Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-04-06
aMistellanu.
Books as Family InVes iments.

The fact Is, nothing is quite so cheap Ms
a good book. The price of good silk
dress, which at the very outside measure
ment, of time will not serve you for more
Than halt-dozen years, will supply your
children with cycloledia, which will be
simply valuable to them, if they are TO
have an intelligent appreciation of books
nr scholarly familiarity with history,
science and literature. The lite of II great
man like Duff, Bushnell, Macaulay or
Robertson, bought in its unabridged form,
will cost no nuIe than couple OF pairs of
Md gloves OF IL snowy sash for II child
Other comparisons might be easily made
The cost of desserts, pies, bonbons and
useless luxuries in many homes, would be
more than sufficient to give those homes
lIUlarY.
Think for moment of the educating
power of good biography, than which
nothing is more stimulating more helpful,
and more potential as an influence III the
formation of character, and then reflect
how often money, which might be invest
ed in giving the household such charm and
elevation, is friltercd on the transient and
perishabe. Pretty little ornaments of the
hour which add a moments grace To the
parlor bul are soon faded and old-fashon
ed, toys which afford the children much
pleasure only for little while, delicate
ana easily tarnshed trltles tor the neck,
candies periumery, knicknacks of various
sorts, are bought by people of limited
incomes and conscientious economy, while
the same people look wistfully over the
catalogues of the publishers and decide
that they cannot afford to indulge their
taste for literature.
The difference between buying a good
book and buying Il fan, Il vase a chrome
or Il bracket, i, not large, al tir,t, but in the
end the permanence of the book makes it
far oul weigh the other in solid value. A
book becomes friend. Even its familiar
binding after II while greets you on your
return from visit or II journey with Il
smile and a welcome, responsive and in
telligcnt almost as that OF child or II
brother. The breeziness, and heartsome-
ness, the tender mutual comprehension
existing between your book and yourself,
grow more and more real and more and
more prlzed rs time goes on
BOOKS are good family investments for
more reasons than appear on the surface.
Anything which unites a family in "A com.
mon lhleieSI is W De Te8aTueu hS Il Preal
blessing. 1t is too much the tendency of
the day, for home TO be treated as if its
primary object was to furnish IA convenient
lodging and eating house for its members.
Whatever dissipates this mschievous no.
ton and gives young and old something
sprigthy, pleasing and stirring to talk
about. awakening IL sense of family pride
in that which all can share as Il joy and
benefit, is factor in the cause Of good.
Getting and spending We lay waste our
powers, but it is when the getting and
spending are material wholly. Books are
spiritual products, the souls essence rend-
cred tangible and translated by the types.
We cannot accumulate them to our hurt,
if We choose wisely, thoughfully, and
lovingly, AS we bring them home one. by
one.-.RrS, Sa~gSter, IN Christian Weekly.