EGG-SHELLS
Garden (Shell, earth, birdseed)
Cut an egg-shell in half horizontally, with a sharp pair of scissors, and three days before Easter put into it a little earth, place in this a little canary seed, or a single pea or bean, and a little plant will delight the child.
Doll's Cradle (Shell, ribbon half an inch wide, paste, cardboard)
Take a smooth white egg and blow it. To do this make a tiny pin-hole in each end, and by blowing into one end steadily the contents can be emptied out of the other. Draw lines lengthwise and crosswise around the shell, dividing it into four equal parts. Then, following the line, cut away the upper quarter toward the small end. This leaves a cradle with a small canopy. Paste the ribbon neatly around for a binding round the edge. Rockers can be made by cutting curved pieces ¼ inch wide out of thick cardboard, although such a cradle will rock without rockers.
Mattress for above. (Thin white ribbon, milkweed down, needle, sewing silk)
Cut and sew the ribbon into a tiny mattress for this fairy cradle, and stuff with milkweed down. If the ribbon is just the width of the cradle the edges of the mattress can be neatly overcast. A tiny doll may then be placed within the cradle.
Boat (Goose-egg, leatherette paper, kindergarten slats)
Blow the egg as described above. Cut in half lengthwise. Cut the paper into strips ½ inch wide. In each side of the shell cut an indentation ⅜ inches deep and ⅜ inches wide for oarlocks. Then bind neatly with the paper strips. Cut the slats (or a piece of berry box will do) into tiny oars and paste a seat across, which is also cut out of a slat.
Careful handling is required for these dainty toys, and if the child seems to get nervous let her do only a little at a time; but much neatness and skill is exercised in the making, and it is good practice for older children. The wise mother soon learns to detect the difference between the poor work which is the result of pure nervousness and that which is the consequence of carelessness. The latter should never be permitted to stand. See to it that what the child does is up to his best capacity.
Humpty-Dumpty Eggs (Shell, shot, water-color paints, a bit of cotton-batting, and a bit of tough paper)
Take a shell and empty of contents as described above. Enlarge the hole at one end sufficiently to drop in a dozen tiny shot obtainable at hardware store. Paste over the opening the bit of paper, and on that a little cotton to simulate hair. Paint upon the surface eyes, nose, and mouth. A comical little toy which always regains its balance, however placed, is the result. In playing with this the child unconsciously imbibes a few ideas about equilibrium, equipoise, etc. Tell him you want him to be a man that, however placed, will always be able to get upon his feet again.
Foot-ball, or rather it might be called Breath-ball (Egg-shell, water-color paints)
Take an empty shell and paint to resemble a football or in some college or High School colors. See [page 99] for directions for game.
Toy Lamp (See under Doll-Houses)