Fig. 539. leaves on another bunch; at the centre of these glue more berries, then leaves, with their four tips pasted to four
Fig. 541. other leaf tips, and so on, following, in order, leaves, berries, leaves with points pasted to points of other leaves, then berries again (Fig. 541), making the rope of golden holly as long as needed. Tie a strong string to a small circle of gilded card-board and run it through the holes in the festoon. You can close the holly and berry garland up flat against the card-board ring by shoving the leaves and berries together down the string, as an accordion shuts flat when one side is pushed toward the other. In this way the trimming may be kept in good order and packed safely to serve again next year.
Pop-corn Balls
look tempting on a Christmas tree. They are easy to make, and taste very good indeed. Have the fire clear and hot, with no flames, and put in the popper at one time only enough corn to cover the bottom a single kernel deep; shake the popper constantly while the corn is over the fire until it has all popped. Then boil one-quarter of
Fig. 542. a cupful of molasses with a little sugar until it hardens in water, remove from the fire before it turns brittle and pour it over two quarts of corn. Mix well with your hands, make into balls about the size of lemons, suspend the sweet, white ornaments from the twigs, and use the remaining corn for a different decoration. String a lot of the flower-like kernels with a large needle and strong thread, loop the strands from branch to branch, and the snowy ropes will lighten up the foliage beautifully (Fig. 542).
Strings of Red Cranberries
with knots of narrow red satin ribbon tied here and there on the strands, make a fine