[Illustration: Fig.163 - These belong to the mouse.]
The leaves with the longest stems must be used for the legs. If there are more than two long-stemmed leaves, cut off all except those wanted for the legs. Bend the long, stout broom-straws at one end, as in Fig. 161, and push the other end up through the thick part of the stems and into the radish; then with a piece of string or strong blade of grass tie the stems of the leaves to the straws, as shown in Fig. 160. This forms a little belt at the waist-line. Leave a large leaf with short stem loose at the back for a cape and run the bent ends of the long straws in and out of the leaves intended for the feet.
Cut a curved slit in the radish for a mouth and push in a small piece of broom-straw for a tongue, then put in bits of straw for eyes, nose, and uplifted ears.
You can make a most amusing little white mouse of a white radish; not a round one like that used for the imp, but egg-shaped, like Fig. 162. The long root is the tail of the mouse and the other end of the radish is his head. Cut two paper ears like H, Fig. 163. Make two slits in the head and slip the pointed ends of the ears into the slits.
For whiskers (all mice have whiskers) find two sprays of fine branching broom-straws (I, Fig. 163), cut them the proper length, and push a spray into the head on each side of the nose. Put bits of broom-straw in for eyes and then cut four thick straws like J, Fig. 163, and push the pointed ends slantingly in the lower part of the radish for the feet of the mouse. His legs are not seen because he is crouching. The drawing of the mouse shows where to put the feet.
PRESS your thumb on the rounded edge of a fresh, fat green pea-pod, and, pop! it goes splitting open at the top. Then push your thumb into the opening, run it down the pod and the two halves separate, showing a row of fine, large peas that look like great green pearls in a soft, silk-lined case made expressly for them.
[Illustration: Fig.164 - The Green Pea Greenies, cousins of the Brownies.]
You have done this ever so many times when helping mother, haven't you? And you know that the next thing to do when the pod is open is to run that same little thumb down again and scoop out all those round green peas, letting them fall with a patter into the pan in your lap.