Sharp County record., 1878-01-11
An Agreeable Guest.

The longest visit that we read OF IN
modern DAYS was one which DR.. Isaac
Watts made at Lord Abney'S in the Isle
of Wright. He went to spend a fort
night, but they made him so happy that
he remained a beloved and honored
guest for forty years.
Few of us would care to make so long
a visit as that, but it might be worth the
while for us all to try and learn the
secret of making ourselves agreeable
and welcome guests. To have "a nice
timen when visiting is delightful, but to
leave behind us pleasant impression is
worth a great deal more.
An agreeable guest is title which
any one may be proud to deserve A
great many people, with the best IN
tentions and the kindest hearts, never
receive it, simply because they have
never considered the subject, and really
do not know how to make their stay IN
another PERSONS home a pleasure IN
stead of an inconvenience. If you are
one of these thoughtless ones, you may
be sure that, although your friends are
glad to see you happy, and may ENJOY
your visit on that account, your depar-
ture will be followed with sigh OF re-
lief, as the family 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 t9 see,
and these last must be proved while we
are young, if we expect to wear them
gracefully. A young person whose
presence in the houseis an inconvenience
and WEAKNESS at fifteen, is seldom
welcome visitor in after-life.
The two most important characters
tics of guest are tact and observation,
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 Romans do"
Unless you have some good reason for
not doing so, let your 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 it is quite con-
venient to have friend drop in without
warning for protracted visit. If they
know that you are 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 convenient to know
whether your visit is to have duration
of three days or three weeks. Take
with you some work that you have al
ready begun, or some book that you are
reading, that you may be be agreeably
employed when your hostess is engaged
with her own affairs, and not be sitting
about idle, as if waiting to De enter
tanned, when her time is necessarily
taken up with something else. Make
her feel that, for q small part at least
of every day, no oGe needs to have any
responsibility about amusing you.
A lady who is charmipg as guest
and as hostess once said to nae: 81
never take nap in the afternoon when
l am at home, but l do when | am Wis
iting, because | know what relief it
has sometimes been to me to have COM
pany lie down for a little while after
dinner. ."-Susan A. Br0Wn, IN ST. Ntch-
OIaS for January.