Home Occupations for Boys and Girls Part 23

2. Tie an apple by its stem to the middle of a string about a yard long.

Then two people, each taking one end of the string in the mouth, begin, at a signal, to gather it as fast as possible into the mouth, and so to reach the apple. This belongs to the one reaching it first.

=Refreshments=

Apples, nuts, popcorn, cider, gingerbread and doughnuts are suitable for lighter refreshments. Baked beans and plain ice-cold rice pudding were once eaten with decided relish at a New York City Hallowe'en party, the city people evidently enjoying the contrast between this feast and the usual caterer's service. Serve fruit from a kettle suspended from three cross-sticks, _a la_ witch.

=Decorations=

Jack-o'-lanterns of pumpkins; strings of apples, popcorn and cranberries, and toy brooms hung here and there, as reminders of the witches who are said to be abroad, will add to the occasion. The pumpkins should be cut to resemble skulls.

=Reading=

Have some one read "Tam O'Shanter's Mare" (Burns); also some good ghost story. Thomas Kendrick Bangs' "Ghosts Which I Have Met" contains some good stories, all absurd. Choose a good reader for this.

=Place Cards=

1. (_White or tinted cards_, _Palmer c.o.x Brownies_, _ink_, _pen_)

The Brownies are delightfully funny little people without a suggestion of anything coa.r.s.e or evil. The children love them. Let the older ones copy and cut them out to use as invitation cards for the Hallowe'en party or for place cards.

2. (See "p.r.i.c.king," page 165.)

Since witches are always a.s.sociated with the p.r.i.c.king of pins, this is an appropriate occasion for using the kindergarten p.r.i.c.king. Outline some of the Brownies on tinted cards and p.r.i.c.k as directed on page 165.

3. (See Pumpkin Jack-o'-lantern cards, page 135.)

THANKSGIVING

=Place Cards= (_White paper or cardboard_, _brush and paints or pen and ink_)

1. Cut out a turkey, copying from some picture if necessary. (Picture may be found in dictionary.) If skilful with brush or pen, indicate the feathers, eye, etc.

2. Draw picture of a pumpkin. Cut it out. Paint in deep orange tones with shadings of brown. Cut into it eyes, nose and mouth, suggesting Jack-o'-lantern.

3. On white cards write stanzas from Whittier's poem, "The Pumpkin Pie,"

and let each guest read his stanza in turn.

4. Cut as many triangles as there are guests and paint each to resemble a slice of pie. One side of triangle should be curved.

5. Find a simple figure of a Puritan maiden and draw in outline; then cut out and paint or draw in black ink the important lines. Use as place card.

6. Make little walnut boats (see page 22), and on each sail write name of guest.

7. Find picture of Mayflower and copy on white card. On reverse side write a stanza of "The Breaking Waves Dashed High." Let each guest read his lines. (Or parts of "Hiawatha" about Mondamin may be used.)

=Table Souvenirs= (_Tiny cast-iron gardening tools, 1 cent each_)

As described under Labor Day, these tiny penny tools may be put at each place, the hatchet representing the knife, the rake the fork, and the spade the spoon. Attach name of guest to set.

=b.u.t.ter Modeling= (_Clay modeling tools_, _firm b.u.t.ter_)

If any child has acquired a little skill in clay modeling, let him try his hand at modeling out of firm b.u.t.ter some form expressing a Thanksgiving thought. It may be a piece of fruit, or some animal. Get clay modeling tools at art store.

=Center Piece= (_Pumpkin_, _knife_, _fruits and vegetables_)

Hollow out a pumpkin in such a way that a part of the rind is left as a handle to the remaining part, which serves as a basket. Into this basket put a variety of fruits and vegetables, emblematic of the bounties for which we are grateful.

=Jack-o'-lantern= (_Pumpkin_, _knife_, _candle_)

We doubt if any boy needs to be told how to cut a face in a pumpkin. A sharp knife will soon make the cuts for eyes, nose and mouth in the rind, the seedy contents having been previously removed. A hollow may be cut in the bottom of the interior to hold the candle, which can be made still steadier by melting a little from the bottom and letting it drip into this hollow, forming a waxy bed into which the candle may be inserted.

=Candlesticks=

See pages 24 and 64 for those made of apples and of cardboard and colored papers.

=Room Decorations=

1. Corn Stalks. (_Strong cord and needle_, _hammer and tacks_.)

Stack cornstalks in the corners of the rooms in effective positions, two or three to a corner. Those living in cities may find it well to secure these from farmer friends some time before the holiday.

2. Unhusked Ears of Field Corn. (_Strong cord._)

The corn husks must be turned back from the ears and cut off from them without loosening the separate leaves. Then a number of these husks may be strung upon a strong thread or string alternating with the ears of corn. Hang along the upper part of the wall as a frieze. The rich, warm tones of the brown and yellow are very effective.

3. Cranberries and Brussels Sprouts. (_String_, _needle_.)

Run upon a string half a dozen cranberries, then a Brussels sprout; then more cranberries, etc., and suspend this as a festoon along mantelshelf, in chandelier, or over window.

4. Autumn Leaves. (See page 47.)

5. Autumn Boughs. (_Oak boughs._)

Oak boughs, with the rich red and russet leaves still upon them, are very handsome in the autumn. The beautiful branches may be gathered by the young people and hung in parts of the room where most effective.