Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-12-03
That Corner.

corner" said Mrs. Darling, as we were ar
ranging the parsonage, preparatory to the
advent of the benevolent society, and max
ing sundry additions to the furniture of an
unoccupied room. al wish every lady in
the land could see it, and learn lessons of
wisdom thereby" was my mental response to
her remark, for there was not home in the
place where the children were more happy,
or behaved any better. And now, as that
corner escaped the prying eyes of the sew
ing society, will venture TO give an iu-
ventory of its contents, hoping that somebody
may profit by the recital. In the first place
there was good set of tools for boys, with
all the varieties of wood for working; there
were brackets, and match-safes, and book
racks, and watch-stands in various stages of
completion; there was water-wheel that
would "go," and other kinds of machinery;
on the back of the rocking-horse was pan
Drama, of home manufacture, where pins
were the price of admission, aud above that
two large curtains, which were useful when
the sitting-room was converted into a pri-
vate restaurants there were games of all
kinds, not for amusement alone, but convey
ing instruction also, somewhat on the prin,
ciple of sugar-coated pills, and puzzles that
kept little brains as well as little fingers oc-
cupied; there was an easy-chair for the
doll, and bedstead for the kitten, and the
crowning glory of all was genuine play
house, with its suite of rooms, made entirely
by the boys, where the stairs were carpeted
and the windows all of glass. "What does
this all amount to ?" says Mrs. Shoddy
"our nursery is full of toys much more ex-
pensive than these. Josephine's wax doll
cost thirty dollars, and her other playthings
are in proportion" But the peculiar charm
of Mrs. Darling's home was, that it was
made so attractive that the boys had no
temptation to go outside for amusements,
and thereby they escaped the dangerous tut
tion of the streets, especially those branches
taught in the "evening schools" on the
piazzas of stores and in the bar-rooms of
hotels. Many conscientious Christian, in
has driven his boys to ruin and degradation.
The young spirits must overflow somewhere
and the dullness of Christian home has
often been the excuse for seeking the more
from real life illustrate this point A good,
conscientious New England deacon and his
quiet, unobtrusive wife were blessed with an
only son-a bright mirth-loving boy. As
the twilight shades gathered at the fireside
the father, wearied with the cares and bust
ness of the day, would take his newspaper
or religious magazine and seat himself by
the table for his evenings rest and recrea-
ton the mother would employ herself with
her mending or her embroidery, happy with
the communion of her own thoughts, CRATE
full for her peaceful, quiet home, her devoted
husband, her beautiful child and her pleas
ant surroundings; but each of the parents
forgot how dull it was for the boy, full of
animal spirits, outgrowing his early amuse-
ments aud actually needing something much
more stimulating than his Sunday-school
books or his Youths Companion. The days
crept on the boy would not submit to the
dullness of the home evenings the steps
wandered farther and farther, until he pro-
gressed SO rapidly in his outdoor education
that he was brought home "beastly intoxi-
Gated" and then the stricken parents
mourned and lamented over this strange dis
pensation of Providence, this fearful wreck
of their hopes for the child of so many
prayers. Fortunately their minister was a
judicious man, possessing that rarest of
gifts, "sanctifed common-sense," aud he
suggested remedy in this trial that,
through the blessing of God, was efficacious.
He persuaded the father to lay aside his
evening paper, and the mother her work
basket, while they devoted themselves to the
business of making their home an attractive
place for their child. They bought games
and played with him, they entered into his
plans and sports, they provided entertaining
books, and maps and pictures-in word,
the active brain was kept from devising
mischief by being completely occupied with
innocent recreations, ana the recovery was
complete. The Bible went along with the
book of travel, and the evening amusement
was hallowed by prayer Money expended
for the purpose of making home more
cheerful place for the children--one that is
dearer than all outside fascination-is Just
as truly spent for the "cause of Christ as
If it was contributed for the missions in
Turkey or to buy Sunday-school books for
the West Mrs. Darliug's boys have grown
up now, and are filling honorable places in
the world; but who shall say how much
credit is due to the lessons they learned
from that pile of instruction books "
packed away so unceremoniously in "that
corner the day of the meeting of the be.
nevolent society :"