Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-02-16
The Mid.Winter Evenings.


rarely occur to us.
Suppose our life were one long sum-
mer with its listless, enervating days,
and its weary, restless nights! Would
there not be loss in our lives? Would
we not miss the tonic of the CHEEKY win
ter evenings? Surely they are most
precious part of our existence and can
be made rich with profit and pleasure.
To ensure this, loving preparation is
necessary. While we are whirling about
with our daytime work and worries, let
the thought of the coming evening cheer
us on and let US plan wisely for it.
Happy the family that can gather around
the hearthstone an unbroken circle when
the evening lamp is lighted. While this
is permitted, let not personal plans OF
enjoyment or even improvement inter
fere. Unselfishness will here find field
for its rare powers. That fascinating
book or that intricate piece of fancy work,
even that absorbing letter to your dear
est friend, had better wait until the rest
are of to concert or lecture, or until,
for some other good reason, the family
scatters and leaves you alone.
Winter evenings are emphatically ''ths
parents hour" to influence and attract
the children. Let US plan to make them
so pleasant that they will deem it treat,
not trial, to stay at home. We know there
are many forces combired against this.
So many inducements to 60 out. Then
''the hole in the floor" in each room is
less of a cementing tie than the blazing
old fireplace of the one family room.
There is poetry, it may be, in staring out
our eyes. toasting our cheeks and freez-
ing our backs by the lichen-covered log
at ten dollars cord; but there is greater
profit, we ween, in the well warmed and
well lighted sitting-room with its music,
books and papers. Let mamma bring
her little basket with some soft, white
sewing or some bright, plain, easy knit
ting, that she may really have heart
and hand, Eat leisure from itself to
soothe and sympathize," or the rather
to entertain, and lubricate the machinery
if need be. with the oil of gentle regula-
ton. To this end it is very desirable
that mamma should not get too tired
during the day. If she is ''all used up"
with sewing or fancy cooking, this pet
plan will fail. We know the demands
of her time and strength are legion, and
that each days campaign is a sort OF
series of miracles on her part. But she
will soon yield the less to the greater
good, dispensing with the extra trim
mings that tire her so, and emitting the
rich pie or pudding, which would hinder
rather than help the happiness
of the evening. Now the days
work done, after the early, frugal
supper, and the brief, simple prayer
preceded by sacred song, let us so mag
netize our center of attraction that its
power will be irresistible, and nobody
will wish to run off to his room. THE
babyr Yes, the baby know clamors
for attention, and so does the little
three-year-old. Let them have it. Take
the wee ones first in order, as they are
first in love and care. But you say,
There is no such thing as reading, or
doing anything else" Well don't try
to just now. The evenings are long,
remember, and the little ones will soon
tire. Time enough. Look on or join in.
What if they are q little boisterous?
Let them have romp! Soon they will
be ready for their 'now lay me-" and
60 to sleep happy. Papa, of course, is
| in his easy chair, where the children
clamor over him. We hope he won't
try to read his paper yet, for fear he will
| growl out, ''Be stillr' And if mamma
has stitched till her head aches, she IL
say: 80, dear, such a noisem We hope
the other children will not lose patience
either. Good nature must be the presid-
ING genius in this enchanted land.
! That good nature which comes from
grace. ."In honor preferring one an
another"
But some reader declares, "How Wis
ionary! full surrender of rights and du-
ties" " And the largest children have
not yet appeared with their lessons.
their last new song, their games and
their tales of the days doingsr' True.
But now is their time, give them place.
You will not repent it by and by, though
your cherished plans are set aside. Prove
the beautiful paradox, "he that loseth
his life shall find it,
In summer the body has its full share.
With our labor and our recreation the
soul is nearly crowded out. Put your
strength into the winter evenings; they
will soon be gone. OF course give on g
or more every week to the prayer-meet-
ing; another to good concert or lecture,
if possible. And your home programme
will necessarily vary. You will some.
times read aloud. You will accept invi-
tations out, or friend will step in. Make
your children feel that it is sometimes a
privilege to be storm-bound at home.
Coziness tends to concentration Of
thought and affection, while too much
going leads to dissipation and demon
allies. We pity the restless person who
can never content himself at home,
With all your planning these preciou:
evenings will be few enough. Mex
winter your noisy, big boy may be off tt
school. The gentle daughter that nov
graces your circle may have planted {
home of her own. Some of the little
ones may have been "beckoned away
by the invisible hand that leads US on
Or, instead of the aged one serenely
seated in the quiet corner, you may have
then, only the benediction of gent,
memories. Will you then regret YOU
self-denial? You two who have bull
your home together, will have tim,
enough, perhaps, to read to each other a
in the early days, by and by when yo,
are again alone.
Winter evenings are seasons of gran(
opportunity not only to families but in
dividuals, and we may so use and i'm
; prove them that, let our evening of lif,
be long or short, sunny or desolate, We
, shall have in reserve rich storage. of in
tellectual and spiritual resources will
which to beguile the lingering hours
: Christian at Work
, Showing in Frisco.
J The old timers were nonplussed AM