tell how he looks into the mail bags and finds the letters. They may also tell you of another man dressed like the postman who helps send the good tidings by going in a small wagon to get the letters that have been put into the box and sending them to whom they are written.

If the children know nothing of the postoffice, tell them of it in a story. Make it simple by showing how at the postoffice they sort the letters going to different streets and cities. Another time ask what it is that tells when the postman comes to the house. Some will say the door bell, others the postman's whistle. They can so readily be made to feel how glad all are to get letters and how every one listens for the postman to bring them good tidings.

At the Tables.-With sticks and tablets have them make a lamp post with the letter box attached. For the occupation make the closed envelope fold as in Fig. 1. Then fold two adjacent edges up to what was the diagonal fold. Turn the paper over, fold the acute angled corner up to what was the center of the envelope. Turn your paper over again, fold the right angled corner down same as Fig. 2. This is the part which gives us the light to see where to mail our letters. Take two inch square to fold letter box, following Fig. 2. Another

day with half rings and square tablets make a postman's bag as in Fig. 3. For an occupation, take a four inch square of folding paper, fold together two opposite edges. Open and fold each one of these same edges to the middle crease. Then fold the two short edges together. Open this last fold and put a little paste on the inside (Fig. 4).

MORNING EXERCISES.

Trains that Carry Good Tidings.-Have the children tell how their parents write to relatives or friends in other cities and receive from them letters bearing good tidings. Ask how they are sent. Let them

them all happy. They will tell you perhaps how the father sits at the table in the evening and the children bring pen, ink and paper. Each one has some good tidings to send, and then father writes grandma's name on the envelope and where she lives in Chicago; the letter is sealed and stamped, and the next morning papa mails it in the box. The mail man in the wagon comes around and takes it along with letters to other people's grandmammas and friends, off to the postoffice. The man at the postoffice looks at it and says, "This letter goes to Chicago." So he puts it into

the long bag with the other letters to Chicago. The big mail wagon comes to the postoffice door and gets the bags of mail. Where does it take them? If they do not know let them find this out at home. Show or draw for them a picture of a train with the mail car, having the name printed on it. Interest them in how the letter is carried by the train to Chicago, and finally how the postman gets it, puts it into his bag, goes to grandma's house, rings the bell and gives it to her. How glad she is over the good tidings from them all, and especially the dear little baby, and her face is bright and full of smiles.

At the Table.-Make mail wagons with Mrs. Hailmann's Second Gift Beads and a few sticks. Also trains with mail cars with the sixth gift. Fold a four inch square into sixteen small squares. Open and cut according to the marking in Fig. 5. Paste a picture of an engine like Fig. 6 with the pieces. For a mail car, fold a four inch square in half like the figure. To make the

Fiz 6.

U.S.MAIL

top, fold the opposite corners of a square together. Fold these corners down to the middle of the folded edge. Then fold together the two folded edges.

CIRCLE PLAY.

No. 1. Let each child fold a letter and bring it to the circle. Have one or two postman's bags made of manilla paper, large, but made as in Fig. 4. Ask them whether they can make a lamp post with a letter box on it. They may have one child stand erect for a lamp post, making a letter

box with its hands. Station several as though they were letter boxes on the street. Let the children mail their letters in these boxes. Then one may act as postman, using the manilla bag to collect the letters. Another may take the bag, go around to the children, ring the bell and deliver the letters. A song for this play may be found in Wiggin's "Kindergarten Chimes."

No. 2. Have mail bags made of manilla paper for the train, and put their letters into them. Let the children make an engine and mail car according to their idea, with your suggestions. Locate a city at each end of the room. Form a train to carry the mail from one city to another, one child acting as mail agent, who carries the mail bag, and after the train has arrived at the farther city, a postman delivers the mail to the children.

MORNING EXERCISES.

Telegraph and Telephone.-Read them a telegram containing good tidings. If they do not know what a telegram is they may ask at home and tell the next day. Lead them to see it is a quick way of sending good tidings. Then give them the idea in a story, of how a telegram may be good tidings from one to another, or from several to all. Ask how many have ever heard the telephone bell, and what it says. Tell some some good tidings sent to you by telephone. At the table make telegraph and telephone posts and wires with sticks. The occupation may be made with strips. Let these be made as bearers of good tidings.

MORNING EXERCISES.

Newsboys and Papers.-Some one else. besides the postman comes to the house early every morning, and brings something that is full of tidings. He has ever so many of these things in a strap across his shoul

"Take our dear ones one word,

ders and he leaves them at many front doors on the street. Does anyone know who he is? They all take them in and read the tidings from people ever so far away, all over the world. Read from a newspaper any part of the good news they can understand with a little explanation. Let them see that it is good tidings to everybody. Let them tell how they get the paper for father when he comes home in the evening, and how he reads good tidings. At the table build a street with houses on both sides showing the front doors where the newsboys throw the papers. A good play may also be given on the circle with the newsboys.

Carrier Dove.-Tell the children of the bird messenger who carries good tidings. Show a picture of a carrier dove with a letter, bringing out the idea. Tell a story to illustrate. At the table with the Fifth Gift, make two houses some distance apart. Then use a small ball or bead with a thread tied to it for the carrier dove. A very pretty occupation can be made by folding or cutting two houses. Then paste a dove flying between with a letter tied to it. Use the circle play with the carrier dove, given in "Songs, Games and Rhymes," by Mrs. Hailmann. One child or teacher may be the mother to send the letters. Another child will be the carrier dove. The mother gives the letter to the dove to take to one of the children. The child sings the first and third verses, and the bird the second. The following is the song with some changes:

"Little bird, you are welcome,

Good tidings you bring,
From our loved ones at home;
Now tell us and sing."

"Their love in this letter,
I bring you to-day.
If you have a message,
I'll bear yours away."

And that is our love. Fly away gentle bird,

Fly away gentle dove."

MORNING EXERCISES.

The Good Tidings.-Let the main object be to arouse the feeling of joy at Christmas time, because of the good tidings of the birth of Christ. Tell them the story in some such way:

Many, many years ago, long before anyone you ever knew was born, some people received the happiest, gladdest good tidings the world has ever heard. Hundreds of years ago, our Father had promised those people who were trying so hard to do what was right and good, that he would send to them some day a Savior who would always be loving and kind. And he would never forget to do that which would make people happiest and best. Sometimes they would get very tired waiting for this kind Helper to come, and they wondered if our Father could have forgotten. But he had not, and I will tell you all about the good tidings, and who the messengers were that brought them. One night some shepherds were watching their sheep, and as they watched them, they talked among themselves. While they were there in the darkness, a great light shone down from Heaven all around them. Looking up, they saw a lovely angel, and"The angel said unto them, Fear not; for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David, a Savior which is Christ the Lord. Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there. was with the angel a multitude of the Heavenly host (or angels) praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will to men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one

So,

to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us." And they came with haste, and found the mother, and the babe was lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the good tidings which were told them about the child. in this way, many others heard the good tidings that the Great Helper had come. And some searched till they found the baby. To show how glad they were to receive the good tidings, they brought with them gifts for the lovely baby. And these were the first Christmas gifts,-these gifts the wise men brought to the little Christ child. After the Christ grew up to be the loving Helper that our Father had promised, he said to those who loved him, and wanted to give to him, that if they were sweet and loving and kind to those around them, that it would be just the same as if they had done it unto him. So now, instead of giving to the Christ who is in Heaven, at Christmas time every body gives to every body else because they

love.

Show several pictures of the nativity, and of the announcement of the good tidings to the shepherds. Through these pictures try to draw out the love of the children for another little child who had a mother as they have. Let their singing of the Christmas song be their way of telling these good tidings. The following is a song in Eleanor Smith's "Songs for Little Children," with some changes:

Long, long ago, the eastern skies

Glowed with a shining glorious light,
While angels sang this song of joy,
In the dark, still night.

"Whenever a little child is born,
All night a soft wind rocks the corn,
One more buttercup wakes to the morn,
Somewhere, somewhere.

"Fear not," they sang, " for behold we bring Good tidings which we gladly sing, A little babe is born this night, 'Tis Christ, the Lord."

'Twas long ago the angels sang

This song of joy and peace and love,, This song of glory to the world,

From heaven above.

Good tidings then, the angels told

To shepherds watching near the fold.
The little babe has come this night,
This Christmas night.

Show by pictures and stories how the great expectations aroused by the proclamation of the good tidings by the angels were realized in Christ's life. Also let them see how he was the bearer of good tidings to all around him, as well as to the whole world. Give illustrations from the life of Christ.

At the tables the last week's work before Christmas might be devoted to making simple presents to put on the Kindergarten tree. Let this work be an expression of their love for those at home, leading the children to feel that Christmas is a special time for all people to express their love.

Let all the ornaments as well as the presents be their own work, they having produced the whole tree with their own little hands. Make what they give more of a joy to them, than what they receive. The day before Christmas have their little letters ready to bear home the good tidings of the invitation to the tree.

"Dear me! what can a tiny waterdrop like me do in this big world? really, I do not see of what use I am," sighed Little Waterdrop, as it lay in the ocean surrounded by the other waterdrops, its relations.

Just then Father Sun sent some little sunbeams down through the air to the little waterdrops, and as these sunbeam fairies came down they warmed the air and they played with the waterdrops. So in a little while the waterdrops grew warmer, they played so merrily. After a little playing, Little Waterdrop felt himself rising in the air. "Oh! oh! I shall surely fall!" he said.

"Don't be afraid, Little Waterdrop," said another waterdrop, "You will not get hurt; I have been up in the air before, and I like it very much."

"I am sure I do not like it, and I feel so queer, I feel larger; something will happen

to me."

"Yes," answered the wise waterdrop, "you are growing and getting your new gray dress on; your name is not Little Waterdrop any more; you and I must call ourselves vapor now."

"Really, but I feel so frightened!"

"Don't be afraid, I say again, you will get used to it and like it. Remember the Great Father watches over you, Little Vapor."

"Is-" begån Little Vapor, but he never finished his question, for they were all now high up in the air, and Mr. Wind came playing and chased them all before him, away, away, over the ocean, over the brown fields and the cities. What a merry time they had all but Little Vapor who would keep saying:

"I fear I shall fall, and I feel so cold; there, I am falling, I knew I should," and

down he came nearer the earth every second.

"Look, Roy, look! there is a beautiful snowflake; hurrah for the snow!" said a little boy who saw him fall.

"Was that about me those boys were talking, were they glad to see me?" "Yes," said the other snowflakes, "the children love to see us."

"But they called me snowflake!" "Yes, our names are snowflakes now, we have our white dresses on."

"And do I really look like you?" "Yes," answered the other snowflakes. Then they heard the pansy they had settled upon say in a sleepy voice:

"Good-night dear little snowflakes; thank you for coming to keep me warm, while Jack Frost and Mr. Cold Wind are here; I knew the Great Father would send you. Good-night, good-night!”

Then Little Snowflake said, "I will not be discontented any more; I know now that the Great Father watches over everything, and that I am of some use; oh! how good the Father is to me, and I have been so naughty to Him; dear Father, I will be good now."

Next day Father Sun sent the sunbeam fairies down and the little snowflakes began to get warm, began to change to their gray dresses again as they went off into the air. Our little one went off singing, it felt so happy; it sang this:

"I know that God takes care of me,
I know He everything can see,
I know He will not let me fall,
I know He watches over all.

I know that little though I be,
Great Father I can work for Thee."
BEATRIX I. BEST.

Kansas City, Mo.