HomeMy WebLinkAboutExeter Advocate, 1906-12-20, Page 7eatoafireVatafkatMAAASSAAaastasaaaeatA.
/ Christmas
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SWEETS.
*Tall the fun ot Caristmas Iles in mak-
ing candy for the wee folks. Never get
the idea that it is cheaper to buy candy,
for it is not, The pure candies are ex-
pensive, but the cheap ones more so.
Injurious dyes, cheap sugar and adul-
terated materials go to Ma lie Up the
highly -colored the* candies many
paple buy under the impression that
they are saving money. Better deny
your ohildren candy alway.s, than to buy
impure trash.
Taffy.—Plain taffy is easy to begin on
and all,children delight to pull it. 'Fake
two cups molasses and one of sugar
with enough hot water (a)out half a
cup) to melt the sugar. Add a lump of
butter the size of a walnut and a table-
spoon of vinegar. Cook without stir-
ring till it threads,,and pour on Inittered
pans to cool. When cool enough to
handle pull till vitae and alining.
Peppermint Drops, -- Cook without
stirring till it threads 2 cups granulated
sugar and 1 .cup lot water.When della
beat till taiek and stiff. While still soft
and hot flavor with a few drops of es-
sence of -peppermint and beat again till
stiff. Drop ,la beeps on buttered
aper o m • i
P r pour nto• a buttered pa about,
half an inch deep. If the pan is used,
eut In ineh squares when hard enough
to keep ,tbeir shape.
Nut Dainties. --Boil together till it is a prize recipe. Take 1 cup sugar, X
threads 1 cup sugar nate just enough cup butter, aa oup milk, whites of 3
hot water to dissolve it. When it is a eggs, 2 cups siftedflour, sifted again
thick syrup add very slowly pt hot, with 1% teaspoons baking powder.
mlIh and a small lump of butter. Stir Add 1 teaspoon of vanilla and bake in
all the time until t gets sugary after the
milk is added,. and then tette freer the
fire and beat till quite thick. Add 1 pt
nut kernels, either walnut or hickory.
For Popcorn Balls.—Boil• together till
it threads 1 cup granulated sugar with
SaDle quantity eaeli of drippings aed
bettermilk, 3 eggs, 1 teaepoon each cin-
namon, ellspice aria •olovos 1 stIP finela
chopped raisins, 1 level teaspeon soda,
dissolved in water, enough flour to maae
a drop batter. Bake th a eliallow pan
'and when cool out into riage. lee with
chocolate and deeOrate with English
walnut' keynote!,
HOLIDAY CAKES.
Fig Loaf Cake.—Beet % cup butter to
a cream. Gradually beat in 1 cup sugar,
then, alternately, Se eup milk and 2
cups sifted, Doer, sifted agath with 3
level teaspoons baking powder. Flavor
with 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and
beat in whites'. of 3 egge, beaten dry.
Have ready between X and % lb choice
figs, such as have a tender silky skin.
Cut easel m 2 or 3 pieces, dropping
them here and there in the mixture as
it la added to the pan. Bake about 40
minutes. When cool, invert, the loaf,
and cover with a nailing icingenade at
X cup sugar and X cap, waterebeiled.
till it theeridse -then pour ' hiaa • thin
stream over the stiffly :beaten white of
an egg, stirring constantly.
Walnut Mocha. --This is inexpensive
but toothsome. To X cup butter, add 1
cup stager, % cup strong liquid coffee,
1% cups flour, 2% teaspoons baking
powder, whites 01 .3 eggs, stiffly beaten,
% cup walnut 'meats cut In Waives.
Cream butter, add sugar, beat well.
Add coffee, then the dry ingredients
Sifted together. _Beat, add the nuts and
Itistly fold in the egg-whites. Bake in
,a loaf and froet with, confectioners
icing. Take 2 tablespoons.sweet cream
to. Which a,dd confectioner's stager to
make of the right consistency to spread.
Add X teaspoon each ,of lemon ,.and,
vanilla extract.° '
Penoche Cake with Nut Filling.—This
2 layers. For the nut filling take 2 cups,
brown sugar, ae, cup reille .1 teblespoont
butt*. 13011 tOgAer anal. it tbielaaisd
then add .1* cup cheapen° hickory a or
English walnut meats. -Remove from!
stove and stir until creamy, then spreadi
enough hot water to melt it and X tea -1 between layers of *cake and on top, de -1
spoon cream of tartar. When it threads 1 °orating with halves of nut meats. 1
have. ready your large pan of Popcorn Cornstarch Cake.—To 1 cep butter
and a pan of very cold water. Get
someone to pour a tiny stream of syrup
boiling hot on the corn and toss it
lightly till it is coated. It is best, not to
attempt more than two or three bans at,
a nine as it quickly hardens. Dip ihe
hands lightly into the cold water, shak-
ing off the extra -drops, and form the
balls as soon as possible. A. very little
• practice will enable you to keep from
burning your hends and vsting the
eyrup.
Wittalloney.—One pt white sugar and
-
enough hot water to melt it. Add 4
largo tablespoons of strained honey and
boil till it becomes brittle in cold water.
Pull when cool enough.
CAKES AND COOKIES.
Cinnamon bumbles: Cream together
1 cup eoft butter. and 2 cups brown su-
gar. Add 4 well -beaten eggs. When
well mixed stir in enough flour to stil-
ton, having soft as possible to roll. Cut
into desired shape, sprinkle over with
granulated sugar and cinnamon, and
bake in a. quick oven.
Lillie Gem.—To 3 cups flour add aa
teaspoon salt, 2 teaspoons sugar, 2 of
baking powder, 2 eggs, 1 pt cream.
Flavor with extract of cinnamon or 2
teaspoons ground cinnamon. Mix into
a firm batter and bake in buttered muf-
fin rings. • •
Fig Cake.—Cream together 1% cups
auger and aa cup butter. Add 1 cup
milk and when mixed the well
yolks of... 3 eggs, then enough flour to
form a good batter. Lastly fold in the
beaten whites of the eggs. Flavor with
• orange: Stew 1 opp finely chopped figs,
add teaspoon lemon juice and 2 table-
spoons white icing, spread between the
cake, using plain white icing for the
outside.
Fruit and Nut, Cookies. -- Two-thirds
cup sweet milk, 2 cups granulated sugar,
1 cup butter" 1 egg ,3 e.ups flour, 1 cup
chopped raisins and figs, 1 cup chopped
almonds,' 2 teaspoons baking pewder,
pine]] of salt, a little ground cinnamon
, end nutmeg. Drop on flOurecl tins and
bake quickly.
Cocoanut Delights.—Beat together 4
ozs each of butter anti sugar, add 3
eggs and beat again, add.2 ozs flour, 5
drops orange extract and 4 ozs grated
cocoanut. Beat well and have ready
buttered tins and on these turn the mix-
ture in strips about, 5 inches long. Bake
30 minutes Ina moderate oven. When
cool dust with pulverized sugar.
Spice Cookies.—One cup butter, 1%
cups brown sugar, 2 eggs, 1 cup cur -
tents, 1 large tableepoona molasses, 1
teaspoon soda, cloves, cinnamon and
nutmeg to taste; 1 teaspoon vanilla, and
suliicient ,flour to roll.
Nut Drop Cakes.-- Cream together 2
tablespoons butter and % cup stager.
Add 1 well -beaten egg, 2 tablespoons
milk, pin& salt, 1 teaspoon baking
powder and 1 cup flour. Stir -in 1 cup
chopped nuts, drop on well -buttered
pans from *a small Spoon and bake
quickly.
Almond Wafers. ---Chop 1 cup cold
butter into 2 cups flour, add 1 teaspoon
bilking powder, aa teaspoori salt and
same miantity of paprika. When fine
..11k0 meal wet into soft dough with ice
water. Roll % inch thick, spread with
blanched arid browned ahnoade, press
with rolling pin, cut into strips and
bake.
MORE DAINTIES.
Chocolate Puffs,—Stir 1 cup flour into
1 cup water and Sa cup butter, boiling
together, Remove from fire, beat in 1
el% molted chocolate and one at a time,
1 eggs. Bake by dropping a spoenful at
a time about 3 inehes apart on greased
pans; cook for 30 minutes. When cold
tut a Sia in the top, end put into each
• lara,e spooa checotate easterai Sprig-
idOVer Iblekly With powdered sager,
• Orange Colds. --One cup sugar, X
Op butler, teaspoon baking powder, 4
eggs even beaten, grated rind of 2
mnitges, 2 sceht ctme pastry flour,
treeseured before sitting. Drop on oiled
eerier helm a teaspoon; bake quickly.
Nut end Chaeoalte itings,—Two mins
bfeWri auger, a; cup atelasses • and the
add 2 cups sugar, 1 cep milk, 1 cup
cernstarch, 2 cups neer, 4% teaspoons
baking powder, whites of 5 eggs, %
teaspoon ahnond extract. Follow recipe
for .mixing Walnut Mocha cake. This}
makes 2 nice loaves. Bake % corn -1
starch calce mixture in a dripping pan.'
Cut crosswise. Spread between layers'
with one-half the boiled icing recipe to
which have been added 8 soft prunes,
stoned and cut in pieces and X cup!
almonds blanched and cut in" piedes,1
first reserving enough plain boiled icing
for top of the cake. Deeorate the *top
with blanched meats.
CHRISTMAS MINCE MEAT.
— -
Two Excellent Recipes, One With and girne.face as she went out, tightly grasp
nig the little handbag containing the
- area
,
.1" r• • .t`
ae • .
• err°
hili11110Celli 11111)0Sier
++++++++++++4+++++++++
"And as the week's notice is up to-
day, Miss Thornicroft, you'll please to
go as soon as possible."
Clarice Thornicraft looked up into the
hard face of her landlady.
las—a's Christmas Eve, Mrs. Jeffs
ries," she faltered appealingly,
'That's just why I want the room. I've
some friedds comingeto spend Christ-
*nias With the. Mind. you don't take your
box with you, neither. You owe me six
weeks' rent.
"I3ut I hope to get something to do
directly after Christmas, and then I
shall pay you. Do give me one week
more. I dont know where to go or what
to do."
"Rubbish!" rudely retorted the woman.
You must have friends to go to, and
I believe you have plenty of Money to
pay me with; look at that good coat and
skirt, and that grand hat. Why don't
yon pawn them and pay your debts?"
"Because I must keep some good
clothes if I amto hope for a situation
of any kind. Who would engage me if
1 looked shabby? But there are still
some things in my box. Take them, and
let nee stay one week longer."
But ihie landlady was adamant. Clar-
ice m,ust go, and go at once. •
The short winter's day was drawing
to a close. It was dark, and intensely
cold. A few'enowilakes drifted into the
the Other Without Meat. few artiole.s Mrs:: Jeffries had ailowed
her to take. She was tante unable to
Here is a recipe that has always given farm any plan, and walken aimlessly
satisfaction, and on account, of that on for a long time, until she was nearly
materials used need not be made so. knocked over by a man who ran down
early, as it does not, require so long a the steps of a large handsome house,
time to ripen unless one desires a still
richer mixture: Take a large beef*which she was just passing. With a has-
. apology he steadied her, and then,
tongue—if dried, soak it over night in ,
gelling a full view of her face, he ex -
plenty of cold water, then in the morn- claimed _joyously: "Clariceta Is it really
Mg put over the fire he a large boiler, cieleeera ,
wen filled evIth'• cold water.- Let . Hi'vvas a tall, Very diatinguished-
water' gradually coine to boiling point- looking . man, with white hair ana
and at the first boil pour the water off,
and replace ital fresh cold water; let moustache and delicately chiselled lea -
v
[his gradually- heat to boiling pqint, tures.
"My
athen let it, boil steadily but gently for name is Clarice," the girl answer-
ed, name
don't know you."
an hdur. At the end of that tiine put al have changed, no doubt, but you
in three - °minds of lean beef from neck are just the same. a knew you at once.
of round the tongue weighs more just as'n
than three ounds take same quantity How fortunate that I should meet you
p
et beef).- Add a tablespoonful of salt fee; comewas ie."going out! Come in, Clar-
.
and let it boil gently for three hours Utterly bewildered, Clarice accompani-
longer, keeping covered. Then remeVe ed him into the house. After all, he
from the fire, teke cut the tongue and might ,be some friend of her father's
skin it and then return to the liquor in who had known her asndisputably a gentleman, umnistakabe
*a child; he was
the boiler and let -both tongue and beef i
'cool in the water in which they were y sane, and evidently -weal -ewer sixty.
boiled.. When perfectnecold remove the'Besides, she was so dazed Vali mystery
fat 'from. liquor, take' out the Meat and arid enxiaty that it was easier to com-
trim off all skin and gristle and chop nly with his request than to resist. He
fine. Remove all skin and membraae led 'her into an inner hall. and sent a
Stem the three pounds of fresh beef ,footrnat for the liousekeeper.
"Here- is Miss Cierice," he said as an
imposing personage appeared. "I told
you that I expected her."
"Yes Sir Everard,"
"I had -your letter, Clerice, telling me
two pounds of picked, evashed and
dried currants, one pound of shredded that you would spend Christmas with
suet and chop fine, adding it to the
beef and tongue.. Next add four pounds
of . chopped _tart apples, weighed after
they are pared and cored; four pounds
of large raieilis, seded and cut in half;
citron, quarter of a pound each of
orangc and lemon peel, shredded; one
ppund of sweet and two ounces of bit-
ter almonds, elicited before weighing;
blanch and chop fine. Also add the
thin grated yellow rind and the juice
of four eranges and four lemons. Sweet-
en with four pounds of soft while sugar;
add two level tablespoonfuls of salt,, a
lavel teaspoonful:quell of .pepper, ground
•cloves, allapfee, einiitimone-anacee•'and,
two medium-sized nutmegs grated. Moi-
sten the whole with a part of grape
jaice to make it of proper consistency.
Mix thoroughly adding more sugar, sea-
soning and spices if taste requires, but
be careful that no taste predoniinatee.
Let it stand at least twenty-four hours
before using. This mince meat vvill
'keep all wfnter, well covered and irr a
tool place. Watch and add more ap-
ples if it becomes too dry,
Mincemeat Without Meat. — Five
pounds of chopped apples, one arid a -
half pounds chopped eweet, one and 3
half pounds of currants, Weshed, dried
and picked over; one -and -one -hall pounds
seeded villeins, three pounds brown su-
gar, one pound -citron cut thin; the
grated rind, juice and gulp of one or-
ange; the grated rind' and juice of two
lemons, one-half ounce cinnamon; one-
half ounce of clovee, allapice anti mace,
'mixed; one, ounce salt; two nutmegs
r•ara Led. Chep all the fruits and suet
thoroughly, MIx Well with sugar, salt
and spice,
DEPENDS.
Mother --"Well, Johnnie, what ere you
getng to give your teacher foe a bbrist.
mite present?"
,Tohnnie—"It is too soon to tall( about
that yet, mamma. It all depeade en
how She behriaes herself between' now
and Cheleariase"
me, and you will find that Mrs. Ellis
has made all preparations for your com-
fort. Take Miss Clarice to her room,
Mrs. Ellis, and have her maid sent to
her."
"Yes, Sir Everard," rejoined the house-
keeper, and Clarice followed her like one
in a dream. It was now obvious that
there was a mistake, but Clarice felt
powerless to set it right. Perhape tile
„EigfiVCiariee' might alo attain tip. till next
Clay, and meanwhile" her deputy would
have a night's shelter.
The room into which she was shown
lotted delightfully cosy in the dancing
firelight, and thee contrast between it
and the cold, dreary streets from which
she had come drew a little sigh of plea-
sure from the girl. The blinds were
drawn, the lights turned on, and pre-
sently Clarice had slipped into a warm
wrapper and was teasting on tea and
delicious hot cakes by the fire, The
ruaid busied herself in laying out toilet
necessaries and bringing from the ward-
robe evening gowns for her mistress to
choose from.
"The right Clarice has obviously sent
on her luggage in advance," mused ,
Clarice, as 'she signified her intention',
to descent] to dinner in an exquisite
creation of foamy while, "and what will
bappen evhen she finds a total stranger
wearing her gowns—and jewels"—as the
rintid'opened a jewel -case for her inspec-
tion -9' shudder, to contemplate."
The gown. fitted 'to perfection, and the' '
pearls she selected became her admir-
ably. She was a vision of beauty when
she once more joined her host. There
was someone with him, a young man 5
of about thirty or more.
"You will not remember your cousin,
Clarice," said Sir Everard. "1 -le has al-
tered very 'much since you left us. Yet
—1 -ie is of your own age." He glanced
dubiously Iron"- the girl to the young
man, and an exaression of perplexity
crossed his brow. "Yes, Arthur is just
your age," he repeated Slowly.
eaal down bis %age arid fork and looked
tseecaingly acroes the:table at his com•
1:11'llitl:vevneio';,der who' are?' be Said re•
'once. .
Clarice fleshed scarlet, but Icept sil-
"1 know who you are not," went on
Arthur in the same quiet, indolent tone,
•''''You are not my unekas daughter; Yoe
are not Clarice Deyncourt."
"How do you Item that?" flashed out
Clariee, terfor and defiance mingled in
ber eyes like those of a bunted anintal
athay.
„"Very simply. Clarice must be at least
fourteen years your senior. Marvelloue
as your resemblance to her, the in-
stant I Saw, you I knew you to be an
imposter."
Clarice gave it Hale ery.
"Yes, I am; but, ohl not willinglY. Let
me explain how it came about. Indeed
I am ilat an adventuress. I have al-
ways lived in the country with ray fa-
lher, quite alone, for I am an only child,
and my mother died at my birth. He
died suddenly three months ago, and
they told me he had been speculating
and had lost everything, So I came to
London to earn my living,
"I had been trained for nothing, you
'understand," went on the eat, pathetic
voice. "1 was just a cavefully-educated.
domesticated girl, brough up to lead n
sheltered life in my father's house. Still,
was ready to do anything, and I ad-
vertised and paid fees to agents till my
money,was all gone, and yesterday my
landlady turned me out," '
Arthur tittered a -smothered exclama-
tion.
"Ohl I can't blame her. I owe her
si,t *weeks' rent and -she has her living'
'to Make, too. I wanderea abouttill
found myself opposite this house, and
Sir,Everara came out. He called me by
my name, which is really Clarice, and
made me come in. Just at first I thought
he might be some friend of father's
whom I had forgotten, and when I saw
it was a mistake 1 hadn't the courage
la undeceive him and go out into the
cruel streets again. I know I've been
very wicked, and I'll tell Sir Everard
whom I am as soon as I see him. 0
do you think he'll seed me to prison
"Nonsense!" cried Arthur. "Of cour
not. You haven't done anything wron
.1 believe every word you say, and
,ou leave things to me, I'll find the be
ime to set things right with my uncl
And now, as I see you really know n
hing about our affairs, tell yo
about my cousin Clarice. She and I
were brought up together, and my uncle
had a egreat wish filet when we grew
up we should marry._ But it wouldn't
do. , Clarice was a. land -hearted, good -
'humored girl, but she had no mind, and
ter tastes were hopelessly common.
"When she eloped with her groom
was not in the least surprised, for I
knew her love of low society, and that mW
she had found her fitting ate. e
heard nothing of her for years. until, a
lave weeks ago, my uncle had e letter
from her announcing her widowhood
and her intention of spending Christ-
mas with hien. Mg uncle is perfectly
sane, remember, but his daughter
elopmente had nearly killed him: he ha
been in for months aftee it. This le
ter had a tremendous effect on him, an
he was in the most excited state.
"He took for granted that she we
coming to make her home with hi
again, and made extensive prepare
lions, having her room done up an
buying everything a girl could wan
for he seemed to forget the years tha
had paseed since Clarice had gone. S
excited and unlike himself was he yes
terdaa that when he went .out I wa
about to follow him, but, of course, h
came back almost directly with you.
will break the news of his mistake to
him later on; until then, lotus imagine
ourselves to be really cousin,s."
fused, 1 will take your wor1, If
assure me that yeti ore ay ilatigliterof
1 will believe you."
Clarice rose to her feet,
"When yeti niet are gestorday, Pale
EVerard, and brought me in here I was;
Irienaless and desolate, not knowing':
evbee to turn for a night'e ledging, and:
WaS tempted to allow you to think ma
you daughter. But I am slat. 1 an
the daugbter at Leslie Thornieroft, cl,
SI aattry's Ford, and, by a curious co.;
encidence, my name is Clarice Deny'
ccurt Thornieroft, But I inn not really
your daughter at all." '
leer voice broke, end she Mintier)
M eeping from the room.
'There was seashore, silence.
"Poor little soull" said Mrs. Mountford,
"she has gone to pack, 1 suppose, but
you won't let her go to:night, will you,
father? In feet, you miglit do worse'
than adopt ber. You ought to bave
woman about you now, and I can't,
stay. I wouldn't for worlds. Mourne
ford is a good fellow, and were very
happy, You anow 1110 now, don't you,
father?"
The old mo
an held out his hands t,
her.
"Yes, Clarice, 1 know you now.And
you are right. 'You would not be hap-
py here, and that little girl has, 1 be-
lieve, a claim on my love and protecting
care. You remember, Arthur, that I
once told you I had Rived a °oust]) ea
m3, own, Gertrutle Denycourt„ and had
aelced her to be my second wife. Sink
'Teased me for another man, Lesliaa
Thornicroft, of St. Mary's Ford, and
that ohild has a right to her Deyncoure
face and name, for she is Gertrudeur
Deyncot's, daughter. Go, Clarice, and
bring her down to me."-, '
But Clarice Thornicroft was gone.
"I'll soon overtake aer," exclaimed'
Arthur, starting to his feet. as his cal1.1
sin returned with the news. She ca.ri'a
have gone far."
Nor had she. After a short search -
be found her standing leaning against(
. g
the park railings, her white face turtle
up to the starsIt had ceased snowin
and was intensely cold. Arthur's her
„ contracted with a sudden parag as h
sacgre.the utter despair in the small wan
fa•
se "Clarice," he said gently, and, as shq
g• started with a little piteous cry, he toola
it her tenderly into his arrns. "Little girl
st I have come to take you home again;
,• You have a right there." And as th ,
o- wide grey eyes looked the question till
u pale lips could not speak, he hurriedly
explained. "So now, little one, come,
home; come home, cousin Clarice," ag
urged—and she yielded I
Nothing will ever convince Sir Ever -
1
ard that his meeting on Christmas Ev
With his nephew's future wife was n
11 a master -stroke of genius rather than
a happy accident.
"My cousin wears remarkably well,"
observed the young man, with a bitter-
ly sarcastic smile, and just then dinner
was announced.
"You shall sit opposite your portrait,
Clarice," said the old man, Pointing to
the full-length portrait of a girl, which
almost startled Clarice, it was so like
herself. She might have been looking
into a mirror. It was a beautilal pic-
turee-a little laughing face, all dimples
and roae-bloom, starry grey eyes, a Cu-
pid's bow of a mouth, ripe for mirth
and kisses, a dainty head of nut -brown
curls.
"The likeness is marvellous," remark-
ed' Arthur, standing for a moment to
gaze from the painting to the girl before,
taking his seat, and as he sat down,
facing her, his eyes met those of Clar-
ice with an expression that told her he
knew her to be an imposter. But he
said nothing more, And a mod eeckless-
nese took -possession of her. iaet the
future take care of itself; she wouki en-
joy the present.
Weeks of living in miserable lodgings
'on 'cheap food eaten urceremoniously
in her one room made hie keenly ap-
preciative of the +dainty meal daintily
served, the well-appointed table, the
beauty of silver, eut glass, flowers, fine
damaek, brilliant lights.
There was little conversation during
the meal, and very early in the evening
Clarice pleaded fatigue and escaped to
tier own room.
Christmas Day was ushered in by
heavy.snowstorm, and Clarice, waking
in her white downy nest, so different
from the hard conch and grimy sheets
el her late lodgings, shivered, a little as
she watched the whirling snowflakes.
"I am certain to be turned out to -day,"
she reflected, "for, of course, the right
Clarice will arrive, and there's no know-
ing whether my next night's met may
not be takera-on a plank in. a, prison
tell; for all I know, I may have brofight
myself within reach of the law. So I
must make the most of present com-
forts. Oh, how Is snows, and how
cold it must be out of doorst"
Presently her maid brought tea, and
the fire was lit and her bath prepared,
and by-and-by she was ready to go
down to breakfast. Hee supposed cot -
sol whose name she had discovered to
be Arthur Deyncourt, was alone in the
breakfast room, for Sir Everard, the ser -
'vent told her, breakfasted. ,in his own
apartments.- A cold bow was Arthur's
only greeting, and they sat down in sol-
emn silence, which lasted until the Ser-
Ivent had left, the room. Then Arthur
Ret.---Witers this?
Malaita
r•
C11111051'11( AND THE 111AT. ., Ste Everard turned a loOle of illetreee
se 011 l'anrefe,
Guess III trate a II Gratioue, this must be a new kind 1-f "Sty deer,".he ettiil gently, 'I do not
la tr*p. understated ell ans. i'llin old'and Obit-.
-ae
FUN WITH. A CHRISTMAS TREE.
. .
Every Gift Mast Jic Wrapped .ula- an&
Made Mysterious.
• The ordinary Christmas tree hung with
presents arid heaped at the base with'
d. more in brown paper wrappers is a,.
sufficient- delight for many children,
1 hut since there is always great fascinaa
tion in novelties, the tree of this Tule-
m tide should be Cerrverted into a mgaterye
one.
d •
t,
0
1 he task of metamorphosis is not dif-
ficult, though it takes some little time
L carry out, and when it is completed
it is a capita] aid to merriment. 'We all
- know what bran pies are, those delight-
s ful repositories of pre'sents' into which
a the hands of the ceder are thrust to be
* A
Fairy-like in her pretty white frock,
decked with holly, 'Caprice sat that even-
ing at the piano softly playing to the
two men, whe listened entranced. Ar-
thur was turning over in his mind the
best way of undeceiving his uncle, when
Fate took the matter out of his hands.
The drawing -room door opened; "Mrs.
Mountford" was announced, and an en-
°:1Sntleildn.511Ystout and overdaessed:.woman
r
"Good-evening, father; good -evening,
Arthur," she cried.
Sir Everard rose courteously.
'Good -evening, madam. You wish to
eak to me?"
"Why, good n,racious, lather, don't
you -know the? r am Clarice, your,
daughter."
Sir Everard looked hard at her, then
at the girl at the piano. Then he
stretched out las trembling.. hand and
laid it on the shoulder of Clarice, Thor-
nicroft.
"This is my daughter Clarice, Ma-
dam," he said very gently. "You are
under some delusion." .
Mrs. Mouniford stared helplessly at
him then burst into a laugh.
"Well, this beats all, she exclaimei.
fa dfdn 1 quite know hew you would re-
ceive me tether, but I didn't expect this.
I don't know who tins young lady may
be"—eyeing Clarice closely—"but I sup-
pose you haVe adopted her because she
IS like what I was avben a girl; but It's
a bit thick to 'disown your own child."
"You are under some delusion,. inc-
'dam; repeated the old Man. "This is
niy chila„ wag) 10 early youth ineae:•ari
iiiiToiri•in°4r,ttil,,41-14Wtiedottelvietlitittaagneil apnedniltTns tritoovi tiree;
Well, I'm blest!" gasped Mrs. Mount
ford. "Why father, can't you see that
caild isn't more than eighteen or twenty
and your datighter is thirtrfour. Of
course, len altered. I've grown Very
elout, for •ane thing; but surely' yeti
know me, T want nothing from yoe ex-
cept your friendship and fergivenes$—
lit your lifet 0111 that is, for, el course,
I expect' you'll do me justice in your
will. ,
I've merried nettle), a well-to-do pub -
liven, and the life just suits me, I'm
always in the bar. I wouldn't live in
Perk ,Larie agatin or rd Deyncoirrt einnor
r the world. chosen my own life
end I'm •happy in it But I want you
k be friends Nadi) with Me. Coine,
titer, surely our own sense tells you
that bit of a girl efina, be your daugh-
fek." .
sp
withdrawn after a certain space of tithe',
with the parcel that promises to haye
the greatest prize; well, the mystery
tree partakes of that species of fug,
without the bran, but with something
still more anmeing to take its place.
Every gift that 'appears on the trean
oe et the base of it must ne wrepped up
in such a way that it does not look in
the least bit like what it is. To take an
example a dozen pretty handkerchiefs
may each be pulled up slightly and tied
in a mottled brown paper, and theni
festoened upon the tree where they willi
look like a string of sausages. Wheni
.
the recipient of whom they -are antende
ei has ern -eyed the Surprise of such a
quaint present she "will find to her dea
light that the insides of the sausages:
are a 'set of daintily -embroidered mou-
choirs instead of prosaic pork.
No relationship can be traced at firs*.
beteveur a set of razors, it cake of shava
mg soap, and a very infantile -looking,
doll in long clothes. This, howevera
forms a present for an extremely young'
man whose bedding moustache is only,
just making its appearance, hence the
connection between the baby and the
razors. The cake of shaving soap is
roughly modelled lo form a doll's face,
and is surrounded by a cap df White
paper; the leather case of razors forms
the body, and the doll is !taloned in a
long dress of white paper. much frillea
at the edge to imitate the froth of soap.
A While weeny lamb may be tree
-
formed into a raging lion for a small
child by having wound round its legs
and body tawny brown crepe poper, to
which is added a bushy mane and a
tail made of darker paper cut In strips.
The majority of children highlv. enjoy
a little myelery of this kind, and feel tie
if They were receiving two.peesdiets when
theirlien turas out to lie a meek and
read Itimblcin.
The more valuable the present the
more amusing -it is to belittle its hie,
portanee. Supposing ono of the wong
derful and • smart embroideved pictures
be bought, it might effectively be cove
meld up with paper, outside winch it
niece of lane merit would figure, mak-1
ing the parcel look like a dress length!
0rAeIhi coaxP ocritlpi tent ed fpod warrentet] to
add intelligence lo the broth may very;
reasonably contain a hook that has been
wanted by the recipient for ever so lenge!
A eollage loaf carefully Scooped out.
will enshrirre it jeweled ring or a wateli
mast sa lista clergy.
3.4........*AA• • •
POI] ntaSINESS PURPOSE'S.
"I wish T could be a laundress,". said
bilge norethy, '
"Yrei /mita neve to ee•oea very, 'eatry
h 11(1 nn hild." -okaerved tier motberi
"Ilot 101tsaiinka Mamma', of all t
'stoeknige Citula' 'artng, 41"