Christmas Eve, full of pretty things and sugar-plums, jokes and jolly
little rhymes fastened to the parcels. The cutting should be done
beforehand, and hidden by the twirls of paper; but the carver can
pretend to use his knife and fork, and spooning out the packages will
insure a merry time for all at table. And one more suggestion. Little
articles, wrapped in white paper, can be put inside cakes, baked and
iced, and thus furnish another amusing surprise for the "pie" or the
Christmas-tree.

* * * * *

We are indebted to Mrs. L. B. Goodall, Mrs. M. E. Stockton, Mrs.
Tolles, Miss Annie M. Phoebus, Miss M. Meeker, and Miss M. H. D.,
for designs and suggestions in aid of this article; and to the
"Ladies' Floral Cabinet" for some valuable hints on "Leaf-work."

* * * * *




LITTLE TWEET.


There were once some nice little birds who lived together in a great
big cage. This cage was not at all like the bird-cages we generally
see. It was called an aviary, and it was as large as a room. It had
small trees and bushes growing in it, so that the birds could fly
about among the green leaves and settle on the branches. There were
little houses where the birds might make their nests and bring up