Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-09-29
After the Vacation.

The homeward bound trains have come
heavily laden during the past week, from
the mountains, the sea-shore and the coun-
try. 1t is month too soon for the vaca-
tion to end but school committees are in
exorable, and the tide of fall business, which
has uow swelled to something like its old
volume, must not find the busy marts un-
manned. 1t seems good, even to the great
army of stay-at-homes, TO see the streets
filled up again with bronze-cheeked men and
rested women, and bright-eyed children,
with the glow of health on their cheeks and
the elasticity and spring in their step, that
tell of natures splendid care for them during
the summer months that are past. Even in
the smaller towns and villages, where vaca-
tions have not been the rule, the lassitude
and inaction that have characterized the
dog-day weather are beginning to be shaken
off, and the manifold machinery of our do
nestle, social and business life will soon be
humming again. How to save what has
been gained, in the way of increased vital
ity and renewed capacities for usefulness, is
a question that ought to be more considered
than we fear it is. To many people the
summers accommodations are only so much
treasure, to be squandered with a lavish
hand. Crediting nature with deposit OF
so many hundred hours of extra working
time they proceed to draw on it recklessly,
and before another resting-time comes they
are physically and mentally bankrupt again.
If the conservation of these forces were
more studied, the need of vacation would
not be so prevalent, and its real enjoyment
and utility could thus be greatly increased,
When the philosophy of rest and recreation
comes to be as well understood in this
thsa .Nt ttxrtt xx-A
shall manage these things better. We do
not run our locomotives steadily for nine
months, and then send them to the shop for
three, but give them breathing spell every
day. Will the high pressure business men
of America ever learn to take care of them.
selves in as rational manner? The social
| customs fortunately favor the women of the
land, so that the round of pleasure and So
| cial obligations does not ordinarily begin TO
| tax them for month or two yet But we
have known ladies to upset the gain Of a
| two-months' rest by one week of energetic y
slavery to their households upon their return.
| The house must be put in order from top TO
bottom the children restrained all at once
after their weeks of coltish freedom, and
| the old routine be established without de-
lay. No wonder they "dread coming home. y
Our advice to all home-comers is to take it
easy. Buckling on the old harness, and
starting a steady pull of any sort, is hard
business at BEST after a long play spell. We
always sympathized with the man who said
that he never returned to the city, after
even weeks sojourn in the green fields, OF
on the grand old mountains, or by the
breezy ocean, without wanting to throw
stones at the town as soon as he came in
sight of its walls and towers, and thought OF
its sitting air, and the ceaseless beating OF
its villainous noises upon his brain. Yet he
| loved the town when once settled to work
again. 1t was the taking hold that hurt
I Therefore we say, take it easy at the start
Give the store or Office half day to begin
with. Save out an hour or two for riding
or strolling about. Let the house 60 in un
dress uniform for week or two, and set il
to rights gradually. 1t is doubtless a good
deal better in its vacation dust and wrap
pings than what you have been accustomed
to during your absence. Give the children
little lee-way in taking up their school
tasks and circumscribed ways again. A
brimming cup is as full as an overflowine
bucket, and duty is as dull and routine a,
hard to child as they are to you. "Tim'
and against any other two" is as good {
rule of faith and practice for ordinary peo
pie, in the common affairs of life, as it wa
for the great man who applied it to grea
things.-GOiden Rule.