Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-10-14
Visitors and Visiting.

|. Was duety summers day. The
iG. ar blew in pulls Of dust through
:;,e ton Windows that faced tho street,
81; !!cn | was ready to sit down to
Ny Nti;ipg l foupd that my desk, and,
lni.c3, every article in the room so
i, Gently clean, was covered with fine,
s.sy dust. l was not feeling very we'll,
for NY heart was sore and sad, and the
dusty appearance of everything made
me still more gloomy. But rouslng
myself to remedy this evil, 1T least, l
went 10 work, AMI presently the work
of sweeping and busting WINS completed,
and | surveyed my nice, clean room
with The satisfaction experienced 10y
every neat housckecper upon the faith
fu! accomplishment of such o labor.
Every article in the room had been
busted with infinite pains, and the
bright. glossy furniture seemed to
sul,le upon my WORK and give me a
littl, s!eam of cheeIfulness. l seated
myself at Thy desk, feeling Just in the
moo for writing, and glad to think
should have IA few hours of quiet study
and writing in my delightfully."- fresh,
clean room. But jast as l bat, fairly
begun Lay work the d0orbell rang
and | was summoned to the parlOr.
My visitor, who vac from The c1ua
tsy, and covered with dust, readily
accepted my proflered hospitality and
proceeded with me TO the room | bad
Just left, when, before | had time to
emoustrate or even to offer to assist
her, she quickly removed her outside
garments, which were loaded with dust,
AM gave to each quick, smart shake,
thro y ing clouds of dust through the
room. and the rays of sunlight shining
in at an open blind disclosed little par
ticles Of dust flying about the room IL
every direction, and then settling slow
ly down upon every article, great and
small, that had just busted so patiently
aud carefully.
"Oh! thought l, 9" if she had but
let me take the things outside to brush.
or even let me shake them outside
the bathing room window" Alas!
she did not mean to give me trouble.
She did not even stop to see how clean
tho room was when she came. Sbo did
not stop to think how that little act
.uid give me all nv weary work over
again Tomorrow. 1t Was utter thought
lessness, not carelessness on her part.
But the trouble she gave thus on her
entrance was nothing compared to what
she made me next day. The demands
she made upon my lime and strength,
wishing me to show her the wonders of
the city. insisting on walking when we
should have rode. and begging me- to
accompany her TO place after place
without rest, made me ill for some days
after she left. But forbear to go into
particulars lest the lady should by
chance see and recognize her own por-
trait.
Lest my readers think I regard visit
Or5 Ia general Us an annoyance and
trouble, l will speak CT other friends
whose visits are never al interruption
and always a pleasure. because they
never take my time from more impor-
tant duties; never make trouble or
work. and never engross or monopo-
liz5 my attention.
have in mind dear lady friend who
CONES very often but never interrupts
my work or adds to it in any way. The
children run to welcome her Tor they
know very we'll the sympathy and affsc-
ton she has for them. She never
bri, gs anything but sunshine into the
ht It's. She reads aiOud to us while
NJ a.2 sewing, or sews herself while
attend to my work; never puts nything
out Of place or brings speck Of dust
Into the house, but comes in aud goes
on. IA quietly and easily as If she be-
longed TO the family; never in the way !;
neveS taking time or making work, but
ready to adapt herself to circumstances;
and with a delicate cogniz inoe of times,
places and moods; ready to help us
when we are busy, rest US when we are
weary, cheer us when We are sad or
gloomy. Our dear Mabel is always u
welcome guest.
Visits should be real pleasure aud
reireshment of mind and body to our
selves and our friends, and never a
trouble, and in order that they may be
Ii source If profit and pleasure, we
must consi Ter carefully and thought
fully tho comfort aud pleasure of our
friends AMI adapt ourselves to them.
The secret charm of the welcome
visitor is unselhshness; thoughtfulness
for others rather than for self.
Tho vulgar visitor thinks always Of
self first; her own appearance, her own
case and comfort, her dress, her laces,
her jewels. her ser fences. and of what
you will think Of her. The refined
visitor forgets herself aud sympathizes
wholly with you and those around her,
joins In your employmen,s or converse
zion without ih'errupting either, be.
comes AS one of the family.
And now for the benefit Of those
who desire ever to be welcome visitors,
| allow me to make few suggestions:
l. Call. if you can, on the day when
callers are received. 1t is now the CHS
tom 10 have the day or days that you
wiii I've ut homo on Your visiting cards,
=" that your friends may be sure Of
Gnding you. and also that you may not
be interrupted en other days. 1t is q
very sensible fashion.
2 If you come from distance, and
sour clothes are dusty when you reach
he station. before going 60 the house
you Intend to visit Use q pocket clothes
brush
) Do not stay away long enough to
nuke yourself seem Il stranger to your
friends.
4. Adapt Yourself to your surround
inss. A. Ii. H., in Household.