Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-08-03

THE QUAKER HoME.-The wayfaring man
may well put off his shoes from his feet when he
crosses a Quaker threshold. Peace and holiness
dwell therein, and the home is an embodiment
of spotless housekeeping and refined and gentle
taste. The parlor with its carpet of greens and
browns, the plain sofas and chairs formed for
convenience and comfort, the square table with
its sober cloth, bear witness to the solidity and
gravity of the household life. Some small at
| tempt at decoration there may be if there are
young persons in the household, which shows
itself in bright bouquet of autumn leaves and
noddlng grasses, or perhaps a simple PaTian
vase with one waXen flower or trailing vine.
But these are all toned in the sombre setting,
and one turns to the books for distraction.
Solid and well selected all, dignifed histories
and scientific treatises, the graver poets, always
a Milton, the latest and freshest works on moss
es, ferns or sea shells. scientific romance with
creation for its theme, glimpse at stellar worlds
may be permitted
A plain, comfortable carriage, with sleek,
shining horses, bring the honored visitors home
from the yearly meeting, and despite the severe
simplicity of the drawing room, the table in the
dining room is a grooming miracle. Rich old
china, glass deliberately carved and cut, heir
looms in silver and the wares of Japan, set forth
the good fare for which Quaker households are
famous; and despite the ice water creed of
Americans and the temperate testimony Of the
Friends" themselves, the wine which there is
offered you may be depended on as both gener-
GUS and stricken in years.
&Yet through the refined economics of the
stately matron who dspenses these good things
with simple grace, no greater amount of money
has been expended by the years end than in
less plentifully supplied households. If mar
ket basket be heavy, there is balance in other
things; there are no elaborate lace curtains to
be refreshed and renewed, and the solid sim
plicity of the upholstery is less subject to wear
and tear than the airy gimcracks of worldly
establishments. Above all, the close attention
to detail, the careful Cooking after" servants,
motherly supervision of their morals and their
manners, no less than their daily work; the
judicous thrift which make every purchase tell,
and the gentle treatment which renders the
humblest member of the household willing
and responsible co operator, 30 far TO make a
Quaker kitchen indeed the earthly paradise.
And with all this housekeeping and enter
tanning of guests, the meeting and committee
work, visiting the poor and dealing" with the
erring, which makes a Quaker woman's work,
no children on earth are more tenderly reared,
more carefully nurtured than the babies whose
socks are not of the color of this world. They
learn from their mothers the matchess refinement
of conscience which makes Quaker education
the backbone Of so much that is lofty in char
acter. While they are young they do not feel
the restraints and guards which press so heavily,
so intoerably on the young men and madens.
There is time for everything in Quaker family,
even time for the demure plays in the plain Ian
guage and thoughtful dressing of dolls.-AtldR-
tic Monthly.