Such a fleet of tiny vessels would prettily set a table for a farewell dinner to one going abroad.
Surprise Walnuts (English walnuts, baby-ribbon, tiny dolls or animals, glue)
Open a number of walnuts carefully so as not to break the shell. Remove the meats and fasten the two sides together with a tiny strip of ribbon, which serves as a hinge, glueing the ends of the ribbon to the inside of the half shells. Ribbon need be only an inch long or less. Put a tiny doll or a wee china rabbit or kitten inside the shell and tie around with ribbon. Little china animals come in sets of five or six.
A little verse of greeting or a conundrum can be written and put inside if the toys are not available.
A group of little children could be kept busy and happy for an afternoon making some of these little souvenirs for a home dinner or for a fair.
Nut-Animals (Peanuts, toothpicks)
The imagination of most children will quickly perceive resemblances to all kinds of creatures in the queer shapes of peanuts. Take such a peanut and stick into it four bits of toothpicks for legs and two tiny ones for ears. If the toothpicks are not sharp or strong enough to penetrate of themselves, make incisions with a sharp pin.
One common shape suggests a cat, seated. Two vertical pieces would make the front legs and two horizontal pieces the back legs resting on the ground. Eyes and mouth can be inked in. Another shape hints at an owl with sharp, curved beak. Another will make a hen. Once started on this line of experiment, the child will discover likenesses for himself. These creatures can be used in the toy farm.
Peanut party (See [page 103] )