12. Junior “comfort-powders.” Tie a cheery Bible verse or other pleasant message in a piece of fringed tissue-paper; then tie fifty-two of these in a bunch, one for each week in the year. Or the Juniors might combine in this, and make the powders daily ones.
Other articles, as simple or more elaborate, will be thought of in abundance; pretty ironing-holders, hair-receivers, dusters and duster-bags, sweeping-caps, lamp-mats, dinner cards, whisk-broom-holders, etc. The work, if well prepared in advance, could probably be done by the Juniors in an hour at the longest; some of it in much less. Rewards should be given, not for the most rapid work, but for that most neatly done. The “umpire” may enlist the aid of one or more of her friends in preparing the work, giving instructions, and assigning rewards, especially if there are many of the small workers; and the Juniors may be allowed to exchange tasks if thought desirable.
After the work is done, and while the committee is deciding as to its merits, the “ball-team” may indulge in refreshments in the appropriate globular form of doughnuts, oranges, or pop-corn balls; after which the afternoon may close with the award of the gifts and a stirring game of real basket-ball; or, if it is in the evening, or too late in the season for this out-of-door sport, try a game of “Little Queen Fluff” instead. “Little Queen Fluff” is a ball of cotton covered with colored crape paper. Place the chairs two feet apart in a line across the centre of the room; arrange the Juniors one opposite each chair, against the wall on both sides of the room; give one of these balls and a palm-leaf fan to each; and let them see which can most successfully send his own particular “Little Queen Fluff” through her castle underneath the centre of the chair, to the opposite side of the room. The side which gets all its balls across the room first, fanning them by way of the “castle” underneath the centre of the chair, wins the game.
A Puritan Thanksgiving Dinner.
This is a combination affair, enlisting Endeavorers of all ages; but the Juniors’ part in it is an important one. The main idea is to make it a pleasant occasion, not only for those who would have a Thanksgiving feast anyway, but for as many as possible who would otherwise go without. The very poorest should be hunted up and included in the invitations.
Let me tell you how the plan was once carried out by a lady and her little fourteen-year-old niece, whom we will call Priscilla. The writer says:
“With the help of kind friends and faithful Bridget we made very much of a success of our dinner, and many a poor soul was made happy for one day at least. For several weeks previous, Priscilla and I spent our evenings by the great fire in the big kitchen, dressing Puritan dolls for the children, and making other gifts. Priscilla asked old sailor Hogan to make for her a small model of the Mayflower such as she had seen in Pilgrim Hall at Plymouth, and after we had stretched the old mahogany table to its fullest extent, which reached almost the entire length of the kitchen, and covered it with Grandmother Alden’s white damask banquet-cloth, Priscilla placed the little ship in the centre on a large mirror. The frame of the mirror we concealed with sea-sand, shells, and pebbles; and on one side we placed a large stone which John had carved into the shape of the dear old rock on which our Pilgrim Fathers landed. We scattered over all this thin flaky cotton sprinkled with crystallized alum to imitate snow, and the little Puritan dolls on deck made the scene very realistic. The body of the ship we filled with our gifts.
Diagram 1.
