The National tribune., 1883-03-01
W0MANS WORK.
Aunt Helen'S Home Talks---COlOr in
Dress---0m Letter Box, &c.

At the next meeting of the Atherton family
| Aunt Helen continued her " Talks to Young
| People at Home"
"As our last talk" resumed Aunt Helen,
when the family was once more gathered
around her, "was exclusively to boys our
present one must in courtesy, be exclusively
to girls and naturally, it will begin with those
wee ladies whose presence in the home is
usually Il sef-demonstrated fact. We have
! known many of these little ladies, and we have
often found them to be the strangest mixtures
of sweetness and willtulncsS which the imagin-
alton can picture We have heard the good
genius of the household read to little girl
some such lesson rs this: When the mamma has
guests, never loll around the door of the room
III which she is entertaining them, as if beg
! ging for admission. You may be assured that
| If your presence is desired, you will be called.
When this occurs, and you enter the room,
hold up your head, go to the guest and ex-
! change greetings with her, but do not linger
! about her, and be ready, at the least word from
mamma, to leave the ROOM 1t is often en-
| barrasSmcnt to older people to talk in the pres
encc of very little people, who are not old
enough to share in the conversation nor to
understand all that is said When the mamma
! goes out with friends, be content to remain at
| home if this seems best. At table, at all times,
| think that YOU are a lady, and must do what
| lady would do That is to say, never make a
noise with your mouth while eating; never
rattle your knife aud fork never let the coffee
run down the sides of the cup from which you
! drink into the saucer; never talk much at
| table; it is best to be silent unless you are
| spoken 30 or encouraged to take part in the
! conversations; never take advantage of the
! presence of guests to call often for the cake,
! ,jellies, or other dishes which the mamma would
! wisely withhold from you; be careful not to
soil the table-lineu; use your napkin; eat
| with your fork and when you have finished
! eating, place your knife and fork side by side
! on your plate. When you send your plate to
be retillcd SHOULD this Occur) retain the knife
and fork III your right hand, unless small rests
| should have been placed at your plate; do not
| cut your bread, but break it into long and mar
row pieces; it is usual to hold such q piece in
the left hand to assist in placing the food upon
the fork, which is, Of course, held in the right
hand When with your elders, never try to
hear what they are talking about never con-
! tradict people; do not try to put your hands
on everything that you see; beautiful books
pictures and ornaments should be touched only
by careful fingers; do not try to see that which
Is not meant Tor your eyes. If you have been
Taught any little accomplishment, of which the
mamma is somewhat proud, use it before her
guests when asked to do so; do not wait to be
urged, and then come forward as if half
! ashamed, but come gladly with that sweet
spirit which we all should have when there is
before US the prospect of giving pleasure to
others. This lesson has often been carefully
| lnstilled into the mind of some little pupil in
home etiquette and then with the first appear
ance OF company the good genius has had the
modification to see all her rules forgotten and
her precepts torsakcn for careless manners and
selfish actions. Such experiences as this are
often known in homes, and for this reason we
urge upon our little friends GlUdyS to be ladies
We like better that word Of the oldcn time
geadteW0mGa. Be, then, little friends gentlewo-
men, not only on company occasions, but every
/ hour, every minute, and think always that YOU
can owe no higher duty to any company tuan
YOU owe to the daily guests in your home
your father, mother, brothers, and sisters. Good
manners, through their constant observance,
will become second nature to you. We know
two brothers who always get toward their Sis
ter with That delicate courtesy which gentle
men Of the old school were accustomed to ex-
tend 10 women. If one OF these brothers meet
this SISTER on the Street 10 lady acquaintance
could receive more courteous bow than that
which they give 90 her; if she enter a room in
which all are seated, il is the brother who in
stantiy rises procufvs a scat for her. AID linn
sell remains standing until she IS seated. They
bring To her fuit5. flowers books, music. and
the same Kind Of pleasant conversation which
they would take 20 the GrdWiHg-TJJm OF tAcir
most honored friend. The lessons wilicA we
are now trying 10 teach were taught to these
three in Their childhood, and II little girls /
would have their brothers show them only ora /
cious and gentle acts they themselves must be I
taught 70 make of themselves only such beings /
aS WIii compel such acts. One of The earliest /
lessons for little girls is that charge given so
long ago: 'L0se try ,eeiGh50r G3 h4scif. 1t is /
mot possible really to i0rc all people. but we can
le,i Kindly toward every one, and We believe /.
TINS charge to mean SOmethiug like this: DO /
not be selfish; do nothing purp0scy to Wouud .
the feelings OF others; do not he cross and i'll .
amy deio1hity, or because they a:e oddly .
dressed; DO not say sarcastic Things; 90 not .
taIh about people; do not repeat what others .
say; have your eyes always wide open 10 see
what Kind and graceful aci You can perform for .
others; save SOME oi y0ar pennies that you may
sometimes bug a delicgcy for so,nchOdy that
you know 10 be sick aud too poor 10 bay dam
tie5; never lool, codly al The ragged little chill
dren as they pass You on the rrct-a kiud
word to these Ii;;Ic creatures might bc the
means ol starting Il new current in their uni0r-
inhate lives; never believe that it is a.0acg
Whlch makcs lhe difference between g3.'t father
ahd ni3thvr, and the father and mother who
ilye IA the PLAIN little house on the next square.
We once knew little girl, whose checks and
CNc' S!"Wcd and spark led with the Joy OF per-
lee. h@lith, her laugh was 8s clear as thc ring
ol a silver "yi and Eer y"ice was sweet and solt
is IA" iaic9J njlalc. While a.c vas yvr q H.tiC
IlaphG enid her mother l3liTTt her ncr first
prayer After the I.itl, one had ,5lgd the ;io.d
Father to Bless Papa aui NaaHn,L her mother
told hcr 10 add: ana. dear lord. bless eg5.u-
6o'@, ana make ne love cycryhpdv' Every
HI@h' Tor years this was aid "5 the mothers or
mus knee. This ftttc girl has become Il
%""uG lady, and is the central figure III hgr
brtu'L!Ui hono but She has never lost he spirit
GI tttt childish prayer and the world Is better
Tor h,f being IA it. Perhaps most !ttc Girls
nave some !ccIIn" of sorrow after they have
d"h" wrong. Tins feeling is one Of their best
friends "Ad ought moi to be crushed down an
III IL some day taxes leave, never 10 come
back. Away over the waters, iii beautiful ,
sunny r&Hcy, We htye& little nicud. q French
cm'd, with waving hryyu hair and piercing
black eyes This little eiri .,HUW5 hou tu b,
very I''@h!@, but ah. ais, i,uo", how tn be very
naughty one day ~h" sc: met TO have np love
Tor anything THAT was -uoi; finally her mamma
was compelled 10 PUNISH her, aad ao she told
htI /" =" INTO the &djJiuu- roou-tuo little
sIr play-ro"iu and remain thero until She y
calico hri Nanrtte ltu!5 was tie little Girls
hhngI went t" the door, bat paused on the f
threshold ana stood there with GoWurIst eyes.
Nh% don y"u DO as tell Yea, Naurttrg' ,
n"'b lto mother i can't go in, uuuuha;.'
replied the little girl, and 20 every command
Di h'T mother She had but this one reply. At y
last II occurred to her mother 10 ask Way she I
."Hid not 20 lnt An nay dolls are making Il
1rrdi eyes at mc. because I've been So uaushtvr
ana Nauclte broke INFO tears and ~obs. The n
lDil5 We're al iTrlyrG in ~ittdiUu ,,.r.. trl