Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-05-19
EVENING STAR.
HAPPY AT HOME.

=
The little straws Of every day habit, hoattng
slowly and silently down the stream Of lite,
shows very plainly which way the uds ss,s.
And when Mrs Purple says with eroAb,
my husband never spends his evenings AZ
home,n 1t is natural 70 inquire Within ones
self why ii Is that Mr.. Purple nnos otner re-
sorts SO much more attractive tnan inc n'uSe-
81 don't see why he can't be a little more
domestic" says Mrs Purple.
thing in the world says philosophers, and there
must De reason for this. -
In the first place, Mrs. Purple Is one Of those
unfortunate housekeepers whose work is never
done. There is always something dragging
a room TO be swept-iamps TO be trimmed
fretful babies 70 be put TO sleep, while one eye
rs on the broilihg meat and the other on the
muddy foot print unwittingly left by Mr.. Pur-
pie on the doorstep. There, Purple, knew
Just how it would be. i wonder If You know
think after all the time I've spent in cleaning
up
And Mrs Purple goes of into monotonous
reeapitalation Of her troubles and trials that
has all the effect of a lullaby upon a baby,
however trying it may be to the feelings OF the
Moreover, Mrs. Purple, with all her "cIean-
ings up,S docs not understand the first princi-
pies Of keeping a house neat. Things are
always "rour d in the way" table covers put
on awry; dust and ashes under the crate; cur
tains torn away from their fastenings and
pinned mp until Mrs Purple can "ind time"
10 readjust them Somehow, it looks forlorn,
and desolate, and unhomelike when the master
of the house comes in at night. Mr.. Purple,
Hanlike. can't tell where the detection liesrhe
don't analyZe the chill that comes over his
heart as he crosses the threshold.he ONLY
And so he takes his bat when mis- wife's back
Is turned and sneaks ANONYMOUSLY off. glad to
get away from the dead-alive fire, the dusty
room, and Mrs. PUPPIES tongue. Who can
blame the mani Mr.. Purple NAV be law and
"eareless," very likely he is-most men have n
tendency that way-out nevertheless he don't
like 20 be told of II over and over again, in that
persisted Illogical sort OF way that reminds
you of an old hen running from side to side in
her coon, and pokIng her head through the bars
In the same place every seven seconds! Mr..
Purple naturally wonders " ny his wife don't
occasionally alluGe to the few good qualities he
happens 10 posse>si Mr.. Purple h as every in
elinatIon 70 be happy al home, if his better half
would only give him a chance.
OF all the sweet-tinted pictures Of domestic
happiness that we find IN the pages of Holy
Writ, there is none that suggests more quIet
comfort than Abraham sitting in his tent door
''in the heat of the day" under the shadow of
the palm tree of Mamre. Depend pom il. the
good old patriarch never spent his evenings
away from home. He didn't believe in s.iust
going across the plains to Lots house, or
running over 20 Sodom 10 hear the news"
No, Abraham liked 20 sit quietly in has tent
door, ana very likely Mrs. Sarah would come
and lean over his shoulder and chat with him
after the Oriental fashion, We have the very
best OF testimony for knowing that she was very
amiaole under the ordeal OF ..unexpected com.
pany, when 1.-The calf tender and good" was
dressed. and the three measures OF meal baked
on the hearth,
The idea Of looking beyond the sphere OF
home for enjoyment Is az the root of many of
our modern evils. Home should be the very
centre and sanctuary OF happiness; and when
II Is not. there is some screw loose in the do
nestle machinery! II you want 10 surround a
young man with The best possible safeguards
don't oyerwhelm him with tie maxims and
homilies as 10 what he is and is net TO DO. but
make his home happy in the evenings. Let
MN learn thar howe bad and cruel the ont.
side world may be, he Is always sure of SYM
patny and consideration In one place. Woe be.
tide the man, whatever his LOT or position who
has in his heart of hearts no memory OF a home
where the sunshine never faded out and the
voices were always sweet Were he as rich as
RothsehIld, he is poor man!