gown, with pointed hood drawn over his head, white hair and long beard, may be the leader of the sports.

Two boys may be harnessed with red ribbon reins, covered with folly bells, to a sled and enter the room prancing and with much merry jingling of the bells. Upon the sled should be a huge snowball, containing for every child present a gift, hidden in the centre of a smaller snowball.

The ball is made of several ordinary wooden hoops, fixed inside one another crosswise so as to give a rude framework of a sphere. It is then covered with common white muslin, leaving a long opening at one side to admit of the presents being put in and taken out again. Over the muslin, cotton batting should be lightly tacked to give it the appearance of snow.

The little hostess, dressed all in white, dusted with mica-powder, might represent "The Snow Queen," or, crowned with holly and with gauzy wings, the Christmas Fairy. She should distribute the presents each one rolled in cotton, and encased in an outer envelope of white crêpe paper, moistened with mucilage and coated with the frost powder.

A merry peal of sleigh-bells should summon the children to supper.

A very effective climax would be a snow-storm, the machine for making which may be bought at trifling

cost.

This, after the supper, will be all the diversion needed until the good-byes are said.

JANUARY

TWELFTH-DAY

Almost any of the suggestions previously given for Twelfth-Night observance would be as appropriate to

children's frolics as to those of their elders. Many would think them more suited to those not yet arrived at the years of discretion.

When the little folk have arrived, it would be well to explain in very few words and as dramatically as possible the reason for the celebration-a rapid sketch of the star-guided journey of the Wise Men, the custom through the ages of observing twelve holidays succeeding Christmas, the fun culminating on the twelfth and last day in the effort to get all the pleasure possible before the merry season closed.

The special features of the day may be recountedthe cakes, "drawing for characters," the mimic court, the king and queen determined by the ring and coin, etc. The children will then be prepared for a more intelligent and interested participation in the sports.

At such an entertainment recalled by the writer, the children were ushered into a small room adjoining the drawing-room where they were assembled, which they found in almost total darkness, the only light coming from a tiny star twinkling in one corner of the ceiling where it joined the wall. During the few moments' reverent or curious gazing at the star, the hostess took occasion to make the explanation suggested above. When she reached the point in her narrative in which she told of medieval customs and their "merry disport,' the electric lights were turned on, the star was made to disappear in the billows of white gauze that did duty for clouds surrounding it, and the room was found to be lavishly decorated with greenery and many Christmas trees, which had been procured at a trifling cost, it being after Christmas. In the centre of the room was a round table wreathed in garlands of green, upon which was a large cake, iced smoothly in white, to look like snow.

A fairy with gauzy wings surmounted it, wand in hand, who was supposed to guide the choice of the King and Queen of the Revels-these latter being determined by the chance of ring and coin. The loaf was cut, and besides the fates' selection of their Majesties, one little girl was made happy by discovering in her wedge of cake a bit of paper wrapped in tin foil which she was encouraged to open, finding thereon the words, "The one who gets this may have the fairy doll."

The children then returned to the drawing-room, where they found Father Christmas and his (toy) goat, according to medieval precedent. He was dressed in a long red robe, furred with (canton flannel) ermine, and invited the girls to plunge their hands in his right-hand pocket and the boys in his left, from which each withdrew a card. Every card had upon it a name such as "Herald," "Jester," "Lady in Waiting," "TrainBearer," "Page," "Maid of Honour," etc. During this ceremony, the little King and Queen had been detained in the "star-room," and now reappeared, arrayed in trailing robes of Turkey red, crowned with gilt paper, and carrying sceptres of croquet mallets, covered with the same rich substance.

The children then one by one retired to the little room and were quickly invested by the hostess with a bit of costume appropriate to the character chosen. The herald wore a paper cap and held a tin trumpet, the jester a parti-coloured cap, with cape falling over his shoulders, cut in points, with a folly-bell on each. The ladies-in-waiting had long trains fastened to their waists or shoulders, and feathered head-dresses, for which the dusters had been despoiled and embroidery hoops utilized, both covered with gilt paper.

The herald blew his trumpet with a flourish, and all

marched in procession around the room, led by the King and Queen, to the music of a lively march, played alternately fast and slow, until, when all were scurrying merrily, the music stopped, and one game after another was played, guided by the King of the Revels, prompted by Father Christmas.

Before supper was served, a hobby-horse quadrille (described among Christmas festivities) was danced to conclude with.

At the little feast that followed, cakes galore adorned the table, in the midst of which was a centrepiece of a large star of white flowers outlined with holly.

To every child was given a "Twelfth-Day Cake" of some unusual pattern-round cakes with pale-pink frosting, surmounted with candied rose-leaves set so as to look like a full-blown rose; daisy cakes iced in pale-green, upon which blanched almonds were set in a circle with the heart of the flower of yellow "fondant." There were violet cakes with lilac icing and candied violets set upon them so as to resemble the flower, and heart-shaped ones, the sugar atop coloured with fruit red, and bordered with French candied cherries, following the outlines. Stars of Bethlehem were baked in star-shaped tins, iced in white with a marshmallow upon each. Every one had some little feature to mark it as different from commonplace, everyday cakes.

The children looked so disappointed at being despoiled of their finery that they were allowed to keep it and take it home "to show mamma."

FEBRUARY

A ST. VALENTINE PARTY

The world improves in common-sense as it grows older, though it may be the fashion to decry the present and talk of the "good old times."

The "outdoor girl" of to-day, with her frank manners, her healthy-mindedness, is a distinct improvement on the Early Victorian young lady with her delicate sensibilities, her "vapours," and affectations.

At children's parties, the change is very marked. Time was when "kissing games" were the only ones favoured, and the wee things played at love and rehearsed personal preferences and jealousies as though to prepare for the larger stage of society. Now even on St. Valentine's Day all such artificialities are eschewed, and while preserving the special character of the day for the sake of novelty, the games have no premature suggestions.

A Heart Hunt makes a good beginning. As is elsewhere explained, red paper hearts, or the little white sugar-and-flour ones with red-lettered inscriptions, are hidden all about the rooms. When the preparation is made for children, it must be remembered not to hide anything beyond the reach of short arms, and an occasional chocolate heart or one of sugar, a heart-shaped peppermint or "cookie" might vary the monotony of the "find."

A prize of a small heart-shaped bonbonnière would be appreciated by the one who finds the most hearts.

A resting game might follow, pads and pencils be distributed, and the children set to work to see which can make the most words out of the letters contained in "heart." A heart-shaped pen-wiper would answer for a prize.

Next they may play at

CUPID'S TARGET

As children are not usually skilful with bow and arrow, and awkwardness or failure causes embarrassment, the following directions will be found useful:

Cut a large heart out of red cardboard two feet square.