Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-11-06
WHOLE NO. 2O5.
gaOies' department.
For tho VERMONT FARMER.
STEPPING HEAVENNARD.

Yes, Allie is right. Sickness and un.
expected emergencies sometimes call for
women to lend helping hand in out door
work, land sometimes require men to aid in
the house). And whenever we cheerfully
take up the more difficult or perplexing du-
ties Of life VIC simultaneously take steps
heavenward. know a young lady teacher
who rode on a moving machine aud cut all
the hay, her father being sick and help
scarce. But these are exceptional cases.
Usually it is unnecessary for woman to aid in
the work that nature and civilization allot to
man. Instead of woman assisting in the la
Dor of the field or the barn, better let the
household dispense with the circus or third
class panoramas and concerts dispense with
tobacco, confectionery and condiments dis
card extras in equipage; reject one-half
the rufies, ribbons, flowers and jewelry at
the present day, and use the equivalent in
hiring boy, or adopt one from the Home
for the Friendless," or the Burlington Home.
Retrench in rufies, plating, insertions, tucks
and embroideries, and we have time in full
for the surplus work of an added family
member. Also time for the very essential
exercise in the fresh air.
If the family is as cheerful, patient and
unsel6sh as it ought to be, the presence of a
hired man will seldom be intrusive. Asham
ed Of caresses ashamed to speak kind and
loving words when the hired man is in the
house OF course not. Teach them lessons
to practice in their manhood years of welded
life Help them to step beavenward. As
for the confident interchange about affairs
and matters, there will be opportunity. If
not always at the first impulse of thought or
need, no matter. Learn the lesson of self
denial, of willing patient waiting. Take
steps heavenward.
The important exercise in the outdoor
air, which our physical organizations thirst
for, if our inclinations do not, should be
among the flowers, the moses, the rocks,
and the evergreens. Study botany, geology,
nature, God Take steps heavenward.
Gather falling leaves, nuts, fruits, and spec
linens, and then, exhilarated by the pastime
and the inspiring breezes, take them to that
sick or invalid neighbor, wearily confined
within the dull " four walls" Or, with
limbs bounding with elasticity from the sun
shine and the air, and spirits buoyant with
good nature, trip into the pantry and get q
few necessaries, and get little bundle Of
laid-aside clothing or bedding, if so fortu-
nate as to have them, and take a walk to
some poor family. There are such families
in every vicinity. Open the skylght win
dows to them and let in the glimmer, the
beauty and the cheer of Christian love.
Take steps heavenward. Light others heav-
onward.
Obey natures laws Never stay in the
house to make bead baskets, ottoman covers,
wrought tidies &c. These things are nice
and beautiful; they give room an air Of
taste aud refinement, and we appreciate
them, but we cannot afford to sacrifice health
for them. A clean room will look cheerful
and inviting, if it contains a plain lounge,
and upon the table a boquet of flowers and
an interesting book; a pleasant picture
hanging on the walls; and upon the floor
rug of bright colors, simply braided; re-
membering to keep the stove bright and
checry. Enter such room and if a joyous,
smiling face give US warmly welcome the
room seems complete 10 itself. But if SO
favored as to have the room comfortable
with a carpet, also contain an organ or
sewing machine, we should be very thank
ful, and joyfully step heaveuward. But
exchange nine-tenths of the pastries, jelies,
eating tables, for their equivalent in the best
of apples, pears, grapes, &C., and we have
time for decorating q room with various
things Of beauty, or time for reading, music
aud visiting, as ones taste prefers. This
mode Of diet or regimen also gives au appe-
tite for breakfast, banishes headache, dys.
pepsla ana many other Ills, ana joined with
exercise in the fresh air, gives clear COM
plexions, happy countenahces, and amiable
dispositions, mental, moral and physical helps
to stepping heavenward. Discard bustles,
pads, puffs, corsets, &C., and we assume the
natural form with which Divinity crowned us,
made little lower than the angels only.
Obeying the laws of health, humanity and
happiness, a glorious destiny is transmitted
to the next generation, and tidal wave
from the immortal universe swels into
marching ranks at the watchwOrd: "Step.
ping heavenward I" "Stepping heaven
ward % n. l.. d.
East Charleston.