The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-08-23
Home Pleasures,

vast Republic few families, composed
of numerous sons and daughters.
And wherever such exists, there is an
imperative demand for amusement OF
employment for every leisure moment
the family are at home, or this dearest
place on earth soon becomes to the
lively boys and girls there, the stupid
est place they find. And when home
ceases to be perfect in their estimation,
then temptations from without gain
force, until like a whirlwind or q fierce
gale they sweep every moral principle
before them, and the youth remains
wreck.
The subject, then, of home amuse-
ments becomes one of grave impor-
lance, and is worthy of our best thought
and effort. Andff is to the girls in the
home, whom we have often feared
failed to give their due in this column,
that we now appeal to make home
happy.
Mother can keep the domestic ma
chinery running smoothly, by which all
jar and friction is avoided, but by the
time she has done all that is necessary
to accomplish this, she has but little
time left for other things, and if amuse-
ments are to be provided for the even
ings at home, brains must plan them
and less busy hands execute. And
who so well adapted by nature
and education for this task as the
daughters of the family? If any
one of them has craved mission which
circumstances have seemed to deny
her, she may find right here at her
hand field of wondrous usefulness,
that may develop into the greater work
she has craved. But should it even
end here, remember it is no light honor
for any woman to become the center of
brightness and beauty in the home cir
Gle, drawing all loving hearts to her
self, and thus together in domestic love.
1t is gift which many a sovereign
would gladly have laid down her crown
to possess. But riches cannot buy it,
it is the result of heart development,
that only years of loving thoughtful
ness can accomplish. As to specifying
Just how the charms of home may be
enhanced, we might as well prescribe
the same bill of fare for every family;
| for mutual capacities and tastes differ
as widely as do those of the palate.
! Again our amusemeuts like all our 9th
| er passions or joys must depend on our
circumstances, but entered into with
zest. the simplest amusement in low
ing home may prove delightful.
By assigning this duty of making
| home attractive to the little girls
in the home, we would not be UNI
| derstood to excuse the boys from their
| share Of responsibility. Too many of
| them are brought up with the idea that
their part in the home economy is to be
amused, and it is the sisters place to
do this at any sacrifice. In such cases
! the behavior of the boys is very much
! like the boy depicted in a certain book
of nursery stories. A little girl is left
at home to amuse her younger brother
! during the mothers absence, and the
blocks and books and toys that litter
| the floor give evidence of the honest
effort expended on the boy, who seems
q hard subject to amuse. At length
when all else fails, the little sister tries
! the simple airs she has learned on the
piano; and now the boy stuffs his fingers
in his ears and sprawling on the floor
| pounds with his heels as hard as he can
bang, while the long suffering sister
goes through with her programme. And
thus it is with these older boys who
claim it privilege to be amused; nine
times out of ten they will beat the
devils tattoo on the table and look
bored, while the sister wastes her sweet
ness on them.
Such brothers need liberal dose of
snubbing to set them right, before any
thing else can be done with them. But
pleasanter and surer way would be
to teach them, while growing up, to
look out for some one else's happiness
"a younger brother or sister, or papa )
and mammals pleasure shouldbe made
his care. And taken thus while young,
he will acquire the thoughtfulness for
others that all admire, quite as readily
as will his sister. And grown older,
his participation in the home amuse-
ments will add an element entirely
different from that which his sister con
tributes. and one that will make her
duty a pleasure, while it gives him an
interest in home that nothing else can.
Harrington HaWkeye.