board. Next, lay evenly over it, so that it will fit exactly, the
"pattern of transparency," or an exact tracing from it. When so
placed, secure them firmly to the board by pins driven in at each
corner. Now, with a very sharp pen-knife follow and cut _through to
the board_ the lines of the pattern, so as to cut out all the portions
that show black in the design. When this is all done, pull out
the pins, open your folded paper, and you will have a square form
beautifully figured in open-work. It should be laid between two sheets
of white paper and carefully pressed with a hot iron, and then it can
be lined with black or fancy tissue paper, and hung against a pane in
the window as a "transparency;" or you may use it as a picture-frame,
inserting an engraving or photograph in the center.

The original, from which our pattern is taken, was cut during the late
war by a young Union soldier while in Libby prison.

[Illustration: PATTERN OF PAPER TRANSPARENCY.]


SHAWL-BAGS.

These bags are capital things to save a shawl from the dust of a
journey, and, if of good size, can be made to serve a useful purpose
by packing into them dressing materials, etc., for which there is
not room in your hand-bag. The best material for them is stout brown
Holland. Cut two round end-pieces eight inches in diameter and a piece
half a yard wide by twenty-four inches long. Stitch these together,
leaving the straight seam open nearly all the way across, and bind its
edges and the edges of the end-pieces with worsted braid (maroon
or dark brown), put on with a machine. Close the opening with five