The Princeton union., 1879-01-22
"Not only that, but if you'd change
our way of living, don't believe you'd

.'Why, Mary Gay, what do you mean?"
demanded Mrs. Bennett, sitting erect up
On the couch ia her surprise at this un-
remark.
Il have often wanted to say this before
and now | will, though you may think
I'm an interfering woman if / do. Never
mind, if | can only save you farther wor-
ry and expense and suffering I won't
mind, if you are offended for time. In
the first place, you must move,' and Mrs.
Gay gave such q decided nod that the
other lady could only calculate. "Why2
where? when?"
because you wantmore sun and space,
into this room because youwill find both,
and o'day, because I am here to help
yOu."
Mrs. Bennett gave lsttle gasp and
looked about her in dismay at the bare
idea OF living in her cherished best par
lor.
"'But the back room does very well.n
she protested. "It is warm and small
and handy to the kitchen and we always
live there.''
mo, my dear, it does not do very we'll,
tor those very reasons. It is 100 warm
and small and near the kitchen to make
1t tit place to live in, especially for lit
tie children. Why don't you put your
plants there if it is such nice place?"
asked Mrs. Gay, bent on making clean
sweep of her friends de]usions and pre-
JUDGES.
''Why they need more sun ana air and
room, so keep them in here"
Exactly! and your babies need sun
and air and room more than your roses,
geraniums and callas. The plants would
soon die in that close, hot. dark north
room; do you wonder your babies are
pale and fretful and weak? Bring them
in here and see how soon they will bloom
if you will give them chance"
II never thought of that. Pm sure I
could do anything to see them we'll and
hearty, but it seems pity to spoil my
nice parlor. Wouldn't the best chamber
overhead do as well?'
II 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, don't
you2"
"Yes. Ny patience! Mary, would
you have me turn the house upside down
just tor little more sum-
''Do you love your best room better
| than your children2 Hadn't you rather
see them spoilt by daily use than empty
and neat, because the little busy feet were
gone, never to come back? I'm in earn
est, Lizzie, and I know you will agree
with me when you think it over. NV
own dear little boy was killed by my ig-
norance, and have learned by sad ex-
perlence that we mothers should make it
the study of our lives to make home
healthy and happy for our boys and girls,
no matter how much we sacrifice show
aud fashion. Come, now, try it for a
month, and see if you don't all feel
the better for enjoying the best and sun
niest side of life"
Mrs. Benefits eyes wandered around
the pretty room, and went from Polly
singing to herself as she sat looking out
of the pleasant window, to baby content
edly playing bo-peep through the bars of
the fender 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.
'l'll try it!'' she said, feeling that it
was heroic thing to give up all her
cherished ideas and put her Sunday best
things into everyday wear. But Mrs
Gays words touched and startled her
and with a self reproachtul pang she re-
solved that it should never be said that
.she loved her plants more than her chill
dren, or that the house should ever miss
the sweet clamor of baby voices if she
had the power to keep the music there.
''Good! know you would, and I'm
going to show you how easy it will be tc
change the climate you live in as we'll as
the scene, and Tighten your work, and
benefit your health without going fal
away" cried Mrs. Gay, dei1ghted with
her success, and eager to see her reform
we'll carried out.
| what will John say2" and Mrs Ben
net felt inclined both to laugh and tc
cry at the thought of the coming revolu
ton.
He will approve; men always like tc
have things bright and roomy and nice
about them. I have been through it
and know, for when we kept in twt
rooms we got careless, and narrow, ant
: low-spirited. Now we live all over tn,
house and keep everything as bright, ane
, pretty, and nice as we can. George doe
not shut himself up in his untidy den
but stays with me, and people drop in
| and we have social, happy time Of it
J all enjoying our good things freely to
gether, and feeling the worth OF them.
, Chow do we begin?" asked Mrs. Ben
nett, fred with the spirit of emulation
now that the first shock was over, 70
John did shut himself up because tn
dining room was so full Of an evening
with two tumultuous boys, and the ittl
, woman wanted to see her husband dur
ing the only leisure hour she had out o
the twenty-four.
II should just move all the delicat
things into the little library there out o
, the way of the children. That room i
rather bare, and they will make it NOR
attractive. Leave the pictures, they ar
!, safe, and it is good to have pretty object:
for young eyes to rest upon. Put tn
covers on your furniture, large drugge
over your carpet, and take that othe
bay window for Polly and baby's pla,
corner. It is sunny and snug, and look
!