The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-08-27 00:00:00

HOMELY VIRTUES.

HOMELY virtues are properly so-called for two
good and sufficient reasons. It is under the
domestic roof that their chief sphere of
activity lies, and they tend more than any-
thing else to promote the happiness of the
aomes of the people. On the presence or
tbsence depends all the difference between
cheerful and cheerless domestic life. They
are as essential to real comfort as the warm
9,•law of the hearth on damp and chilly days.
These virtues may be regarded as having
their origin in annate vital germs which,
nnder favouring circumstances, grow with
the growth and Strengthen with the strength
of multiplying years. The familiar saying
that cleanliness is next to godliness, indi-
cates the popular belief in the close relation-
ship subsisting between the humbler and ,
higher class of duties coming within the
range of human experience, and also serves
to show at the same time that the state
the moral nature may be revealed by the
manner in which such kind of household
work at the scrubbing of floors, the cleansing
of dishes, or the dusting of rooms is per
In the case of the servant-girl, who
considered it a sure sign that a change for
the better had come over her nature when
she began to sweep under the mats, it was
clear that she had within her the germ of
the household virtue of thoroughness, al-
though an awakening of conscience was
needed to give it the requisite development.
Some housewives have what appears to be a
happy knack in getting done with the heavy
part of their daily domestic duties in less
than half the time that others take, albeit
much the same amount of work passes
through the hands. The seeming knack
simply consists in the capacity for being
methodical and diligent, and abstaining from
indulgence in gossip. It generally happens
that while gossip between the wives of neigh-
bouring householders is going on, the furni-
ture is standing about the floors in a topsy-
turvy state, and an unconscionable time
elapses before chairs, tables, fenders, and fire-
irons get back to their proper places again.
So long as the busy tongues wag the broom
remains idle in the hand. Alacrity and
thoroughness displayed in the performance
of domestic duties are commonly accom-
panied by tidiness, which makes everything
look its best. Under the magical touch of
tidy fingers which are perfect in the art of
neat arrangement, even apartments that are
not very choicly furnished can be made to
present an attractive and pleasing appear-
ance. Without this perfecting touch of
innate taste, richly-carpeted rooms contain-
ing handsome furniture may exhibit a taw-
dry appearance. Phcebe Pyncheon, as de-
acribed by Hawthorne, had the art of bring-
ing out the hidden capabilities about her,
and of giving a look of comfort and habit-
ableness to any place which, for however
short a period, happened to he her home.
By means of a touch here and a touch there,
by bringing some articles of furniture into
light, and dragging others into shadow, and
by looping up or letting down a window
curtain, she was able, in half-an-hour to
throw a kindly and hospitable smile over a
dingy and long unused apartment. Tidi-
ness in dress imparts the crowning charm to
tidiness in all other arrangements. Among
the homely virtues a foremost place must be
assigned to thrift, the value of which is re-
morsefully acknowledged by penitent spend-
thrifts who have squandered their slit stance
in riotous living, like the Prodigal Son in the
parable. The thrifty wife, as a rule makes
a thriving husband. Thrift does not con-
cern itself merely with keeping down family
expenses and saving up something for a
rainy day. It performs useful functions
which extend over the who!e range of house-
hold affairs. "Waste not, want not," is the
sage advice which forms its watchword and
causes it to exercise constant vigilance. It
is never guilty of the folly of burning the
candle at both ends. The stich in time that
saves nine is an outcome of thrift, and the
hardworking cotter has a priceless treasure
in the industrious helpmeet who, in the
words of Burns, •'gars auld claes look amaist
as wed l as new" by her deft use of the needle
in repairing the children's raiment. House-
hold industries in some parts of the country
supplement ordinary domestic work, and
these industries deserve to be encouraged in
every possible way. They were not unknown
in ancient times, as we find, in the last
chapter of the Book of Proverbs, great
praise be9towed upon the woman who tued
the spindle and distaff, sought wool and flax
made fine Jinen and sold it, and delivered
girdles to the merchants. Good temper,
which radiates from good nature like light
and heat from the sun's disc, diffuses cheer-
fulness through the home circle when it
forms a marked characteristic of the heads
of households. It is potent in its beneficial
influence, keeping other tempers in tune,
and checking any tendencies they may ex-
hibit in the direction of growing cross-
grained It does not permit itself to get
ruffled about trifles, such as the mislaying of
a pair of scissors or a paper-cutter. and it
makes due allowance for any annoyance that
may arise from the escapades and pranks of
children in their heydey of high spirits and
effervescent excitement. Far worse than
any trouble they may give, in the excess of
their glee, is the sound of the scolding tongue
—an outburst of bad temper that screams
after them from room to room, and rings
from floor to ceiling and ceiling to floor. '
scolding only serves to aggravate whatever
may be disagreeable, and strikingly shows,
the force of contrast, how important a pat t
good temper plays in securing comf rt arid
promoting cheerfulness under the domestic
roof all the year round.