, as the children say,
"Let's play that it is true," and proceed to see what Mother Santa
Claus has in her basket for us this year. We will first pull out some
easy things for the benefit of little beginners who are not yet up to
all the tricks of the needle; then some a little harder for the more
advanced class; and, at bottom of all, big girls not afraid to dive
will find plenty of elaborate designs suited to their taste and
powers.

Here, to begin with, is something nice for papa's pocket:

A POSTAGE-STAMP HOLDER.

Cut two pieces of perforated board, or of stiff morocco, two inches
long by one and a half wide, and stitch them together, leaving one
end open. If you choose the board, a little border in cat-stitch or
feather-stitch should be worked before putting the pieces together,
and, if you like, an initial in the middle of one side. If the morocco
is chosen, an initial in colored silk will be pretty, and the edges
should be bound with narrow ribbon, and over-handed together.

Cut two other pieces of the material a quarter of an inch smaller than
the first. Bind the morocco with ribbon. Make a fastening at one end
with a ribbon loop; place the stamps between the two, and slip the
little envelope thus filled into the outer case, the open end down. It
fits so snugly that it will not fall out in the pocket, and is easily
drawn forth by means of the loop when papa wants to get at his stamps.

[Illustration: A POSTAGE-STAMP HOLDER.]

A letter-case for papa's other pocket: This can be made either of
morocco, oiled silk, or rubber cloth. Cut an envelope-shaped piece,
about an inch larger all round than an ordinary letter envelope. Bind
the edges, work an initial on one side, and for a fastening use a loop
of elastic braid.

SAND-BAGS FOR WINDOWS.

These are capital presents for grandmammas whose windows rattle in
winter weather and let cold air in between the sashes. You must
measure the window, and cut in stout cotton cloth a bag just as long
as the sash is wide, and about four inches across. Stitch this all
round, leaving one end open, and stuff it firmly with fine, dry sand.
Sew up the open end, and slip the bag into an outer case of bright
scarlet flannel, made just a trifle larger than the inner one, so that
it may go in easily. Lay the sand-bag over the crack between the two
sashes, and on cold nights, when you are asleep, grandmamma will
rejoice in the little giver of such a comfortable bulwark agains