Floral cards may have nodding fairies peeping out from among the petals of the flowers, whose heads are crowned with queer little fairy caps, as in Fig. 250. If among your collection you have a card with a picture of a house on it, it will be amusing to thrust a little head wearing a night-cap, out of one of the windows. Round holes will, of course, have to be cut in the cards wherever the heads are to appear. [Illustration: Fig. 249.—Live Head with Peaked Cap.] Still another way of managing these living puppets is to cut in a piece of cardboard, five inches long and two inches wide, three round holes a little more than half an inch apart. Sew around the edge of the cardboard a gathered curtain of any soft material six inches deep. Sketch faces on three of your fingers, pass them under the curtain and through the holes in the cardboard. The curtain will fall around and conceal your hand, leaving the three heads appearing above (Fig. 251). On these heads place any kind of head-dress you choose, making them of paper; or caps of white swiss look quaint, and wee doll hats may be worn. [Illustration: Fig. 250—Nodding Fairies.] It is best to use a little mucilage or paste in fastening the hats on, that there may be no danger of their falling off with the movement of the fingers. The hair may be inked, or little wigs made of cotton can be used. [Illustration: Fig. 251.—Living Puppets.] If the little faces are painted with water colors, giving color to the cheeks and lips, the life-like appearance will be enhanced. These little personages can be made to carry on absurd conversations, and a great deal of expression be given to the bobbing and turning of their heads. One person can easily manage the whole thing, and entertain a roomful with the performance of the living puppets. [Illustration] [Illustration: Happy New Year] CHAPTER XXXI. NEW YEAR’S AND A LEAP YEAR PARTY. MY earliest recollection of New Year’s day is of being awakened at midnight by the clangor of the fire bells, and the ringing of the church bells, as they swung and rocked in their high steeples and cupolas, shouting, Happy New Year! from their brazen throats to all the sleeping town. Not being thoroughly conversant with bell language, I was very much alarmed because they seemed to say “Come, get up—Come, get up—House on fire—House on fire!” but, upon opening my eyes, I was assured that they were ringing in the New Year, and, as I again fell asleep, the bells were saying distinctly, “Wish you Happy New Year—Wish you Happy New Year.” Next day the table was decked with flowers, and was laden with roast turkey, fruits, salads, and mince-pies. Oh, my! what delicious mince-pies they were! None since have ever tasted as good as those made and baked by my grandmother.