Fig. 585.—The fairy lamp.
The apple lantern, or
Fairy Lamp
([Fig. 585]) requires a little more time and patience in its preparation than the boats, but it is not difficult to make. Find a rather small, perfectly round, red apple without bruise or blemish. Hold it in both hands and gently press it with your two thumbs, beginning close to the stem and gradually working down to the blossom end. Be careful not to break the skin, but press and press until every part is loosened and the apple feels pulpy like a grape—every part except the blossom; that holds fast because it is attached to the core. When no hard spots can be found cut a circle around the stem as shown in [Fig. 586], and little by little dig out the apple until nothing but the skin remains ([Fig. 587]); then you will find a small lump at the bottom which must be left, since cutting it out would result in a hole in the skin. With a pair of sharp scissors trim away all unevenness or raggedness that may be found on the edge. This will make the opening a trifle larger.
| Fig. 586.—Cut a circle around the stem. | Fig. 587.—The empty skin. |
Cut a Slice from an Ordinary Candle