Part 4
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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