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pretty and so durable that every one should have, at 
least, one spray to brighten up the room most used. 
The process is so simple and they are so inexpensive 
that any one can have them. For the benefit of those 
to copy from, to imitate the most beautiful autumn 
leaves that so soon fade after being gathered. 
I have made this article longer than the rules allow, 
and so cannot notice at any length those lovely fern 
mottoes and tidies, but will do so another time. 
Cabinet Reader. 
WINDOW DECORATIONS. 
There are so many pretty things to be purchased 
that, if one has plenty of money, it is very easy to 
make a selection from the many well-filled baskets, 
stands, vases, etc., that almost any good florist will 
provide ; but, if money is not plenty, there are few so 
poor that they can not buy one of those small round 
stands that can be bought for seventy-five cents or a 
dollar at any furniture store. Then, when the tinman 
comes around for the old rags, it is easy to procure one 
of those round hand basins, which, after being painted 
green and having two holes punched in the bottom, 
will be ready to fill. First, strew in a few bits of 
broken crockery, then mix two 
parts good garden soil, one part 
silver sand, and one part charcoal, 
powdered fine. This compost, 
when thoroughly mixed, is the 
best thing for young Ferns. Then Jg 
plant whichever you can best 
procure. Among those that are ^ 
very beautiful and easy of culti¬ 
vation are the smaller varieties of .-'Aw iImSI! 
Polypodium, Lycopodium, Maiden 
Hair, Lastrea, Davillia,Lygodium, 
and Woodwardia. When these 
WAX FLOWERS. 
CROSS AND AUTUMN LEAVES. 
After forming the pure white cross and flowers, the 
next and easiest step will he a cross, ornamented with 
the gorgeous and beautiful autumn leaves. Many of 
these leaves must be colored by hand, in imitation of 
natural ones; others can he naturally and beautifully 
formed from the mottled and colored autumn wax, 
sold at the shops. 
Having a cross of suitable 
size, paint it a very light stone 
color, also some rugged pieces 
| of rock, varnish the whole with 
|jj| deinar varnish, and while a 
|jS little sticky, dust with the fine 
KP diamond 
Place the 
lap* cross upon a stand and group 
- the stones around it; select vari- 
|B§j|", 'i. ous leaf moulds, as maple, sumac, 
oak, dogwood, ailanthus, apple, 
Li peach, etc., then form the leaves 
as nearly like nature as possible, 
and as formed lay carefully aside. 
Make the oak of russet brown, 
ivy leaves green, veined with blue 
or blue-white paint; make scar¬ 
let and purple berries by moulding 
the wax in tiny halls of different sizes, and stems of 
wax, then clustering naturally. 
Bright scarlet and yellow wax can he obtained 
with the autumn leaf, for certain of the leaves re¬ 
quiring these colors, and many can be formed of white 
wax and colored with shades of crimson, orange, etc. 
Many green leaves are greatly improved 
8 by being touched upon parts with umber 
or raw sienna. Having formed sufficient 
%|a|» leaves, group them around the vase of the 
fjglL cross, allowing some to form long trailing 
ll l| j ibjfe . vines, to fall over the stones, and a vine of 
idlliP Ivy, with one of bright autumn tints inter- 
qfi a twined, running up and around the body 
mS||||L of the cross, across the arms and over the 
n * n Hdck clusters and graceful sprays. 
Key Rack—Cone Work. 
that cannot procure the metal moulds I would say that 
paper patterns cut from the natural leaves are full as 
Rustic Ornaments.—I make very 
pretty frames, comb cases and brackets by 
IftslilsK using pine and spruce cones, acorns, nuts, 
ELyft and burrs. Cut heavy cardboard in strips 
S the width and size you wish your frames, 
™ or make them oval; pick the large ones 
apart, leaving the small ends two inches; 
soak in warm water the cones picked apart, or 
they will split when sewing; sew them on your 
frame all around the out and inside, projecting 
over the edge far enough to hide the cardboard; 
if the frame is wide, two rows look better. Then 
use your ends of the cones, burrs, etc., for the 
corners and centres, arranging in clusters to suit 
the taste. Comb cases and brackets are pretty covered 
in nearly the same way, and varnishing adds great¬ 
ly to their beauty. 
St. Petersburg, Pa. Mrs. N. C. 
Mat for Lamps. 
satisfactory, if one has a mould to mould or line 
them after they are painted. And if very bright scar¬ 
let ones are desired, the darkest yellow wax makes 
the most brilliant leaves, and I desire no better brush 
than my right forefinger to rub the bright carmine in 
with. A little practice will enable one, with nature 
