These can easily be made at home. Some stout muslin, with cotton batting for stuffing, will make the doll's body, while a very little skill will paint the face and hair. A bit of scarlet flannel and a piece of old stocking will dress the feet, and a jacket or basque, with trousers or skirt, will determine the sex. Not difficult to manufacture, with a respectable pattern cut first — and certainly not expensive. The John Chinaman is a great favorite, especially with young chil- dren. This gorgeous doll is made of white Canton flannel; and he and his dress are cut out all in one piece, or, rather, in two pieces just alike. These are stitched together on the wrong side, and turned, leav- ing a small piece at the top of the head, through which the cotton is stuffed. The stuffing is very slight, as the doll is quite flat-looking ; and slanting eyes, with an appropriate nose and mouth, are pen-and-inked on the face. Then some black worsted is braided into a queue, and tied with a little red bow ; and this is sewed on the back of the head, which is covered with a three-cornered scarlet cap, ornamented with a yellow tassel at each point. The Canton flannel is loosely button-holed all around the seams with scarlet worsted ; and a blue scarf, button-holed with yellow, is passed over one shoulder and tied at the opposite side. A girdle of bells makes a very complete thing of John Chinaman ; and the delight of shaking him and hearing the noise is quite inexpressible. The bright colors, too, make him very attractive to the infantile eye. One dressed in white Canton flannel, as an Esquimaux, is an excel- lent toy for a baby. So also are the knitted dolls. These are knitted in fine worsted, on Nos. 16 or 18 needles, and should be knitted to a shape. Lay the doll down and draw the outline in order to get the shape. Knit two pieces and join them. A face is knitted with an oval piece of knitting, and drawn over an old face. Rabbits, cats and dogs are all made in the same manner. They should be knitted in loop stitch or loop crotchet, then cut, combed and stuffed. To make a rag doll take a thick stick for neck stiffening and back bone ; wind the end of that with paper the size you want the head ; over the paper wind some strips of cloth to bind and made it hard as possible ; then spread some cotton batting over the head, and take some well-starched and ironed white cloth and draw over the face part, diag- onally ; it will not then wrinkle so badly ; sew up on the back and on top. Cut cloth for the body like a dress pattern ; stuff tight when done and put on hair ; commence gluing at the nape of the neck small locks cut even ; wet about half an inch of the end of the hair and lay on the head and press it down with the end of a small stick ; go across from ear to ear with row after row till you get to the crown and up the tern- 30 CHILDREN. Dancing men may be made of cork dressed up, and with black silk strings to make them dance. Men and animals cut out of cardboard, painted, and joined together with strong twine, afford great amusement, and are just as good as can be purchased. ZEPHYR AND RUBBER BALLS.

AI-modernized reading of the original text

These can easily be made at home. Some stout muslin, with cotton batting for stuffing, will make the doll's body, while a very little skill will paint the face and hair. A bit of scarlet flannel and a piece of old stocking will dress the feet, and a jacket or basque, with trousers or skirt, will determine the sex. Not difficult to manufacture, with a respectable pattern cut first — and certainly not expensive. The John Chinaman is a great favorite, especially with young children. This gorgeous doll is made of white Canton flannel; and he and his dress are cut out all in one piece, or, rather, in two pieces just alike. These are stitched together on the wrong side, and turned, leaving a small piece at the top of the head, through which the cotton is stuffed. The stuffing is very slight, as the doll is quite flat-looking ; and slanting eyes, with an appropriate nose and mouth, are pen-and-inked on the face. Then some black worsted is braided into a queue, and tied with a little red bow ; and this is sewed on the back of the head, which is covered with a three-cornered scarlet cap, ornamented with a yellow tassel at each point. The Canton flannel is loosely button-holed all around the seams with scarlet worsted ; and a blue scarf, button-holed with yellow, is passed over one shoulder and tied at the opposite side. A girdle of bells makes a very complete thing of John Chinaman ; and the delight of shaking him and hearing the noise is quite inexpressible. The bright colors, too, make him very attractive to the infantile eye. One dressed in white Canton flannel, as an Esquimaux, is an excellent toy for a baby. So also are the knitted dolls. These are knitted in fine worsted, on Nos. 16 or 18 needles, and should be knitted to a shape. Lay the doll down and draw the outline in order to get the shape. Knit two pieces and join them. A face is knitted with an oval piece of knitting, and drawn over an old face. Rabbits, cats and dogs are all made in the same manner. They should be knitted in loop stitch or loop crotchet, then cut, combed and stuffed. To make a rag doll take a thick stick for neck stiffening and back bone ; wind the end of that with paper the size you want the head ; over the paper wind some strips of cloth to bind and made it hard as possible ; then spread some cotton batting over the head, and take some well-starched and ironed white cloth and draw over the face part, diagonally ; it will not then wrinkle so badly ; sew up on the back and on top. Cut cloth for the body like a dress pattern ; stuff tight when done and put on hair ; commence gluing at the nape of the neck small locks cut even ; wet about half an inch of the end of the hair and lay on the head and press it down with the end of a small stick ; go across from ear to ear with row after row till you get to the crown and up the temple. 30 CHILDREN. Dancing men may be made of cork dressed up, and with black silk strings to make them dance. Men and animals cut out of cardboard, painted, and joined together with strong twine, afford great amusement, and are just as good as can be purchased. ZEPHYR AND RUBBER BALLS.

The household (of the Detroit free press)