Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1878-01-02
An HOnored Guest

lHc lphHNht '''t '''' W" ''"' w w
modern days was one which Dr. Isaac
Watts made at Lord Abney's In the
Isle of Wight lilo went to spend u
fortnight, but they made him 30 hap
by that no remained u beloved aud
honoled guest Tor forty yearS'
Few Of Ms would care TO make 10
long u visit as that, but 1t might be
worth tho while tor us all TO Try and
learn the secret Of making ourselves
agreeable and welcome guests To
have ~ nice time" when visiting IL
delightful, but 10 leave behind US q
pleasant impression is worth n great
deal more,
An agreeable guest Is n title which
any one may be proud to deserve a
great many people, with the best IN
tentions aud kindest hearts, never re-
ceiye il, simply because they have
never considered the subject, aud re-
ally co not know how TO make Their
stay in another persons home n pleas
ure instead of IN Inconvenience II
YOU are one Of these thoughtless ones
you may be sure that, although your
friends arc glad to see you happy and
may enjoy your visit on that account
your departure will be followed with
sigh OF relief, as the family settle
settle down to their usual occupations,
glad that the visit is over
A great many different qualities and
habits 90 to make up the character OF
one whom people are always glad 10
see, aud these last must be proved
while we are young, il We expect TO
wear them gracefully. A young per-
son whose presence in the house is an
Inconvenience and q WEAKNESS at tit'
teen, is eeldom welcome visitor IN
afler.lite.
The two most important character
stics of guest are tact and observa'
ton, and these will lead you to notice
and do Just what will give pleasure to
your friends in their different opinions
and ways Of living. Apply in its best
sense the maxim-"When you are in
Rome, do as the Romaus do"
Unless You have some good reason
for not doing so, let you friends know
the day, and, if possible, the hour
when you expect to arrive. Surprises
are very well in their way, but there
are few households in which i. is
quite convenient to have friend drop
in without warning for protracted
visit. If they know that you arc
coming, they will have the pleasure Of
preparing for you and looking forward
to your arrival, and you will not feel
that you are disturbing any previous
arrangements which they have made
for the day.
Let your friends know, if possible,
soon after you arrive, about how long
you mean to stay with them, as they
might not like TO ask the question,
and would still find it convenlnt to
know whether your visit is to have a
duration of three days or three weeks.
Take with you some work that you
have already begun, or some book
that your are reading, that you may
be agreeably employed when your
hostess is engaged with her own af-
fairs, and not he sitting about idle, as
If awaiting to be entertained, when
her time is necessarily taken up with
something else. Make her feel that,
tor small part at least ofevery day,
no one needs to have any responsible
ity about amusing you.
Alady who is charming as a guest
and as hostess once said to me 81
never take a nap in the afternoon
when at home, but I do when 1 am
visiting, because I know what a re-
lief it has sometimes been to me to
have company lie down for a little
while, after dinner. -[Susan A.
p,o,ro c. N;ob o1oo for Topuoru