The Portland daily press., 1874-01-07
Beautify Your Homes.

There is not Ilace in the entire country
but can. to some extent, be improved in )r-
tai appearance and effect, with but lit
tie trouble aud at little expense.
Farmers especially are apt to think that be-
cau,e they are poor, or means limited, they
are unable to carry out any ideas OF improve
ment, or if they happen to be well of, are al
ways waiting tor some time to come wien
money will be apparently more easily spared,
or they can have more leisure for the purpose.
In fact, there is belief widely current that
pretty houses aud attractive surroundings do
not belong to the farmers humble lot; but to
the village resident, or those who come from
the city, who alone are supposed to possess
the proper taste and necessary funds.
This is all wrong; and, If country people
will only think OF it, they will find the subject
an interesting one, will discover many and in
expensive plans, and will be gratifed at the
subsequent effects.
Is your farmhouse homely, gambrel-roofed
and brown, and you think you cannot afford
to build new one? Never mind if there is
only cheerfnness within the cid one, tits let
ter than ri:h carpets and discontented spirits
in new one. Paint up your old brown house,
you can afford that at least-et the colors be
soft or lively as you like; sbingle it over new,
and make the roof clean and dry; dress up
your blinds in beautiful green; twine around
your porch the hoDeysuckle or.climbing roie,
and wind up the sides and corners of your
house the ivy or some pretty evergreen climb
er.
Take carefully from your woods or fields
the evergreen, spruce, or fir, and plant doZ-
en- OF more in front OF yOurdoor. Plant along
the roadside few naples and elms in alter
nate rows; let your wife send few cents,
and get some flower seeds and bulbs, and
plant those also in front of your paror win
dow. Then wait for the gentle warmth oi
the sun, and watch the appearing OF the leaves
of the trees, the budding of the flowers, the
coming forth of the bloc m OF the honeysuckie>
and roses, and notice how quickly the creep
er climbs up the sides OF your house.
Wait until some beautiful day in summer,
when one OF your old farm trienda comes to
visit YOU and yours; listen to their excama.
tions OF pleasure at the simple and wonderful
Transformation; look at the pleased faces and
bright smiles of your wife and children; ana
then see ii you don't feel that you are a man
that you have got something worth praisiDg.
that you have got something to compel respect
from your neighb0rs. Watch the travellers
by your house, as they partially stop and look
over you- little yard, and with silent praise
testify to its beauty; yatch the influence OF
these little things upon your children, how
rapidly theirtaste for neatness and nice things
improves, how much ore cheerful they are
10 uisposltiol, NJ" YUCniy they Sdlh asuperi-
ior standing among their school-iellows, how
popular their home becomes as visiting
place among their friends. What a pleasure
il is to think of home; and when, at some dis
tant day, any or all rescnmpelled to 90 far
away into a distant state, how precious Is the
memory Of father and mother, the old farm
house and its dooryard. But while they are
all at home, see how gradl ally books and pa
pers find their way into YOUR house. how well
they are read and Remembered, how insensi
bly, your own tastes improve; see how mucb
better you farm it than formerly, how well
you get along. perhaps not laying ty n.nch or
any money, yet, ill spite of the extra expenses
incurred. somehow they are all met, your
farm produces more, you live better, ard are
more influential in society.