Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1890-01-13
gaAies' Column.
Home Talk with Mothers.

''When hard problems must be
solved and difficult questions answer
ed. the habit of reflection and quick
decision will be found simply invalu-
able. In short an active mind is as
necessary an equipment for every
dav life as strong body"
We Americans are so practical that
unless we can see the absolute utility
of thing. we are very apt to con-
denim it as utterly useless or pro-
nounce it at best a pleasant luxury,
only to be INDUCED by those who
have abundant means and time at
their command.
ooh, | have no time to read y says
many busy mother; yet l have no.
ticed that these same busy mothers
find time to crochet yards and yards
of edging, and they seem to consider
themselves models of industry and
economy because they have made all
the trimmings for the family's ward
rode instead of buying it.
OF course the little garments look
prettier and more dainty with the
trimming than without it, but it seems
to me that if l had to choose between
trimming my daughters petticOats
and holding her respect and intellect
ual companionship when she grew
into womanhood, | should let
the maidenly undergarments worry
through their natural existence minus
the trimmings, and betake myself to
my books.
There is kind of busy idleness so
common among women that we for
get to notice it, and if we see a wo-
man whose hands are constantly en-
ployed, no matter what useless trifle
she produces, we hastily conclude
that she is a busy woman and praise
her accordingly, But the work in
| anu Oh 1USclI 10 uOU uoCLui hOl tttiAih
able; it is the kind of work we do
which fixes our place in the scale ;
the more complete our mental equip
ment, and the finer our discipline,
the larger and wider will our infu-
ence become, the better the quality
of our work and the greater its value
to the world at large, or the smaller
world enclosed by the four walls of
home. But there are other ways IN
which mothers miss much of what
should be theirs, besides the loss of
personal value which comes about
through a neglect of books and study
Mothers have a right, | think, If
they can possibly command it, to an
occasional vacation. Many woman
wears herself out in constant unwea'
rying devotion to her family, who
would not only live longer, if she
would take regular and stated time;
of rest, but who would be able to bt
of even more service to them thar
she can ever hope to be when there
is no stopping place, no relaxation
from morning till night, from year!
end to end.
If the one object of woman's lift
Is to get just as much out of hersel
as she possibly can, the best way t.
do it is to husband her forces, and t.
reserve at least some small portion
of her strength which are sure t.
come sooner or later to all of us.
f And if a woman wishes to be ami
able and companionable as well a
useful, what more helpful tonic t
tried nerves that jar and fret, tina
the daily nap, the yearly vacation?
80 bed, bed, delicious bed
Thou heaven on earth to the weary head
4 wrote Hood,-and it is a heaven
IL which many weary woman woul
be the better for repairing much MOI
; frequently.
g A half hours nap after dinner ma
IL make all the difference between
II shrew and an angel, for the wome
II who scold are oftentimes simply tire
IL women who would be as gentle
cooling doves if their overtaXed nerv
ie could have the rest and refreshme
which they need.
i If at first thought it seems impo
sible to command the leisure niece
Us sarv for rest and study, let us on
IL realize the economy, the necessl
for it, and then we shall make co
Il slant effort to obtain a right viii
Us instead of being a selfish indulgenC
& is simply part of that wise self-C
4 votion which makes every true WON
GU long to make her life not only use
II and helpful, but constant lnspl
t" ton to those about her.
gh
w. CARAMEL CAKE.-TwO egi