woke in the morning
And learned with delight
Who was it that ranbled
Around in the night
With furry ears wigglins
And funny long legs
st. Bunny had laid me
A basket Of eggs!
" IL II