"We'll have to make a trip to the florist's late on May-day afternoon or
our posies won't be fresh to put in the baskets. I shall buy some little
fancy baskets if I can find them. My own handiwork may not turn out very
well." Jerry had prudently decided to be on the safe side.
Filled with the goodwill attending the pretty spring-time custom, it was
a merry band of shoppers that invaded the Hamilton stores in search of
materials for baskets. Crepe paper, ribbon, fancy silk and bright
artificial wreaths and boutennieres shown in the millinery windows were
purchased in profusion. Dainty baskets were not so easy to obtain. The
girls finally found the sizes and shapes they desired at the florist's
where they placed their order for May-day blossoms. The confectionery
they decided to leave until the day before the basket hanging, so that
it would be perfectly fresh. "Don't insult your friends by handing 'em
stale candy," was Jerry's advice.
For four evenings following the first shopping trip, a round of gaieties
went on in one or another of the basket-makers' rooms. Under their
clever fingers the May-time tributes were fashioned rapidly and well.
Even Jerry found she could do amazing wonders with crepe paper ribbon
and pasteboard, once she had "got the hang of the thing."
The hardest problem which confronted the givers was how to hang their
offerings and slip away before the recipient opened her door and nabbed
the stealthy donor. As there was only one door knob to each door, the
gift baskets must perforce be set in a row before it. Each girl had
private dark intent of smashing the ten-thirty rule and creeping out
into the hall after lights were out. This would prevent any attempt on
the part of jokers to surreptitiously confiscate the fruits of their
industry.
Marjorie was confronted by a considerably harder problem. She had a
basket to hang which was destined to grace a door quite outside of the
Hall. She had purchased a particularly beautiful little willow basket.
Through its open work she had run pale violet satin ribbon. A huge bow
and long streamers of wider ribbon decorated the handle. The basket was
to be filled with long-stemmed single violets which grew in profusion at
the north end of the campus. To the curious questions of her chums
regarding the lucky recipient of the basket, she merely replied with a
laughing shake of her head, "Maybe I'll tell you someday."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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