Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-10-11
why, they need more sun and air and
00m so | Keen thnm in hnrn y

Exactly! and your babies need sur
and air and room more than your roses
geraniums, and callas. The plants
would 500 die in that close, hot, dark
north room; do you wonder your babies
are pale, and fretful, and weak? Bring
them in bere and see how soon they will
bloom if you will give them chance.
| never thought of that I'm sure
| would do ything to see them wei
and hearty, but it does seem pity tc
spoil my nice parlor. Wouldn't the
best chamber owe head do as well?"
want that too, for your bedroom
and the little one at the side for the
children. You use the back chamber
now, and have the cribs there also, dom
you?"
"Yes. My patience. Mary, would
you have me turn my house upside
down just for little more SUM-
Do you love your best room better
than your children? Hadn't you rather
see them spoilt by daily use tban empty
and neat, because the little busy feet
were gone never to come back! I'm ir
earnest, Lizzie and | know you will
agree with me when you think it over
My own dear little boy was killed by my
ignora zee, and | have learned by sad eX-
perience that we mothers should make
it the study of onr lives to keep home
healthy and happy for our boys and
show and fashion. Come, now, try it
for month, and see if you don't all
feel the better Cor enjoying the best and
sunnicst side of life y
Mrs. Bennct's eyes wandered round
the pretty room, and went from Polly
singing to be self as she sat looking out
of the plea SAINT window, to baby con
tentedlv playing bo-peep through the
bars of the fepaer with the yellow
flames, which were his delight, then
came back to her friends kind, earnest
face, and seemed to wake with sudden
energy and life and resolution.
I'll try it!' she said, feeling that it
was heroic thing 70 give up all her
cherished ideas and put bnr Sunday best
things into every day wear But Mrs.
Gays words touched and st. cited her,
and with a self .er"oacF II rang she re-
solved that it sh Id ne1er be said that
she loyed her plants more than her chill
dren, OF that her house should ever miss
the sweet clamor of baby voices if she
had the power to keep that musi" there.
Good! | knew you would, and Tm
going to show you how easy it will be to
change the climate you live in as well
as the scene, and benefit your health
without going away" C lied Mrs. Gay,
delighted at her success, and eager to
see her reform we'll carried out.
What uW John say?' and Mrs, Ben
net felt inclined both to laugh and cry
at the thought cf the coming revolution.
He will approve; men always like to
have ,hings bright aad roomy and nice
about them. I'VE seen through it and
know, for Wien we kept in Two rooms
we got careless and narrow and low spir-
tied. Now we live all over the house
and keep every th lg as b'ig1t and pret-
tv and nice as we can. George does not
shut himself up in his untidav den, but
stays with me, and people drop in, and
we have a social happy time of it, all
enjoying our good things freely togeth-
er, and feeling the worth of them
How do we begin?" asked Mrs Ben
net, fired wi h the spirit OF emulation now
that the first shock was over, for John
did shut himself up because The dining
room was 50 full of an evening with two
tumultuous boys, and the little woman
wanted to see her husband during the
only leisure hour she had out of the
twenty four.
Il should just move all the delicate
things into the little library there out
of the way of the children That room
is rather bare, and they will make it
more attractive Leave the pictures,
they are safe, and it is good to have
pretty objects for young eyes'to rest
upon Put the covers on your furni-
ture, a large drugget over your carpet,
and take that other bay window for Pol
ly and baby.s play corner. 1t is sunny
and snug, and looking out always anus
es them; and at night you can just drop
the curtains before the recess and hide
their little clutter without disturbing it.
In the other window there is room for
your table and chair, and close by the
machine. There you can sit as in a
bower with your flowers about you, a
pleasant view outside and everything
cheerful, wholesome and pretty, three
very important things to a woman.
Keep up the open fire, it is worth doz-
en- furnaces, and have thermometer to
be sure you don't get too warm, as that
takes all the strength out of you, and
makes taking cold easy"
1t wouldn' take long to make the
change John isn't coming home 10
dinner, so we can be all ready by night,
if you can really stop aud see me
through the job. | declare | feel better
already, for | am tired to death of that
back room, and don't wonder that Polly
is always teasing to go in parlor. The
boys will dance for joy to get full swing
here, they are never allowed it, except
Sundays, and then they behave nicely,
and seem to enjoy the piano and pretty
things, and so does John. Yes, III do
it right away" and up jumps Mrs. Ben
net, finding her most po ycrful impetus
in the thought OF pleasing father and
the boys"
Working and talking busily together,
the friends soon made the necessary
changes below, to the great delight of
Polly and the entire bewilderment of
the baby, who fell asleep on the best
sofa, as if bound to make the most of
his comforts while they lasted
A hasty lunch, and then, with Biddy
to lug the heavy articles, they rear
ranged the chambers, making splendid
nursery Of the large room and nice
sleeping room of the smaller one for the
two children.
Now, you see, you can undress them
by this pleasant CRATE, and then put
them away in cool, quiet place to
sleep undisturbcd by you older people
Only be sure that the little mattresses
and bed-clothes get a good airing and
summing every day. You can shut the
door and let them lie for hours as you
couldn't in the back room, and that is a
great advantage said Mrs. Gay, who
was in high spirits at carrying every
thing before her in this fine style
= 1t is lucky we never have guests to
sleep in winter, for that north room is
not at all my idea of best chamber,
though we have put some pretty things
there. feel like company myself in
here, and John won't know what to dc
with so much space, | have kept him
cramped so long. 1t does seem shame
to shut up this big room and not enjoy
it. Mary, | have been a goose, and I'm
glad you came and told me So"
Contented with that confession, Mrs
Gay kissed her convert, and leaving