FROM DAY TO DAY. 
MONG the useful bits of odd china 
suitable for gifts are bouillon 
cups, pretty little two-handled cups, 
sometimes, but not always, with a lid 
for covering. With them bouillon spoons 
are used ; they are about the size of des¬ 
sert spoons, but with a circular bowl. 
There are so many odd bits of table sil¬ 
ver now, which make attractive gifts— 
lemon forks, cold meat forks, sugar 
sifters, quaint jelly spoons like little 
silver shovels, and other knickknacks for 
which we depend on the ingenuity of the 
silversmith. 
* 
A novel newspaper holder is made m 
the form of a parasol. A large circle, 18 
inches in diameter, is cut out in cretonne 
or flowered silk, with a lining of silesia 
in contrasting color. The material and 
lining are basted together, and the edge 
bound with ribbon. In the exact cen¬ 
tral point, a hole is cut for the handle of 
the parasol to pass through, this being 
bound with ribbon. The handle of a 
worn-out parasol may be used. Place the 
point of the stick through the opening 
and draw up the material, making all the 
flaps equal. Fasten the flaps to the 
handle, concealing the fastening by a 
ribbon bow. Suspend by a ribbon tied 
at the top in a bow. This parasol may 
also be used as a shoe-bag. 
* 
So many of the modern pillows or 
cushions, which add so much to the 
appearance of sofa or armchair, are en¬ 
tirely too elaborate for everyday use. 
Still, some very pretty ones are seen with 
washable muslin covers. A square 
cushion of rose-colored silk, with a slip¬ 
cover of white dotted swiss, having a 
pleated ruffle of the same around all four 
sides, is finished with rosettes of rose 
baby ribbon at each corner. The thin 
twine-colored batiste used for summer 
gowns would be charming for this pur¬ 
pose, over copper, salmon, or pale green 
silk. 
BUYING INEXPENSIVE GIFTS. 
IRST upon the list of recipients let 
us place, not the home dearest, not 
the rich friends, but the poor friends ; 
those who fear, sometimes with too much 
reason, that the Christmas joy may pass 
them by. The gifts for such need never be 
costly, for everything is acceptable. But 
where there is not actual hunger for daily 
necessities, let it be something especially 
dainty, something that would otherwise 
be outside the possibilities. The familiar 
list of low-priced gifts, handkerchiefs, 
pin-trays, stick-pins, books, knives, 
purses, etc., needs no especial notice. 
Some pretty trifle for evening wear is 
likely to give most pleasure to the young 
girl who has few “ may-haves.” It will 
save many a heart-ache no less real 
because generally accounted foolish. The 
dainty side-combs mounted in sterling 
silver, or a delicate shell pin for the 
back knot of shining pnifs or braids is 
sure to be treasured. Perfumery, some¬ 
times in fashion, sometimes out, but 
always reveled in by many, has come to 
be one of the things for the light purse. 
Choice grades of white lilac, heliotrope, 
and other of the best odors can be bought 
in New York at “ two for a quarter.” 
All except those who have forgotten 
their youth delight to be thus fragrantly 
remembered, and children are especially 
jubilant over bottles of perfume. Ex¬ 
quisite fans can often be bought at half 
price during winter, and they make very 
desirable gifts for young girls who may 
attend parties. 
Aluminium is one of the new (and to 
be cheaper) aids to the buyer seeking 
nexpensive gifts. Scores of pretty trifles 
may be had already at prices running 
from 10 cents each upward. Brilliant 
hair-pins, thimbles, trinket-cases, bangle 
stick pins, bracelets and the like, are 
some of the forms in which it appears. 
A standard gift for the housewife is 
a pair of the so-popular hem-stitched 
pillow slips. These may be made, the 
expense fitting any purse and any sta¬ 
tion, the difference lying in quality of 
material and elaboration of trimming. 
The work is simple and rapid, such as 
an 11-year-old girl may easily do, and it 
may be equally beautiful on all grades 
of material. Lace is often added, but it 
is not necessary. Well-plenished, in¬ 
deed, must be the linen closet of that 
woman to whom such a gift is not wel¬ 
come. These slips can, however, be 
bought outright, machine worked, at 
very reasonable rates, and they are 
certainly pretty, though not having 
the air of the hand-made. There are 
always sheets to match, if desired. 
Linen, with its gloss, makes a more 
beautiful appearance than cotton ; but 
one very particular woman of my ac¬ 
quaintance has snugly hidden away, a 
half dozen each of sheets and slips (cot¬ 
ton, too) for the coming Christmas pleas¬ 
ure of another particular woman. 
Never out of fashion for the elderly or 
the invalid, a comfortable head-rest 
always appeals to such. The saddle-bag 
shape still holds place, as most con¬ 
venient. Single rests may now be bought 
for 10 cents, in silkaline. At such prices, 
no very busy person can afford to make 
them. A yard and a half length of cash- 
mere, made a shoulder shawl by the addi¬ 
tion of silk fringe across the ends, is a 
gift not too expensive, and that wears 
well, indeed. We buy games (now so 
very cheap) for children ; but who re¬ 
members that those too ill or too old to 
spend much leisure in reading may re¬ 
ceive more pleasure from a well-selected 
game than from almost anything else 
that could be mentioned ? “ Reversi ” is 
especially interesting to those of every 
age, besides requiring little skill and less 
intellectual effort. It may be made at 
home, if one have a model. Notice the 
adjective “well-selected,” which must 
apply to the recipient as well as to the 
gift; as some have no liking for games 
of any sort. 
The home people are such a relief to 
turn toward, as they are sure to be 
pleased with every small effort. But it 
is the friend who “ has everything” for 
whose token the most heart-rending 
appeals for ideas are made. One prin¬ 
ciple alone, well adhered to, may make 
these gifts a pleasure instead of the 
shameful tax which they so often be¬ 
come ; select always some very simple 
thing. Last year, one youngling who 
is yearly smothered with gifts was about 
to be crossed from a list because there 
seemed to be nothing good enough for 
her. The giver’s little remembrances 
averaged in cost something like 10 cents 
apiece, and—better judgment and affec¬ 
tion prevailing—a little token finally 
went to this petted one with the rest. 
It came out afterward that the pretty 
trifle was one of the most enjoyed of all, 
it giving more pleasure than other gifts 
that counted dollars to its pennies of 
cost. 
The one girl of my acquaintance who 
gets the most pleasure out of Christmas 
giving, spends but a few pennies for 
each bit of thoughtful remembrance, 
but her list embraces nearly all her 
friends. Plenty of thought goes to her 
selections, but nothing is too insignifi¬ 
cant for her notice. Last year, she let¬ 
tered two bright baking-powder cans, 
in heavy gilt, “ Special for Brides” with 
date. Several holes were pierced near 
the closed end (original bottom), and a 
very narrow ribbon was added by which 
to suspend the “ indispensable.” A 
humorous little note explaining the 
uses of this little chopper for warmed 
potatoes went with each to a bride who 
counted her silver gifts by scores, but 
who laughed gaily over the bit of fun, 
and thankfully used the handy, homely 
kitchen tool. 
Belated gifts, then unexpected, often 
give the most pleasure of all. Thus, to 
defer a portion of one’s giving until the 
New Year, or even New Year’s week, is 
often a delight. It is not yet too late to 
put some fat narcissus bulbs in glass 
bowls of water for this use. They some¬ 
times come into bloom in three weeks, 
often in four weeks. Paper White 
grandiflora and the Chinese Sacred Lily 
are the sorts to get. These need not 
cost over three to eight cents apiece. 
Such articles as come in cases are fav¬ 
orite selections of those with more 
money. Less expense and more variety 
now characterize them than when a 
brush and comb set was the one choice 
in this direction. The manicure set in 
celluloid has been first choice of late. 
It comes at below $1 or upward, accord¬ 
ing to fittings. MYBA V. NOBYS. 
A TEN-CENT CHRISTMAS, 
E have had some of our jolliest 
Christmases since we have been 
too poor to spend very much on them. 
Perhaps a description of our “ 10-cent” 
Christmas would furnish a helpful sug¬ 
gestion to some who are unable to give 
expensive gifts. There is all the secrecy 
and mystery, dear to childish hearts, in 
a cheap Christmas that there is in a dear 
one, and oftentimes a great deal more 
fun. Three years ago, about this time, 
the question came up as to what we 
could do to fill the yearly tree. There 
was a family of five grown people and 
four children, to say nothing of a dozen 
or more relatives and friends, who would 
each expect something nice, taking the 
past for a precedent, and, alas! the 
family purse would have very little in it 
after the taxes were paid. At last some 
one—I think it was myself, only I am 
too modest to say so—suggested a 10- 
cent Christmas. This sounded so pleas¬ 
ant and easy that it was eagerly assented 
to even before fully explained. Each 
one promised not to buy anything which 
would cost more than 10 cents, and no 
one was to feel obliged to buy a present 
for each one even at that price. 
The children were delighted. For 
once their gifts, bought with such care¬ 
ful consideration out of their little 
“bank” savings, would be as good as 
anybody’s. And what a relief it was to 
the older ones ! Some of us always 
make it a point to go just before Christ¬ 
mas each year to the nearest large town, 
15 miles away, to see the tempting 
novelties and to make ourselves rather 
unhappy trying to buy a good many 
“somethings nice” with an always too 
small pocketbook. This time we has¬ 
tened to a 10-cent store and found really 
pretty things — glass preserve dishes 
which looked almost as well as cut glass, 
and were much more suitable for poor 
folks ; pretty little cream pitchers, 
toothpick holders, fancy plates, small 
work baskets, toys and games and pic¬ 
tures for the children, yard remnants of 
bright ribbon and even handkerchiefs 
good enough for common use ; all handy, 
useful things, and $2 bought so many ! 
The tree was a great success. The 
friends outside of the family who always 
join with us in these festivities, gladly 
followed the 10-cent rule, although one 
of them declared that she was at her 
wits’ end to know what to give to the 
men of the family until she happened to 
think of postage stamps. It is safe to 
say that each man had also a fancy box 
filled with toothpicks. Each gift was 
hailed with acclamation. When you are 
not expecting a diamond ring or a gold 
watch, a clean whisk broom or a prettily 
made bow of ribbon is a treasure. When 
the oldest of the children recited Mary 
Howitt’s 
Now he who knows Old Christmas 
He knows a carle of worth, 
I think we all felt more of the old-fash¬ 
ioned spirit of Christmas than ever be¬ 
fore. A. ADA BKOWN. 
The borders of hardy plants should be 
neatly raked free from litter, and a 
mulch of manure put over the surface, 
butno digging need be done until spring. 
In the case of plants that die down to 
the ground it will be advisable to put a 
firm stake to mark the place, otherwise 
the roots may be injured in the early 
spring digging. 
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The Burglar 
Who Moved Paradise 
By HERBERT D. WARD 
A newly-married couple s strange and 
funny experiences: they begin at the 
supreme moment of the proposal: 
in the midst of the wedding: 
on the honeymoon and in their 
search fora home. Beautifully 
illustratedj this new novel 
begins in the Christmas 
Ladies Home Journal. 
One Dollar for One Year 
THE CURTIS PUBLISHING COMPANY, PHILADELPHIA 
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