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.
Butter Modeling (Clay modeling tools, firm butter)
If any child has acquired a little skill in clay modeling, let him try his hand at modeling out of firm butter 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.