|
|
| |
by
Merlee |
| |
|
| |
This
item was taken from the December 1903 issue of The Housekeeper. Nineteenth
and early twentieth century magazines were full of helpful advice
for the frugally-minded housewife, but 90 gifts for $5 was pretty
impressive even back then! I wonder if Grandpa was happy with his
little piece of chamois leather? |
| |
 In
the October number I asked my girls to tell how many persons could
be made happy this Christmas by the expenditure of five dollars. A
great many bright letters have been received, from girls in every
state in the Union. I wish I had room to print them all. Lola Williams,
of Cedar Falls, Iowa, is given the prize. She shows how she is going
to make ninety persons happy with this comparatively small sum of
money. Miss Williams says:
"I am a
working girl, and as I have a great many relatives and friends
whom I wish to remember at Christmas time, must figure very closely
how to make each one happy and at the same time not go beyond
my means. I find it a good idea to commence early in the season
and spend my evenings making most of the gifts, as it is a great
deal cheaper to make them than to buy them, and, besides, one
appreciates a present more that has been made by one's own hands.
Here is my list:
|
1 Eye-glass
wiper (made of chamois skin) for Grandpa
1 Dainty bag (made of cretonne) for Grandma's knitting
10 Neat slipper cases (made of white ducking) for my ten uncles
4 Hairpin receivers (made of unwoven rope) for my sisters
4 Shaving cases (made of tissue paper) for my brothers
1 Pillow top (silk thread worked on scrim) for Mamma
1 Shaving mug for Papa
15 Pincushions (Japanese dolls sitting in middle) for my girl
cousins
8 Sachet bags (made of silkolene) for my little girl friends
10 Tie cases (a box lined with silkolene) for my little boy
cousins
4 Picture books (picture cards pasted on cambric) for cousins
4 Neat embroidery aprons (of swiss) for girl friends eighteen
years old
1 Ocean wave pillow top (silk worked on toweling) for favorite
aunt
1 Battenberg doily for lady friend
2 Rattles for baby cousins
1 Fancy towel (for putting on shoulders when combing hair)
for my aunt
6 Dust bags (of cretonne) for lady friends
3 Battenberg turn-over collars for my three aunts
1 Eyeglass safe (made of satin scraps) for a lady friend
1 Bouquet for sick neighbor girl
1 Christmas letter to girlfriend. Stamps
1 Laundry bag (made of a towel) for a crippled young man
4 Rag dolls (made of old but pretty clothing) for little girls
5 Book marks (made of ducking or silk ribbons) for girl friends
90 People
Total
|
$
.06
.07
.65
.15
.05
.10
.15
.80
.15
.25
.40
.45
.10
.15
.10
.10
.10
.45
.05
.15
.02
.10
.05
.05
$5.00
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
![]() |
|
