Make another kindling-wood scene like [Fig. 132].
Rail-Fences
are peculiar to America. You cannot find them abroad, and every little boy and girl will want to know how to build one of these old-fashioned "snake" or Virginia rail-fences. The fence may be of any length, its zigzag lines can run in any direction, all the way across the room if you choose.
| Fig. 133—Form a rude letter V. | Fig. 134—Across the end of the second stick place the end of a third stick. |
Lay down one piece of kindling wood, and over one end place the end of another stick, forming a rude letter V ([Fig. 133]). Across the end of the second stick which rests on the ground, place the end of a third stick ([Fig. 134]). Keep on building the first layer of the fence in this way until it stretches as far as you wish; then go back to the starting point and begin building the second layer of sticks, by placing a stick over the first stick, resting one end on the far end of the first stick, the other end on the top of the end of the second stick; lay another stick across over the second stick, another over the third, and so on until the second layer is finished. Build other layers in like manner, and make the fence high or low, as desired. Pile up kindling wood into a wood-pile with small pieces scattered on the ground, and if there is a toy horse you can make him haul more wood ([Fig. 132]).
These kindling-wood toys will give a realistic idea of log-houses, rail-fences, log rafts, and primitive bridges, and while building them the children might be told stories of the way early settlers lived and made their homes, or the children may "make up" stories about the different scenes.
Hammocks
Substantial little hammocks which will hold good-sized dolls, and even a real pussy with no danger of the material breaking, can be made of ordinary kindling wood or strips of pasteboard ([Fig. 135]). Both styles of hammocks are woven in the same manner. The weaving is like that used for the raft and is of the simplest, most primitive kind, merely crossing of the two ends of each side string between each piece of wood (or pasteboard) slat, with loops of string left at each end of the hammock for hanging it up. When fashioned of kindling wood, like that in the photograph, have the sticks slender and all of the same length. When made of pasteboard, cut seven-inch-wide strips from a heavy pasteboard box and cut the strips crosswise into one-half-inch slats. Have ready two long strings measuring about two and a half yards each. Double each string and tie a knot in the closed end, fifteen inches from the extreme folded end, then place your work on the top of the table, or some other flat surface where you can keep the slats flat and even. Begin to weave by laying a slat between the loose ends of each string.
