Show cornea edited by banakos Ha holiday little hanako opened her eyes slowly she raised her black head from the wooden pillow and stared at the sunlight coming through the paper walls she rolled quickly out of bed which was made of soft quilts plied on the floor she put on her gayest brightest kimono with big red flowers on it her white stockings which had places made for the big toes and she slipped her feet into her red sandals good morning little one said a gentle olce as her mother came into the room we are glad that honor able sun most kindly shines upon this great day af pf dolls mrs pushed back the sliding walls and let the sunshine and the playful breezes of march pour into the room now may we have the beautiful steps hanako asked after she had eaten her breakfast slie watched eagerly as her mother took out of a big chest five steps covered with red silk at the top of the steps she placed a dazzling golden screen biere come most honorable emper or and empress slid hanako taking two dolls from her mothers hand hanako placed each royal doll on the top step in front of the golden screen next come the ladles in waiting said hanako she arranged the three dolls in their bright simonos kimonos on the step below the royal family II 11 ere are the orange and cherry trees which are like the trees at the gate of the royal palace said her mother put the gay little trees at each end of the third step with a royal sentinel beside them in between them she placed the court musicians who were seated cross legged on soft cushions now we prepare the fourth step counted with a happy smile for a whole year she had waited to see again all these beautiful dolls for these were the special dolls I 1 y yr were used only on the day of the doll festival when every little japanese girl had a holiday later the boys would have their holiday when queer paper fishes would fly from tall poles and the boys would fly kites and have kite races we now greet the three coolie dolls said hanako as she placed them on the fourth step they dressed in plainer clothes and carried brooms and brushes to show that they did the household work then came a little platform holding some doll actors who were giving a play at dinner time there was company and mrs s little maid servant heaped trays with good things to put before the guests there were hot soups which every one drank and blue and white bowls full of rice there was golden brown fish served with preserved apricots green chrys anthe mum leaves in yellow batter and bamboo shoots and mushrooms dipped in custard and of course every one used chopsticks chop sticks after dinner canado went visiting other little girls all up and down the street and she carried gifts tor them in her kimono sleeves alas the smiling sun Is going far away said hanako as the third day of march ended the most beautiful dolls must go again into the big chest of all doll festivals this has been best she cuddled down into her quilts how to build your fortress 1 A soft wood box about 19 inches by 13 inches Is used for the main part and a similar one Is cut up for the turrets at the tour corners 2 tools you will need are a coping saw chisels a small crosscut cross cut saw plane hammer assorted nails sharp knife a pencil and ruler 3 pieces are cut in the parapet with coping siw and and are 1 inch long and inch high 4 the platforms inside turrets for soldiers to stand on are 2 inches down from the top small ladders can reach from the floor to platforms B two doors each 2 inches wide by 4 inches high are placed on hinges and open inward 6 the drawbridge can be made of several pieces of wood called slats and can have small chains obtained at ten cent stores to raise and low er it 7 the fortress should be painted a gray color copyright |