Similar playhouses may be built by children in any spot where trees grow within a short distance of each other. In place of tropical decorations the young builders can use the most ornamental bouquets within reach, selecting foliage and flowers which will keep fresh at least for a few hours.

If trees are not available, make the open-air

Tie a strong piece of twine securely to the end of each of the ribs and tie the loose end of each piece of twine around the notch cut in a pointed wooden peg a short distance from its top. This will give an umbrella with a fringe of dangling pegs. Open the umbrella and fasten the handle securely to a long, sharp-pointed stick, binding the two together with strong twine. First run one end of the twine down the length you intend binding, allowing enough to tie at the bottom; then commence binding at the top over all three—the umbrella handle, the twine, and the stick. Wind the string around very tight, and when you reach the bottom, tie the twine you hold to the loose end of the length under the wrappings. Examine carefully and be sure the handle does not slide or twist on the stick; then push the point of the stick down into the ground at the place decided upon for the playhouse. If you are not strong enough to erect the house by yourself, ask some companions to lend a hand and help sink the stick firmly in the earth. When this is accomplished stretch out each length of twine in turn and drive the peg in the ground (Fig. 503). You will need a wide ruffle on the edge of the umbrella of some kind of material full enough to reach around the outer circle of pegs on the ground beneath its lower edge. The stretched twine will hold the ruffle out, forming an odd little playhouse with a smooth, round roof and drapery walls. Plait the ruffle and pin it on the umbrella with safety-pins; also fasten it at the bottom to each peg (Fig. 504). Newspapers pasted together and made of double thickness may be used for the ruffle, if more convenient, but be careful in handling the paper, as it tears readily. The longer the pole the higher and larger will be your house, for the strings also must be longer.

When you want to play Indian and pretend you live in the Wild West, your home must be

Get a dozen slender poles about as large around as a broom-stick, and twice and one-half as tall as yourself. Tie three poles securely together near the tops and stack the others around the first three as a foundation or framework for the house. Settle each pole firmly in the ground, forming a circle, and bring the tops together at the centre, where each pole should form a support for the others, and all should lean against and across each other; then bind all the poles together at the top of the framework (Fig. 505). Covers of real wigwams are usually cut to fit the framework and often decorated in savage fashion. Sometimes they are composed of skins of wild beasts. If you can make yours in Indian style, it will be very realistic and lots of fun. Find some inexpensive dull-brown or gray outing cloth or Canton flannel and sew several lengths together. Fig. 506 gives the pattern of a wigwam covering, and the dotted lines enclosing B-B-B-B show how the breadths are sewed together. C is the chimney-opening where the poles come through at the top. O is one of the flaps held back with an extra pole; D, one of the lower front sides folded over for the door-way. The dotted line A indicates the slit to be cut for the chimney-flap. The two chimney-flaps can be brought together for protection when necessary. Along the curved edge of the blank side of the diagram (Fig. 506) holes are shown for the wooden stakes to be used in pinning the wigwam to the ground. The holes must be continued along the entire edge of the covering.

With a large-sized Japanese umbrella, a breadth of cloth, a stick, and some straw you can make an

Take the straw or hay and divide some of it into bunches twelve inches in length. Tie these all together in a long row, forming a straw fringe. Sew the fringe around the edge of the umbrella with a coarse needle and thread, allowing it to hang over and down. Overlap the first row with another straw fringe and continue to sew on row after row until the top is reached and the umbrella entirely covered; then fasten the handle securely to a sharp-pointed stick and plant it firmly in the ground. Measure the distance around the outer edge of the umbrella, not including the straw thatch, and cut the cloth long enough to reach around, leaving an open space for the door-way. Use more straw to cover the cloth completely and sew the straw on in overlapping layers lengthwise of the material. With safety-pins fasten the wall around the inner edge of the umbrella, pinning the cloth to little loops of tape you have tied at intervals over the ribs of the umbrella (Fig. 508).

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