Chapter II: Part 2

MISS MUFFET.--A little girl sits on Boy Blue's pile of hay, eating something from a saucer. A small boy steals up behind her, with an artificial spider on a string attached to a pole, which he slowly lowers into her plate. Appropriate music is played, and Miss Muffet screams as the curtain is drawn.

CINDERELLA.--A little girl, with torn calico dress and unkempt hair, stands at the right of the stage, her hands clasped and uplifted, smiling in wonder. Before her stands a very small boy in a smart military suit, with a white cotton wig on his head, indicating the coach in which she is to go to the ball. The coach may be a pumpkin hollowed into the proper shape, and drawn by a small dog harnessed to it with ribbons, or a go-cart, or baby carriage, drawn by a larger dog. Some one behind the scenes plays a waltz very softly. Plenty of red fire.

LITTLE JACK HORNER.--For this a boy with a mischievous face should be chosen. He sits on the floor in the centre of the stage, with a huge pan covered with white paper between his feet. Some one behind the scenes reads the nursery rhyme:

Little Jack Horner
Sat in a corner,
Eating a Christmas pie;
He put in his thumb
And pulled out a plum,
And said: "What a great boy am I!"

Little Jack Horner, of course, suits the action to the words, pulling a prune, date or raisin out of a hole in the paper pasted over the pan. He puts it in his mouth as the curtain is drawn.

FOLLOWING THE FLAG.--In one corner of the stage a tent is erected--a white sheet over a centre pole. All the small boys who have military suits, drums, trumpets and muskets, stand about, and one in the very front holds the flag. In front of the tent, on a pile of hay, lies another small boy, in a military suit, with his eyes closed, and behind him stands a little girl in a big white apron, with the symbol of the red cross on her left arm. Music behind the scenes is either "Tenting on the Old Camp Ground," or "The Star Spangled Banner," and all the rest of the red fire is ignited. When it dies down, the curtain is drawn, the lights are turned up, and the pianist plays "Home, Sweet Home."

CHILDREN'S EASTER PARTY

The little guests when they arrive will be made happy by giving them small baskets to hunt for the eggs which the mother has a few days before blown and colored and hidden all over the house.

In a room where there is a hardwood floor have little yellow chicks arranged as tenpins at one end and give the children each an egg and let them roll the eggs and see how many chicks they can knock down. While they are doing this take some of the eggs they have found, run ribbon through them and suspend in different lengths from a chandelier.

Among these suspended "eggshells" have Easter eggs filled with good things. You can buy the eggs, and fill some of them with candy and some with peanuts; put tiny dolls in some and small toys in others, so that no two eggs will be filled alike. Then blindfold one child at a time; give him a small cane and let him make one strike and see what he can bring down. It is a good idea to spread a sheet under the chandelier on the floor, so that the shells can be gathered up quickly. Then announce refreshments.

In the centre of the supper-table upon a mound of smilax place a large rabbit on his haunches, and in his front paws an Easter egg. From this mound to each plate run a different-colored piece of ribbon, with a card attached. Upon the card have the child's name who sits at that place.

At one end of the table have an Easter cake with lily decorations, and at the other end place something that looks like a large white frosted cake, with one little downy chick in the centre, and five or six in a row around the edge. This is not a cake but a baking-pan turned upside down, covered with white paper and frosted white.

Have all the refreshments upon the table--thin slices of bread and butter, sandwiches, nuts, tiny cups of chocolate, cake and ice cream.

After all have finished eating and are ready to leave the table the little ones may be told that at the count of three they are to pull their ribbons, first removing Bunny from his nest to avoid breaking any dishes. Then every child will find attached to the ribbon an egg, the color of his or her ribbon, filled with candy or a small gift of some sort.

These eggs, a little yellow chick, and the baskets may be given to the children to carry home.

EASTER SALAD

A delicious and most attractive salad for Easter may be made by building a nest of narrow strips of cold boiled potatoes upon a few very crisp lettuce leaves. Fill the nest with eggs made of cream cheese rolled in grated yellow cheese. Serve on individual plates with a well-made mayonnaise dressing, and plain crackers, or thin slices of brown bread and butter.

EASTER GELATINE

Pour gelatine flavored with unfermented grape juice into egg shells and set them upon the ice. When the jelly seems to be firm remove the shells, and you will have as many pretty clear violet eggs as you have had shells. Arrange them around a mould of Bavarian cream, and serve. Gelatine flavored with chocolate, orange or cranberry juice would make equally pretty eggs, and probably please the children better than the violet ones.

EASTER BASKETS OF DESSERT

Little baskets of puff paste were filled with yellow "_eggs_" made from a rich custard which had been thickened with cornstarch, cooked until stiff and poured into egg-shaped moulds. When cold the custard "eggs" were removed from the moulds, placed in the pastry baskets and surrounded with whipped cream, which was dotted with white grapes cut in half and the seeds removed. The effect was very pretty and the dessert delighted the eyes of the guests as well as their palates.

This dessert might be utilized for any other occasion by pouring the custard into different-shaped moulds and dotting the whipped cream with candied cherries or fresh berries.

CHILDREN'S SOUVENIRS

Souvenirs at a children's party should be very inexpensive. Candy put up in some pretty form is the most suitable thing that can be given. The dainty Japanese confections that may be purchased at any large store where Oriental goods are sold are novelties, and always please the little people.

It is always a great pleasure to children to have something to take home with them from a party, and very inexpensive souvenirs will give happiness quite out of proportion to their value. Japanese trifles make pretty gifts, little boxes, bags or baskets filled with candy. Tiny kites are appropriate for boys, and fans for girls. Japanese dolls may be dressed with the lower part of the skirt prolonged into a bag and filled with candy. Only candy of the simplest kind should be used.

Candy boxes in various fanciful forms, as banjos, drums, tambourines, watering-pots, pails, caps, helmets, fish, etc., may be purchased from any dealer in such wares. They are also made in the shape of birds and animals, as peacocks, canaries, turtles, alligators and elephants. Hollow oranges and apples, fruit baskets, with realistic cherries, grapes, etc., on top, and room for candy underneath, are very pretty. If these are thought too expensive ornamented cornucopias to hold bonbons may be procured at various prices, beginning at fifteen cents a dozen. Mottoes containing paper hats and caps may be procured as cheaply as ten cents a dozen, and a package of these, holding as many as the child is years old, tied with the birthday color, makes a dainty souvenir. Little cradles filled with candy and ornamented with bows are also appropriate gifts.

A SOUVENIR PUDDING.--A common wash-tub, filled with bran or sawdust, will make a nice pudding for a child's party by putting the souvenirs in a layer in the bottom of the tub, then a layer of sawdust, then more presents, and so on until the tub is filled. Have a large wooden spoon and let each child make a dive with the spoon until he gets one souvenir. This will please the little ones.

CHILDREN'S SWEET PEA TEA

The invitations to this tea read like this:

_Prepare yourself for a Sweet Pea Tea,
The 'bus will call for you at three._

_July 19th._

In one corner of the card a sweet pea was painted in water colors. These cards were sent by mail. Of course, the recipients of these invitations had no idea where the party was to be, and waited in great expectation for the appointed day. Two 'bus men were engaged and furnished with a list of the invited, and at three o'clock, or as nearly that hour as possible, called for the guests, and after a short and misleading drive arrived at last at their destination.

After being received by the hostess, the guests were given cards and pencils and ranged around a long table in the centre of the room, on which were strewn leaves of many kinds of plants. Five minutes were given for guessing the plants to which the leaves belonged. At the expiration of that time, the cards were taken (after names had been signed), and a prize given to the best guesser.

The guests were then seated, and cards on which was the following list of questions passed around: 1. What field flower is something to eat and a dish we drink from? 2. What did the soldier say when he bade his sweetheart good-bye? 3. The name of what flower is used every day in a slang expression? 4. The name of what flower did Johnny's mother use when she told him to rise? 5. What hotel in New York city bears the name of a flower? 6. What flower is most popular in April? 7. The name of what flower means comfort? 8. What is the saddest flower?

The answers are: 1. Buttercup. 2. Forget-me-not. 3. Daisy. 4. Johnny-jump-up. 5. Aster. 6. Easter lily. 7. Heartsease. 8. Bleeding-heart.

The prize for this was a book of flowers and verses.

A basket of sweet peas was then passed to the girls, a different color of flower for each one. A similar basket was passed to the boys, and the search for partners began. The boy with the yellow sweet pea became the partner of the girl with the yellow flower. The boy with the white found the girl with the white, etc. The table was strewn with sweet peas, a cut-glass bowl of sweet peas graced the centre, and on each napkin was pinned a small bunch of the flowers.

CHILDREN'S TOM THUMB ENTERTAINMENT

For a children's party try the following device: Place four chairs in one end of the room and throw over them a large blanket or shawl to cover them completely down to the floor. Have some one double up his hands into fists, and on the back of the hands, with a piece of charcoal, paint eyes, nose and mouth, and on one of them paint a moustache. Put dolls' dresses on the arms, reaching down to the elbows. Put hoods or caps on the hands. Let the person thus prepared crawl in between the chairs, and resting the elbows on the floor, hold his forearms perpendicular, so that the backs of the hands will be facing the audience. All the rest of the person's body should be concealed, of course, under the shawl. Call these two little people Tom Thumb and his wife. Have some one for their manager, who should stand in front of the chairs and tell them what to do. The manager should explain why Tom has a dress on. He can have them perform a number of clever tricks, such as bowing to the audience, kissing each other, pushing each other, etc. They can answer questions in a little, fine voice, or say, "How do you do?"

It will be found that this entertainment will please the little folks immensely.

CHILDREN'S VALENTINE PARTY

From sheets of pink and creamy tinted paper, cut the requisite number of hearts--two for each invitation--and form into envelopes by pasting a pink heart and a creamy tinted one together along the edges, except at the large end, which must be left open to hold the written invitation. On a slightly smaller heart of thinner paper, write the following doggerel:

"From half-past six to half-past nine,
I pray you to be guest of mine.
With Valentine, their patron Saint,
Sure all good lovers are acquaint;
So in his honor kindly spend
A pleasant evening with a friend."

Slip this in the envelope formed by the two hearts, having first glued to the indentation at the larger end of the small heart a loop of baby ribbon by which to pull it out. On the white side of the envelope write the name and address; on the pink side, an older sister may draw cunning little Cupids, or hearts transfixed with little arrows.

Cut from pink paper as many hearts as there are to be boys, but no two of these hearts must be of the same size; cut from gilt paper the same number of hearts, one for each girl, matching in size those cut from the pink paper.

When the guests arrive, give each boy a pink and each girl a gilt heart. When a boy finds the girl who holds a gilt heart matching in size his pink one, they are partners for the evening. In this search all formality will have worn off.

Cupid's Darts will pass a jolly half hour. Make a large heart of several layers of pink tissue paper, and fill it loosely with bonbons; encase this in a slightly larger heart of open-meshed bobinet; hang on the wall on one side of the room by two loops sewed to the large, upper part of the heart. Provide a toy bow and arrow, and let each child in turn shoot at the heart. The arrows will remain sticking in the lace and paper, and the one whose arrow comes nearest the centre receives the first prize--a heart-shaped box of candy.

Also provide small heart-shaped boxes filled with candies for each child to take home.

For refreshments, make sandwiches from heart-shaped pieces of bread cut with a cake cutter; bake the cakes in heart-shaped tins, and have the ices frozen in the same design.

As red and pink are the proper colors for decoration on this day, it will be a pretty idea to have the lemonade colored pink with fruit juice.

Pretty favors can be made from crepe tissue-paper. Flowers, bonbon boxes, handkerchief-cases, and many another trifle, will please the young folks, more especially if they are the work of their little hostess's own hands.

CHINESE PARTY

Invitations should read as follows:

_Come to the Chinese Tea Party
and help eat
Rice and Rats
Prepared and Served by Chinese Girls
at ---- Church
Monday Evening, Jan. 4th._

You can stimulate interest in the heathen wonderfully by inviting them to come, with all their bag and baggage, and pay your society a visit. Have booths in the room representing the countries in which the church is doing missionary work. Let the attendants be costumed like the natives, and all the appointments of the booths suggest the life of the countries represented. When curiosity is thus piqued, information about these mission lands may be circulated by the help of questions on cards to be passed around. Write the questions in black ink, and underneath, in red ink, the answer to one of the other questions. It will require a pretty lively interchange of cards for each one to find the answer to his question.

The committee should try to make this evening as attractive as possible, and if it can be arranged all the members should appear in Chinese costume. In the centre of the church room, fit up a booth, covered with a large Chinese umbrella, and around it place small tables on which to serve refreshments. This can be made to look like a Chinese garden. Rice and rats can be served as follows: Boil rice until rather stiff and turn it into cups to cool. After ready to serve turn upside down in dishes and serve each dish with a _candy rat_ on top. The rice should be served with cream and sugar. Also have tea and wafers. A small fee can be charged for refreshments to go to missionary purposes. Of course no one but the committee should know what the "rice and rats" is to be, as it would spoil the fun. A nice idea would be to give chopsticks as souvenirs.

CHRISTMAS COSTUME PARTY

The invitations for a Christmas party of this sort should be enclosed in white envelopes decorated with holly and should read as follows:

_Master ----, as "Winter,"
and Miss ----, as "Christmas,"
will be glad to receive the "Months"
on Thursday evening,
December the twenty-fourth._

In the lower left-hand corner of each, above the address, should be indicated the character which the little guest is to represent, as, for instance: "Please represent July." Have the little host and hostess represent "Winter" and "Christmas."

When the children arrive let them find a throne built of dry-goods boxes, covered with Canton flannel with the fuzzy side out, well sprinkled with diamond dust and tufts of cotton, and above the throne a canopy made of evergreen boughs. Dip some of the boughs first in a weak solution of gum-arabic and then in flour, and sprinkle them with diamond dust; hang others in alum water until crystals form over the foliage.

Dress the little host in a suit of white cambric well bespangled with crystal beads and glass pendants. Let him wear white slippers and stockings, and over one shoulder a white shawl covered with artificial frost. On his head place a jaunty white beaver hat decorated with a long white plume.

The little hostess should wear a white dress of soft, fluffy material, trimmed with holly and mistletoe, and red stockings and slippers.

Seated upon the throne, beside one another, they should receive their guests, who should appear in the characters indicated upon their invitations. After all the children have been welcomed let them form in line, with "Winter" and "Christmas" leading, and march up-stairs and down to the music of piano and violin.

The children might then be shown some views of Bethlehem and the Christ-Child and told or read a Christmas story. Just before going-home time some "grown-up" person, dressed to represent Santa Claus, might come in and deposit his pack in the dining-room and distribute some little gifts. Then some simple refreshments should be served before the children go home.

CHRISTMAS MENU AND TABLE DECORATIONS

Ottoman Country Roasted and Gorged. (Roast Turkey)
Red Swamp Fruit Sauce. (Cranberry Sauce)
Hibernia's Pride Crushed. (Mashed Potatoes)
Cucurbita Maxima Crushed. (Mashed Squash)
Stalks of Kalamazoo. (Celery)
Bivalves Nestled. (Escalloped Oysters)
Dough Baked. (Bread)
Cream Churned. (Butter)
Lover's Test. (Pickles)
Curd Pressed. (Cheese)
Arabian Nectar and Bossy's Best. (Coffee and Cream)
Rosy Cheeks and Bossy's Best. (Peach Sherbet)
Cherub's Diet. (Angel's Food)
Nature's Food. (Fruit)
Squirrel's Dependence. (Mixed Nuts)
Sweet Compound. (Candy)

Select for your color scheme red and green. Set the dining-table in the centre of the room directly under the chandelier. To the latter fasten a large bunch of holly with plenty of red berries, and make garlands of evergreen to reach from the chandelier to the four corners of the table, fastening each one to the tablecloth with a bow of red ribbon. Have plenty of holly berries in the garlands of evergreen. If holly is dipped in a strong solution of alum water and dried in the sun, it will have the effect of being frosted. Have a red carnation with a sprig of green laid at each plate. Red and green paper napkins should be used. Have pretty side dishes of red and green things, such as red apples, red and green grapes, and all kinds of red and green bonbons. The first column of the menu as given should be printed or written and laid at each plate, for the guests to study while the courses are being served.

CHRISTMAS UMBRELLA GAME

Take a large umbrella--an old one will do--wind the handle with bright yellow ribbon and line the body with red percaline as near the color of holly berries as possible. Be sure to shape the lining so that it will not sag. Cover the outside with green percaline and finish the top with sprigs of holly and a bow of red and green ribbon. Trim the edge of the umbrella with a row of tiny bells and wind the ribs with crepe or tissue paper the same color as the lining; do this the last thing so that it will not come undone.

Select small appropriate gifts for the young guests; conceal them within dainty wrappings and tie them with ribbon to the ribs of the umbrella. When ready for the game let the children form a circle and choose one of their number to stand in the centre and hold the umbrella. The children may then dance around singing:

"Merrily 'round this Christmas ring,
Dancing gayly as we sing.
What would this umbrella bring
If we changed to hippetty-hop
And our hostess called out 'stop'?"

When singing "hippetty-hop" let the children hop around instead of dancing, and when the hostess calls out "stop" the child with the umbrella raises it over his head and the present which sways longest belongs to him. He unties it, and as he does so he hands the umbrella to another child, whose place he takes in the circle, and so on until all the children have had a chance to hold the umbrella and receive one of the gifts which hang from it.

After the game the umbrella may be given to the child who receives the largest number of votes as a souvenir of the evening.

If one does not wish the trouble of trimming an umbrella as described above, a Japanese umbrella may be purchased for a small sum, and will be equally appropriate.

CHURCH BAZAAR SUGGESTIONS

FOR AN ORANGE GROVE.--Evergreen trees should be procured and placed about the hall to make it resemble a grove. The oranges may be made of a wad of cotton, inclosing a trinket, covered with orange-colored tissue paper. Hang them on the trees and let each purchaser select the one he wants, paying a nominal sum for it.

Other attractions may be a booth where real oranges may be bought; a well from which orangeade is dispensed; a booth for articles of fancy-work made in shades of orange, and one for orange-flavored cakes and candies.

The booths should, of course, be draped in orange color, relieved by touches of white, the attendants' costumes being of the same shade. Orange blossoms, made of tissue paper, will add daintiness to the decorations.

* * * * *

An unoccupied house is a most convenient place to hold a fair. Each room may be devoted to some special attraction; one for the supper, one for the evening's entertainment, one for the fortune-teller, and so on. This idea is admirable for an affair of the nations, devoting one room to each country and its characteristics.

* * * * *

Seats should be provided in the grove where the visitors may be refreshed with orange ice, or orange gelatine and cake at a moderate price.

If there is a small room adjoining the hall in which the fair is held it may be fitted up to represent a tropical scene. This would be the place to sell rubber plants, palms, ferns, etc. Long clusters of bananas hung amid the foliage will make the scene more realistic.

* * * * *

A tulip bed is one of the prettiest ways of hiding surprise packages. A portion of the floor should be marked off in a square and enclosed with boards one foot high, painted green. Fill this bed with sawdust and plant paper tulips in all colors. Have a package tied to the end of each tulip, making the flower stand firm when planted. Each purchaser pulls up any flower he chooses.

* * * * *

Although brown seems a sombre color for a fair booth, it may really be used most effectively. Have the booth made oblong with a counter across the front and have each end covered with brown crepe paper with frilled edges; have also a brown curtain below the counter hanging to the floor. Have the roof, and the posts supporting it, covered with the russet leaves of the chestnut-tree, while around the roof a fringe of chestnut burrs is hung. At one end of the booth serve hot chocolate with whipped cream; at the other have all kinds of nuts on sale; and in front have a display of chocolate and nut cakes and candies. In arranging for any sort of church entertainment remember that elaborate accessories are not of so much importance as the display of cleverness in the carrying out of the ideas which form the basis of the entertainment.

COBWEB SOCIABLE

First, wind strings all over the house before the arrival of the company. Suspend a rope diagonally across one corner of the room, over which the ends of the strings can hang, each one numbered: Numbers are to be given each one of the guests, and each is to hunt the string that has his number on it. A sheet can be hung across this end of the room hiding everything from view until time for winding. Have some games ready to play for the amusement of guests until all have arrived. As soon as all the company gathers, the sheet can be removed and all commence hunting their numbers at once. They are told to go wherever the string leads, but they may not succeed as the strings should be through keyholes, under beds, out of doors, around the house, in at the windows, and every place where they can be put.

Plenty of fun can be had if every one enters into the game and keeps it up until finished. Bananas and cake can be served at this sociable or any other light refreshments desired.

CONUNDRUM TEA

1. A survivor of the flood (Ham).

2. Woman of grit (sandwich).

3. Cattle in a railroad disaster (dried beef).

4. Impertinence (apple "sass").

5. Spring's offering (water).

6. For old maids and bachelors (pickles).

7. Tabby's party (cat sup).

8. Boston's overthrow (tea).
9. What all people need (bread and butter).

10. New England brains (baked beans).

11. Young man's sweetheart (honey).

12. An unruly member (tongue).

13. Sahara (dessert).

14. Tree cake (cocoanut cake).

EXTRAS

15. Love's symbol (doughnuts).

16. What I do when I mash my finger (ice cream).

17. A mass of types (pie).

_Note._--Each society can use their own judgment about the price to be charged. A certain amount may be charged for the entire supper, or each article may have a price affixed, such as two cents, four cents, three cents, and so forth.

COOK BOOK SALE

Every lady in the church was asked to make, from sheets of brown wrapping paper, ten paper books of uniform size, four and one-half by six inches, sewing them to confine the leaves. The paper was two cents a sheet, and five sheets would make the ten books.

In each book, clear and explicit written directions for ten of the best miscellaneous recipes that she used in cooking were to be contributed by each one, the same recipes to be in the ten books furnished, and signed by the one contributing them.

The ten recipes included one soup, one salad, one made-over dish, one cake recipe, one cooky recipe, two muffin or gem recipes, and three dessert recipes.

One week was allowed for this work, then the books were sent where the sale was to take place. There were five hundred books in all, fifty ladies having responded to the request.

In the meantime, invitations had been sent to the members of the other two churches in the town, and to the summer visitors, and the vestry-rooms were crowded the evening of the sale.

The books were offered for sale at five cents each, and in less than an hour all were sold, those contributed by housekeepers famous for their cooking being in great demand, while all were of more or less interest in a town where every one is well known.

After the sale of the recipes, the real sport of the entertainment began. Each lady who contributed recipes also brought a sample of cake made from the cake recipe she had given. These samples were of all sizes, wrapped in waxed paper and tagged with the maker's name. They were auctioned off without being undone, the name attached to the tag being read by the auctioneer, and much merriment was occasioned by the witty, bright way in which he drew attention not only to the cake, but to the one who made it.

If desired, such an auction sale may be held without the cook book sale preceding, whole and cut cakes, cookies, doughnuts, etc, being used. As the cakes are wrapped and no one knows what he is buying, much amusement results.

COOKY SOCIABLE

Cut paper into pieces the shape and size of a cooky. Write a proverb on each one, then cut each paper cooky into two parts, each in a different manner, so that no two cookies will be cut alike. One set of halves is to be given to the ladies, and the other to the gentlemen. Each person present then proceeds to match the half cooky he has; when found, the proverb should read correctly. The couple who match halves eat refreshments together. It is very nice to have some one play a march on the piano while the matched partners form in line two by two and march to the supper-room. For refreshments serve all kinds, shapes, and sizes of cookies with coffee or lemonade.

CORN-HUSKING BEE

Late in October, when the corn has matured and been stacked in the barn, the following informal invitations may be sent out to all the neighboring young people:

_You are cordially invited
to a Corn Husking to be held in
Martin Mattice's Barn
On the evening of October the thirty-first
at eight o'clock._

Previous to the evening mentioned the ears of corn are stripped from the stalks and formed into two huge piles upon the barn floor. Lanterns should be hung here and there upon the beams to give the necessary light, and stools provided for the workers. The company, on arrival, is divided equally, one half being assigned to one pile, the other half to pile number two, and the contest begins, each division striving to finish its pile first. The husks must be entirely removed from each ear, and whoever first discloses to view a red ear is considered especially fortunate, as the first red ear shown is supposed to bring good luck to its possessor.

After all the ears have been husked the winner of the red ear is escorted in state to the house, where a warm fire (always an open one, if possible) and a supper are waiting.

Corn Supper

Decorate the walls of the room in which the supper is to be served with as much green as can be procured at this season of the year. Procure a dozen pumpkins, remove the pulp, cutting a hole at the top of the shell; cut also four stars in the sides of each pumpkin, cover with light yellow paper and place candles inside. These lanterns, being set in various convenient spots about the room and lighted just before the supper is served, shed a corn-colored glow over the room. In the centre of the table arrange a vase filled with any late autumn yellow flowers--dahlias, chrysanthemums or marigolds; place candles at each end of the table screened by yellow crepe paper shades. The refreshments may consist of egg and lemon-butter sandwiches, cornbread, chicken salad, sponge cake, gold cake, lemon ice cream and lemon water ice, cup custards, honey in the comb, lemonade and coffee.

DUTCH PARTY

For decorations: Holland's national colors, blue and red; Dutch flags; tulips; crepe paper in Delft designs, etc. Instead of tally cards each guest may be furnished a little wooden shoe on a Delft-blue ribbon. Tiny pretzels are slipped on the ribbon for games won, the shoe keeping them from slipping off at the other end. Large wooden shoes may be used for bonbons and nuts at the tables. For prizes: handsome steins and pipes, a pair of burnt wood Holland shoes, Delft plaques, Dutch pictures, novelties decorated with quaint Dutch figures, a poster of Queen Wilhelmina, etc.

The supper table may have for its centrepiece a large blue stein with red tulips tumbling out of it. Delft china and paper napkins are appropriate, and a _menu_ of Dutch dishes:

Oysters Omelet
Smoked Herring
Creamed Codfish or Finna Haddie in Chafing Dish
Cold Meat, in very thick slices
Pickled Eggs, Pickled Beets, Pickled Onions
Cucumbers, Lemons and Prawns
Cold Slaw
Fish or Potato Salad Cheese Sandwiches
Rye Bread, in very thin slices
Cheese
Honey Cakes Oval Cinnamon Cakes
Pancakes, size of a silver quarter
Coffee and Chocolate

EASTER EGG HUNT

An Easter egg hunt will furnish plenty of amusement for an Easter party.

The nests are made of paper moss. In them are placed eggs of different varieties, some genuine hard boiled eggs, some of china or wood and some of candy. The wooden eggs should contain tiny ducks or chickens. The nests are hidden in every nook and corner of the house. The guests are then bidden to go nest hunting, and a half hour is given for the hunt. Each guest is given a little fancy basket in which to gather his eggs. The one securing the greatest number of eggs is given a prize of a large fancy egg.

The baskets and eggs may be retained as souvenirs.

EASTER LUNCHEON

Of course, silver and glassware must be sparkling, and the white cloth spotless, or, if one wishes, luncheon scarfs and mats or doilies are equally popular, and a highly polished table is a bit less formal than the regular dinner cloth. A centrepiece of gold cloth or of any yellow silken material is effective--the edges may be quickly overcast by heavy rope silk in long and short stitch. A bunch of Easter lily sprays in a bowl or gold and white vase crown the whole. If one can arrange to have the china gold and white it is very pretty; but every hostess must consult her own china store and plan accordingly.

Napkins stiffly folded at each place can hold an artificial lily, which carries in its heart a tiny candy box. These lilies can be bought at some caterer's or made at home very easily. Stiff wire--yet not so stiff as not to bend in any desired shape--can form the skeleton. The stem is made of five wires woven together, green paper being twisted over them and at the top; each separate wire is bent out to form a foundation for each white petal, made of white crepe paper, easily shaped and pasted in place. A little practice will show the amateur that this is not at all difficult. A pill box covered with gold paper can be pressed down in the heart of the lily, the top being covered with stamens made of gold paper shredded and twisted.

Lilies of the same type, only larger with larger boxes having no covers, can form the bonbon boxes. These must be even more conventional, as they have no stems, resting directly on the table. The menu should be simple.

When the luncheon is over and the guests have left the dining-room for the drawing-room, a new edition of the old cobweb game makes merry fun and is arranged as follows: A huge flower-pot is placed on the centre of the table, in which are planted some artificial lilies to carry out the idea, and under the flower-pot are gathered the ends of many strings, each one of which must be appropriated by a guest. These strings cross and intercross about furniture and corners of course, and give opportunities for many tête-à-têtes. Here and there some little verses may be tied if it is wished to add fun to the quest.

"Do not faint, oh, maid, I beg,
You shall find a golden ----"

"Gather roses while you may;
Gather them--the livelong day."

And many another nonsense couplet to suit the company and occasion.

At the end of each string must be found a candy Easter egg, or a hollow egg containing some little trinket.

EASTER SOCIABLE

Have printed programs sent out with the following announcement (any name can be substituted for the East End Connett Y):

_An eggs-ellent plan has been adopted by
the East End Connett Y, to eggs-haust the
eggs-pence of sending a delegate to the State Convention.
We shall hold an_ EGG SOCIAL.
_The eggs-pence of admission is eggs-actly ten cents.
We mean to have an eggs-ellent time.
You are urged to eggs-ert yourself to come and
eggs-amine for yourself.
You can eggs-pect to have lots of fun at small eggs-pence.
An eggs-ellent committee will wait upon you.
Plenty of eggs will be served.
Eggs-it at your pleasure.
N. B.--Plenty of Easter Egg novelties will be sold._

A fruit-stand covered with moss and twigs, and arranged to represent a nest filled with eggs and placed upon a bed of moss should form the central decoration for the table. Around the nest four large rabbit bonbonnières should be placed, with pieces of baby ribbon of all colors fastened to their forepaws and running out to or below the edge of the table, each ribbon being strung with eggs. Between the four large rabbits four smaller ones should peer out from under the nest between the ribbons.

Provide each person present with a dime, lead-pencil, and sheet of paper, upon which the following list is printed.

Find upon the dime the following articles:

1. Fruit of a tropical tree. (date)

2. What the Siamese twins were. (United)

3. What a lazy man seldom gets. (ahead)

4. The division of a country. (states)

5. The cradle of liberty. (America)

6. Something a schoolboy makes. (figures)

7. An instrument to catch sound. (ear)

8. The number a miser takes care of. (one)

9. What makes the forest green. (foliage)

10. Something a bootblack likes to give. (shine)

Of course the answers are not printed, but are kept by the committee for reference. A prize of one dime can be given the one with the most correct answers. Any kind of Easter novelties can be sold for a dime. For refreshments serve eggs in every form, with bread and butter and coffee, for one dime.

FAIRIES' GARDEN

A clever scheme for a church fair is the "Fairies' Garden," which is nothing more than the old grab-bag in a new dress. One seen recently was set up near a booth trimmed with evergreens, with a fence made of "cat-tails," planted about four inches apart, enclosing it in front. To this the people who were present flocked, and were free, on the payment of a small sum, to pull a flower or vegetable as they should see fit. Within and at the back of the inclosure was a trellis made of wire netting with the largest holes procurable, covered with vines, among which nestled pink paper roses. In each rose a small present was hidden from view.

Then there was a "pond," made of a tin boiler banked with stones and moss, and filled with water, on which floated water lilies and leaves. To each lily was tied a weighted present, such as the water could not injure.

A bed of real goldenrod planted in a box of sawdust, with the presents tied to the stems of the flowers and buried in the sawdust, completed the flower garden.

The vegetable bed fully repaid for all the time and trouble spent upon it. It was an enclosure of four boards, filled with sawdust, the vegetables being made of paper and filled with cotton and the presents. After the vegetables and flowers were planted the beds were covered with moss.

A few signs added to the effect, such as "Great South-Sea Bubble" for the cabbage bed, and "Please do not pull the cats' tails. By order of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals," for the cat-tail fence.

Carrots, beets, onions and cabbages answered the purpose well, being of convenient shapes and very easily made. The carrots were made on a cornucopia of stiff brown paper, in which the present was put, and then the cornucopia was covered with plain carrot-colored tissue paper, closed at the top, painted to imitate the creases in a carrot, and ornamented with a small tuft of leaves cut from green tissue paper. The beets were stuffed with cotton, in which the present was concealed, and then covered with the proper colored tissue paper. The onion bulbs were covered with crinkled cream-white tissue paper, and the tops were made of stiff white paper spills, or lamp-lighters, covered with dark green tissue paper. The cabbages were of pale green and yellow--almost cream color--crinkled tissue paper, wound around the central ball of cotton; the paper was cut and pulled out in the shape of leaves, or twisted to form the stalk.

There were four little girls dressed as "flower fairies," who kept the garden in order, and helped in many ways, looking very effective in their costumes of a "morning-glory," a "daffy-down-dilly," a yellow and white "daisy," and a "wild rose."

FEAST OF SEVEN TABLES

This feast if well planned and carried out is most pleasing in its results. There are seven tables. These tables are set in white, with centrepieces and other decorations to carry out the color scheme. Have first table near the door, and others arranged according to the menu, which can be changed to suit the seasons. It is necessary to have two sets of waiters, the first to clear away, and the second to furnish fresh supplies. All must dress to harmonize with the colors of their tables. Serve food in small quantities and in small dishes. At the ringing of a bell seven guests are seated at the first table. At the expiration of seven minutes, the bell again rings, and those at the first table pass to the second table, and seven other guests are permitted to enter the room, and to be seated at the first table. Here is where the waiters will have to hurry and reset the tables. At the close of every seven minutes the bell rings, signaling all to pass up one table. Seven persons pass out every seven minutes, and forty-nine are fed in as many minutes. A novel idea is to charge seven cents on entering the dining-room, seven cents when through at the last table, and seven cents as they pass out the door, making twenty-one cents for each guest. They will not object after they are through with the menu at the seven tables.

WINIFRED M. SIMONDS.

DECORATIONS AND MENU FOR SEVEN TABLES

_Decorations_ _Menu_

_White Table_

White Centrepiece Shredded Potatoes
White Dishes White Bread and Butter
White Napkins Cold Roast Pork
White Flowers Milk

_Brown Table_

Brown Centrepiece Brown Bread and Butter
Brown Dishes Brown Coffee
Doilies Worked in Brown Boston Baked Beans
Brown Leaves Pressed Brown Pickles

_Green Table_

Green Bordered Centrepiece Wafers Tied With Green Ribbon
Green Flowered Dishes Lettuce
Green Paper Napkins Olives
Green Foliage Green Tea
Pickles

_Red Table_

Old Fashioned Red Table Cloth Red Cake
Cranberry Sauce
Red Flowered Dishes Wafers Tied With Red Ribbon
Red Napkins
Red Flowers

_Orange Table_

Orange Bordered Centrepiece Orange Wafers
Orange Paper Napkins Sliced Oranges
Orange Colored Flowers Orange Cake

_Yellow Table_

Yellow Centrepiece Lemon Pie
Yellow Figured Dishes Cheese
Yellow Paper Napkins Lemonade
Yellow Flowers

_Pink Table_

Pink Bordered Centrepiece Pink Cakes
Pink Flowered Dishes Pink Pop-corn
Pink Paper Napkins Pink Candies
Pink Flowers
Pink Carnation for Each Guest

FEAST OF NATIONS

The following is a description of a church supper which was recently given with great success:

The Japanese table was decorated with chrysanthemums. At each place was a Japanese tray on which a Japanese napkin was folded in a fanciful manner. Little dishes of rice, hard-boiled eggs, cabbage chopped fine, and small cups of tea comprised the first course. The second course was a turkey dinner. The waiters were in Japanese costume. The favors were small Japanese umbrellas tied with the Japanese colors, red and white.

At the Chinese table the first course was rice prepared with curry, followed by chicken pie with the usual accompaniments. Chopsticks were in evidence, though the guests were not compelled to use them. The waiters were in Chinese dress. The table was adorned with curios, and the favors were ancestral tablets in tiny boxes, tied with yellow, the national color of China.

The Hindustani table was resplendent with red and yellow tulips, the colors of India. Handsome bowls of beaten brass loaned by a returned missionary ornamented the table. Four young men in the costume peculiar to India waited upon this table. The special dish was chicken with curry, and the favors were genuine Indian bracelets.

Some rare old Welsh china was used on the Welsh table, and the menu cards, written in Welsh, were in the shape of Welsh hats. A Welsh flag was given as a souvenir to each guest.

The Irish table was served by lassies gowned in green. The menu cards were in the form of shamrocks. "Potatoes with their jackets on" and buttermilk were the dishes characteristic of this country. The tablecloth was of bright green denim and the decorations were all of green leaves.

The table representing bonnie Scotland had menu cards decorated with the thistle. Jam tarts were among the delicacies.

The English table was decorated in the English colors, with the English standard as a centrepiece. Roast beef, of course, was an essential part of the dinner, supplemented by plum pudding, caraway cakes and tea. The favors were red and white roses.

White-capped waitresses served at the French table which was bright with candelabra, asparagus ferns and pink ribbons. The menu cards bore the fleur-de-lis. Peas, olives and candied walnuts were distinctive dishes. The color scheme was pink and green.

At the table representing Holland the girls wore Dutch peasant costumes and served coffee and chocolate, carrots with cream sauce, so commonly used among the Hollanders, sausage, rye bread and pickles, cake and gingerbread baked in fancy shapes.

The German table was gay with flowers. Noodle soup, German cheese and anise cakes were added to a generous dinner. The menu cards were in the form of corn-flowers and were written in German text. The favors were pretzels.

At the Italian table macaroni and fruit were the dishes. The favors were menu cards with the Italian flag painted on each.

The Mexican table was decorated with palms, and a dinner very similar to one a traveler would get in that country was served. The favors were menu cards written in Spanish, to which tiny Mexican _tamales_ were attached by red and green ribbons, the Mexican colors.

Dainty arbutus graced the New England table and menu cards. The repast was a bounteous Thanksgiving dinner such as New Englanders know how to provide. Baked beans and brown bread were on the menu, as were also several kinds of pie and apple-sauce.

The Western table was waited upon by a boy and girl dressed as Indians with the ornaments they admire. The table was ornamented with flowers. The dinner cards showed paintings of Indian heads and the favors were little paper canoes. The cakes, fruit, etc., were served in Indian baskets.

The Southern table had a menu different from all the others. Among the good things were a whole roast pig, corn bread, warm biscuit and sweet potatoes. There were colored waiters in conventional white linen suits. The favors that stood by each plate were little Dinah dolls.

FISH MARKET

A rustic bridge was built out from one side of the platform forming a square space in one corner of the room that was used for a fish pond. Rocks and ferns were grouped along the edge of the platform, the floor was covered with green carpet, and a pretty meadow scene painted on coarse cotton was hung at the back, making a very picturesque setting for the pond. Steps led up to the bridge, and at the foot was a rustic lodge where, on payment of a fee, the prospective fisher was given a pole and a circle of cardboard, upon which was marked the number of times he was entitled to fish. Thus equipped, he went up on the bridge and fished in the pond. Additional fishing tickets were sold by the bridgekeepers. Articles of all description and varying values were fished forth from the pond, which made it all the more exciting. Refreshments were served in the hall and there were a candy and cake table and two stalls where fancy articles were sold. One of these stalls bore the sign, Fish Market. Here fish of many brilliant colors and quaint shapes were for sale; they were blotters, shaving cases, pincushions, sachet bags, needle-books, housewives, pen-wipers, spool and veil cases, emeries, court-plaster cases and kites. They were made of inexpensive materials, but their novelty caused them to sell rapidly. The fish market was well patronized. At the other stall, pillows and lamp-shades were sold. Red linen pillows shaped like Japanese fish and worked with black attracted a great deal of attention; other pillows had poster fish swimming across them, and still others were adorned with borders of fishes and anglers' maxims. Fish lamp-shades--scarlet, yellow and delicately tinted--found a ready sale among the young people, and caused much mirth. On the cake and candy table there were many toothsome fishes--chocolate and clear candy fish, boxes of candy decorated with fishing scenes in water-color and pen and ink, sandwiches cut out with fish-shaped tin cutters, also fish-shaped cookies and small iced cakes. The tops of the large cakes were ornamented with fish designs done with contrasting colors of icing.

FLAGS OF NATIONS

Secure as many cards as there are to be guests, and paint or paste on each of them some five or six small flags of different nations, numbering each flag. Sometimes one can obtain small buttons with these flags on them, and these answer quite as well. It is better to have each card different, and to assort the flags, so that every card may contain some not very generally known. The United States flag might be omitted, as every one would be familiar with that; but the flag of Liberia could be used on several cards, as its resemblance to our flag would be apt to deceive many. Plates showing the various national flags in colors may be found in the front of almost any unabridged dictionary.

Hand a card and a pencil to each guest. The pencil may be made quite attractive by covering it with a strip of crepe paper in some bright color. This can be easily accomplished by cutting the paper into lengths a little longer than the pencil, pasting one side, and rolling the pencil in the paper, then tying with a bow of narrow ribbon. After the guests are supplied with cards and pencils let each one write opposite the flags the names of the countries whose emblems they are. This will be found no easy matter, unless the guest should be a sailor or a globe-trotter, and many amusing guesses will be recorded.

The one who succeeds in guessing the countries correctly, or in guessing nearest, might be rewarded with a United States flag pin or a pretty silk flag. For making awards the hostess should have a list of the flags that are on each card, which should be numbered, and compare the list with the guesses handed in by the company.

FLORAL LOVE STORY

1. The girl's name and the color of her hair (Marigold).

2. The color of her eyes (violet).

3. Her brother's name and an adjective that just describes
her (Sweet William).

4. Her brother's favorite musical instrument (trumpet).

5. At what time did he awaken his father with it (four
o'clock).

6. With what did his father punish him (goldenrod).

7. What did the boy do (balsam).

8. What office in the Presbyterian Church did her father
fill (elder).

9. Being a farmer, what was his occupation in spring
(plantain).

10. Her lover's name and what he wrote it with (jonquil).

11. What, being single, he often lost (bachelor's buttons).

12. What confectionery he took to her (peppermint).

13. What he did when he proposed (aster).

14. What ghastly trophy did he lay at her feet (bleeding
heart).

15. What did she give him in return (heartsease).

16. What did she say to him (Johnny-jump-up).

17. What flower did he cultivate (tulips).

18. To whom did she refer him (poppy).