  THE PARTY CIRCUS RUTH and Bettina led "the parade," the band at its head, to the cheerful sunroom, where the table had been set. At sight of the "party" spread before them, the young musicians and the others gave a sudden shriek of delight. "It's a circus!" explained Ralph to curly-headed Margery, who was adding her own piping voice to the general din. A small American flag floated from a flag pole in the center of the table, and around it were arranged paper circus tents and circus wagons of the five and ten cent store variety. Animal crackers were all about, and the animal sandwiches and animal cakes in flat baskets looked almost too real to be eaten. Smooth boards on supports represented circus seats, and on these the children soon clambered, eager to eat as children always are. The paper napkins, decorated with animals, were folded before the places to represent tents. The salad faces, which Ralph called "clowns," leered up from the plates. But the joy was not to be all in seeing. There was a favor for each child to carry away, the favors from the table being claimed by matching the numbers on each one with a corresponding number on the pieces of candy passed at the close of the meal. The refreshments consisted of: BETTINA'S RECIPES (All measurements are level) Sandwiches (Forty) 3 loaves bread ½ lb. butter 1½ C-ham, minced or ground fine 3 hard-cooked eggs 3 T-chopped pickles 2/3 C-salad dressing 1/3 t-salt Chop the ham, eggs and pickles very fine. Add the salt and salad dressing. Cut the bread very thin and match the pieces in pairs. Spread one of a pair with the ham mixture and spread the other side with butter which has been mixed and softened with a wooden spoon. Place the two pieces of bread together and press firmly. Moisten the cooky cutter with water and cut evenly the desired shape. Clown Salad (Twelve portions) 12 rounds of sliced pineapple 12 T-salad dressing 24 filberts 2 canned pimentos 12 pieces of lettuce Wash the lettuce carefully. Roll and cut into fine shreds. Arrange a portion on each serving plate. Place a slice of pineapple on each portion and very carefully place the salad dressing on it so that it just covers the circle of pineapple. Arrange two filberts on top to represent eyes, and cut the pimento in a strip to represent the mouth. Cut small triangular pieces of pimento to represent the nose. Arrange these as features on the pineapple and serve at once. Fancy Cakes (Eighteen cakes) ½ C-butter 1 C-sugar 8 egg-yolks ½ C-milk 1¾ C-flour 2 t-baking powder 2 t-lemon extract Cream the butter, add the sugar and mix well. Beat the egg-yolks until very thick, and add to the first mixture. |
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