Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-10-29
The Long Evenings.

What shall we do with our evenings?
This is the old question that autumn
makes new again. 1t dosen't interest
every body, for some people have no more
idea Of the value of time thln an OK or a
butterfly. Others who are given up to
social dissipation. or whose leisure is de-
voted to public amusements, ind their
perpleAiy in the shortness Of the season.
But in the quiet villages and more quiet
country districts, and among the home
loving classes in our cities. the long even
ings bring opportunities that frequently
20 to waste for want of II little planning
and concert Of action. For young people
they should be entered upon with the re-
solve, first not to waste them and second
not worse than waste them. TO kill
| time, " says one, is an expression that
would have been illused by Methuselah in
his nine hundred and sixty-ninth year.
And to misuse time is the worst way Of
killing it.
One of the best ways Of using long
evenings, if you are the head of q family,
is TO make them happy and helpful to
your household. Don't take your book or
newspaper directly after supper-settle
down into the warmest corner in man
ner that warns everybody to keep still
read sulkily Or selishly until ten o'clock,
and they yawningy ask your wife If it
isn't most time to 90 to bed? Some faith
ers are about rs useful, and not half so
ornamental. as Il good quality of parlor
border. There is u good bit Of the even
/ inr left after the children's bedtime, if
/ they 90 to bed when they should. Help
Tommy on his home lesson, if the teacher
has been permitted to put one upon him,
or give him an hour to games in which
all hands can Join. A little romp will help
your digestion and spirits more than it can
possibly hurt your dignity. Don't be
afraid, good people. of Il regular dose of
fun in your home life. 1t is the best pre-
ventativo going for restIessness, stupid
uess, and all other badnesses that spoil
home comfort.
If it is to the intellectual life to which
the long evenings are to minister, organize
your time-plan your work. Very little
is accomplished in this world by working
aimlessly. Give as much time to topical
and so much to recreative reading. You
can master the history of Il people, or
learn new language, perhaps. in the
time spent dwldling over books that just
happen to come in your way and whose
contents run through your mind like water
through II sieve. 1t is good time to
organize Il reading club, if you have none
in your circle. If they have not too much
, machinery and pretence about them. such
! clubs are very helpful in stimulating inter
: est. saving time. and securing an exchange
of knowledge and a comparison of views
, The low price ut which the best books are
: now published, and the ease with whict
! they may be had without buying, give:
e literature place in plans for time-usine
and self-culture such as it never occupied
g before.
Y For social recreation and pleasure The
2 loug evenings open up wide field for en-
# oyment, since sensible people are becom
r ing more rational in their ways of usins
!. them. The old style " swell parties ant
= - crush sociables are giving away t
q gutter affairs. Invitations now often sug
r rest real pleasure, instead Of being a mer
a legal tender for the payment of socia
n debts Only so many are invited us cal
n be costly entertained, and they are select
). ed with some idea of congenialty and tn
II fitness of things, The head is rememberet
,s Us well rs the stomach, and sociality be
!. comes Il source of delight instead of
N bore.
IS Put the long evenings under tribute il
N some such way us we have indicated, an
see if they do not take place on the sun
j. ny side Of your memory with the golde
It long days now passed.