Home Occupations for Boys and Girls Part 22

Thread a needle with the sewing silk, knot the end of the thread and take several firm st.i.tches through the center of each circle in order to hold the sheets of paper together. With sharp scissors cut out each paper circle, and fringe by cutting, but not too finely, from the edge to within 1/8 of an inch of the center of the circle. Hold the knot on the under side of the circle between the thumb and forefinger of the left hand. Slightly moisten the forefinger of the right hand and brush gently over the fringed surface toward the center of the rosette. At the back of each rosette put a bit of paste, then lay rosettes on strips of paper one inch in width. Do not overlap the rosettes, but arrange to allow the edges to touch.

These strips of rosettes may be used as festoons. As decorations for cakes or dishes of fruit they can be used most effectively.

=Shields for Luncheon Cards= (_Cardboard_, _red and blue paper_, _baby ribbon--red, white and blue_, _gold paint_, _water-color paints--red and blue_)

Attractive luncheon or supper cards, suitable for patriotic occasions, may be made in the form of shields. Turn to the fourth page of Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, and find the shield used as the American Coat-of-Arms. This shield, enlarged to a size measuring 2-1/2 inches in length and 2-1/2 inches in width across the upper part, forms an excellent model. If one does not draw habitually, use tracing paper when tracing the pattern. If one uses watercolor paints successfully, paint the deep blue band across the upper part of the shield, and the twelve red stripes running from the band to the lower edge of the shield. For those who do not paint, dark red and blue paper may be subst.i.tuted very successfully. A touch of gold paint on the edge of the shield adds greatly to the effect.

Write each guest's name on a card measuring 2-1/2 inches in length and 1-1/2 inches in width. Attach a card by means of red, white and blue ribbon to upper corner of each shield.

=Rockets= (_Red, white and blue paper_, _paste_, _gold paint_, _slender wooden sticks_)

Rockets are made in the same manner as firecrackers, excepting that the paper strips are cut wider, viz.: 3 or 4 inches in width, and more strips are required to give the proper size. This may be left to the maker's discretion.

When the rockets are rolled and pasted after the manner of the firecrackers, insert the sharp point of a pencil into the center of one end of each roll, and gently push out this center to the distance of two inches. This will give the pointed end of the rocket. These pointed ends may be gilded, as well as the slender sticks which are inserted at the other ends.

LABOR DAY

The words "parade" and "procession" are a.s.sociated in the minds of most American children with long lines of soldiers, and the small boy will play for hours putting his tin soldiers in rank and file, or marching with his comrades, with pans for drums.

In these later days, when the spirit of the Peace Congress is in the air, it is well that the children should become interested in struggles and battles of a different and higher order and in the parades in which long lines of honorable workers take part.

In this country all self-respecting people are workers in one way or another, and though in the course of progress of cooperative movements and combinations, among many kinds of workers, there may have been much of injustice, such movements have also been accompanied by self-sacrifice, courage and generosity of a high order. In time the good will far out-weigh the evil. As Labor Day approaches, the children, especially if the father expects to take part, will be readily interested in the day and what it should mean--the solving of the great problem of the twentieth century. Meanwhile let the children feel the beauty of Walt Whitman's lines:

"Ah little recks the laborer How near his work is holding him to G.o.d, The loving Laborer through s.p.a.ce and time."

The Labor Day parade is a revival, or survival in modern guise, of the mediaeval processions of the Guilds. Such a procession is charmingly represented in Wagner's delightful opera, "Die Meistersinger," wherein, on a festival day, we see the bakers enter, bearing the insignia of their trade, enormous pretzels and other cakes. The cobblers march in with gigantic boots and slippers suspended from tall poles; the butchers carry hams and festoons of sausages, etc. The child may imitate such a parade in his play.

In talking with the child, emphasize the obligation to do good, true work and to take pride in such. Let fidelity and trustworthiness be his watchwords.

=Parade= (_Poles or broom handles_, _wrapping paper or newspaper_, _scissors_, _tacks_, _rakes_, _spades_, _etc._, _flags and banners_)

Let the children cut from the paper large outlines of shoes, boots, hams, saws, try-squares, clocks, watches, enormous pens, knives, forks, etc., and fasten with pins or tacks to the poles. Then march to the tune of some stirring air.

Some may be able to secure small garden rakes, spades and toy brooms to carry. The American flag and banners should also be carried.

=Toy-Processions= (_Trade catalogues_, _toothpicks_, _paper dolls_, _etc._)

Cut out paper dolls and let each one carry a tiny toothpick upon which has been pasted a picture cut from some catalogue. These catalogues will furnish pictures of shoes, carriages, saws, hammers, watches, furniture, etc. Be sure that little American flags are also carried.

Dolls may be glued to spools for standards.

=Place Cards for Dinner=

1. (_Bristol board_, _scissors_, _paints_, _brush_)

Make place cards of Bristol board, which may be cut into shape of shoes, watches, etc., and painted accordingly. The name of guest may be placed on reverse side. Or, on plain white card, paint a picture emblematic of a trade and write upon it also some quotation from a writer of democratic spirit.

2. (_Tiny cast-iron rakes, spades and hatchets--1 cent each._)

As a souvenir, give each guest a tiny cast-iron spade, rake and hatchet tied together with cord. Or, for a joke, these may be placed by each plate instead of knife, fork and spoon.

3. (_Pen and ink or pencil_, _white card_.)

Draw on a plain, white card a picture of an ant, bee or beaver as emblematic of labor. Use for place cards.

4. (_Frances S. Osgood's poem, "Labor,"_ _white cards_, _pen and ink_.)

On each card write one stanza of this beautiful poem, and after the close of the meal let each guest in turn read the lines on his card. It would be well for every child to commit this poem to memory. It is long, but sings itself easily into the mind. The word-pictures it calls up are exquisite and the learning of it, little by little, would not be an unhappy task.

HALLOWE'EN

This is the festival which is given over to all kinds of merry pranks and is dearly loved by the children. It is an opportunity to teach them to discriminate between the fun which is kindly and that which is malicious and productive of needless pain.

=Ducking for Apples and Nuts= (_Large pans or tubs_, _apples_, _nuts_, _pennies_)

Let the children, young and old, for once get themselves wet, if necessary, in ducking for the nuts and apples floating in the water.

With a little suction some of the children will be able to get pennies from the bottom of the tub.

=Fortune-Telling=

1. With Needles. (_Needles_, _pan of water_)

Name a needle for yourself and one for a friend, and put in the water, but not together. If they move safely across, it betokens good luck. Two needles meeting indicate life partnership.

2. With Toy Ships. (_Pan of water_, _nut ships as described on page 22_)

Name one little vessel for yourself and one for a friend and set them afloat. If they come to port on the other side all is well.

3. With Apple Rinds. (_Apple_, _knife_)

Pare an apple so that the skin comes off in one long piece. Toss over the head upon the floor, and the form it takes will give the initial letters of the name of one's future mate.

4. With Cake. (_Cake_, _thimble_, _ring_, _penny_, _etc._)

Bake a cake, hiding in the dough a thimble, a ring and a penny. When cut, the recipient of the ring is fore-doomed to marriage; the one getting the thimble will be a spinster; the one receiving the penny will have the pleasures and responsibilities of wealth.

=Apple-Biting Contest= (_Apple suspended from a string_)

1. The apple is set swinging and two people, standing opposite each other, try as it pa.s.ses to seize and hold it in the mouth. They must not touch it with the hands.