y unfold
the paper and spread it out flat, then lift the top edge with one hand,
the bottom edge with the other, and gently pull the meshes apart. Gather
the top edge into little plaits, and twist them together in a point;
gather the bottom edge in the same way and twist that; then carefully
pull the snow pocket out, and you will have a long, narrow bag of soft,
white meshes. If it flares out too much, crush it together softly with
your hand. Make a small gilt paper star and fasten a narrow strip of
white tissue-paper to its top point. Open the bag, slip the star inside,
and suspend it half-way from the top by pasting the end of the paper
strip to the top of the bag. Make a loop of tissue-paper, fasten it to
the top point of the bag, and then hang the snow pocket on the tree. The
gold star gleaming through the frosty meshes is very pretty, but if you
have several snow pockets, there need not be stars in all.
=Jocko, the Monkey=
(Fig. 199) is not made of paper, but of delectable, sugary raisins. He
is a funny fellow, and will delight the children.
[Illustration: FIG. 199--Jocko.]
Thread a clean, cotton string in a large darning-needle, then select
three of your largest raisins for the body and a suitably shaped one for
the head. There must be three raisins for each leg, one for each foot,
and three for each arm. Tie a knot in the end of your string and,
beginning with one foot, string on three raisins for one leg, then the
three for the body, and, lastly, the one for the head. Tie a knot close
to the top at the head and leave a long end to the string. Thread your
needle again and string on the raisins for the other foot and leg, then
run the needle up through the lower raisin of the body, and fasten the
second string to the first between the two body raisins.
[Illustration: FIG. 200--Jocko ready to be dressed.]
[Illustration: FIG. 201--Jocko's hat.]
[Illustration: FIG. 202--Jocko's coat.]
[Illustration: FIG. 203--Jocko's skirt.]
String three raisins for one arm, run the needle through the middle of
the top body raisin, where the shoulders should be, then string on the
three raisins for the other arm and tie a knot at the end. Jocko is all
right now, except that he is very limp. Put stiffening into his joints
by running broom straws through his legs, body, and arms. Use a raisin
stem for the tail, and fasten it on by pushing the largest end into the
lowest body raisin. Make the eyes by running a short
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