A LITTLE NUN.

This droll figure is cut out in black and white paper.  Fastened at the end of a wide ribbon, it would make an odd and pretty book-mark.  The black paper should be dull black, though the glossy will answer if no other can be procured.  Fig. 1 of the diagrams is cut in white, a rosary and cross being put in with pen and ink, and is folded in the middle by the dotted lines, the head and arms being afterward folded over, as indicated.  Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 are cut in black and pasted into place, leaving a narrow white border to the bonnet, a mite of white band at the end of the sleeve, and a suggestion of snowy stocking above the shoe.  Fig. 6, cut double, forms a book, which can be pasted to look as if held in the hand.

[Illustration:  A LITTLE NUN.]

BEAN-BAG CASES.

Are there any of you who do not know the game of bean-bags?  It is capital exercise for rainy days, besides being very good fun, and we would advise all of you who are not familiar with it to make a set at once.  Usually, there are four bags to a set, but any number of persons from two to eight can play at bean-bags.  Each player holds two, flinging to his opponent the one in his right hand, and rapidly shifting the one in his left to the right, so as to leave the left hand free to catch the bag which is thrown at him.  A set of these bags would be a nice present for some of you little girls to make for your small brothers; and there are various ways of ornamenting the bags gayly and prettily.  The real bags must first be made of stout ticking, over-handed strongly all round, and filled (not too full) with white baking-beans.  Over these are drawn covers of flannel, blue or scarlet, and you can work an initial in white letters or braid on each, or make each of the four bags of a different color—­yellow, blue, red, green; anything but black, which is hard to follow with the eye, or white, which soils too soon to be desirable.

[Illustration:  DIAGRAMS FOR MAKING THE LITTLE NUN.]

BABY’S SHOES IN CASHMERE.

Babies who can’t walk are particularly hard on their shoes!  We once heard of one who “wore out” nine pairs in two months!  In these circumstances, it seems very desirable to have a home shoe-maker, and not have to frequent the shops too often; so we will tell you of an easy kind, which almost any little sister can make.  You must take an old morocco shoe which fits, and cut out the shape in paper, first the sole, and then the upper.  Then cut the same shape in merino or cashmere, line the little sole with Canton flannel or silk, and bind it with very narrow ribbon.  Line and bind the upper in the same way, and feather-stitch round the top and down both sides of the opening in front; sew on two ends of ribbon to tie round the ankle, and the shoe is done.  It will look very pretty on baby’s pink foot, and he will thank you for your gift in his own way, by kicking his toes joyfully, and getting the shoes into his mouth as soon as possible.