The Press., 1892-04-21

or four persons, and was propelled by 8 spring worked with the feet. It was a glorious place to cool of, or to spend an afternoon in reading. There was always plenty of good, interesting reading matter at our house, and no closed parlor. These last two items are part of the great se- cret of making happy home.
 When was twelve l was sent to the nearest town to boarding school, going in Monday morning and returning Friday evening, and be 1t said in favor of the country school, was one year in advance of all the town girls of my age, which po- sition held for six years till my gradua- tion, though in the mean time was out of school one year with a dreadful typhoid fever. Tspent the next six years teach ing, pat of the time at my alsaG naGter, always spending my vacations at my dear ly beloved country home. Then l mar- ried the partner of one of my brothers and went far away from the old farm to live. I was very happy, but many time longed to be back in the garden picking dish of berries, and then slipping around to the spring house to steal the thickest, sweetest cream to put over them, when like as not my favorite youngest brother would spy me and sing out, "Oh, see you; I'know what you are up to now" On Sundays, when have walked home from church on the hot, dusty, city side walks, would think of the long, prosy sermons by the dear old minister whom we all loved, and who had tended his flock for over thirty years, till he was 'called home;" of the ride home afterward in the old family carriage behind fast horses, and the cook would have the table so beautifully set and special Sunday din- ner, and she would say, "Dinner Is most ready; you will have to hurry up," and we would rush off to our rooms to get into cool wrappers, and sit down to such @ dinner as have already described, fol- lowed by ice-cold custards or buildings made the day before and set on the ice in the ice-house.
 Never since those days have been so care free and happy. Death has visited us more than once, all of us are married and scattered, and the old farm with its big house and barn has passed into other hands. We would not care to go back again to live there, for it could never again be the same, but Oh, those days were so happy! We did not realize how happy we were, as youth never does, but can look back now and analyze the situ- ation then, and know with all the hard work of farm life (and there is plenty of 1t for both sexes), yet it has not the care and fret, the worry and strain that attend city life. >...
 My brothers worked hard and played hard. In busy seasons they would work from before dawn until after dark doing the last chores, but they were never nag ged. Whenever possible father con- mended them, and would tell mother how well they had worked and accomplished as much as so many men. They made fun as they worked, and enjoyed them selves while they cut down trees into fire- wood or plowed corn. Each had his own horse to ride, and afternoons off to go hunting or fishing. They had big swim ming pond made by dam across the creek, where all the neighbor boys met. They had 8 watermelon patch---none were sold. but plenty given away. We had a
 big orchard and plenty of delicious cider.
 They expected to work, but they managed to have an innocent, good time, and..now the dream of all is to once more own a nice country home.
 Country friends, you are happier than you know. Be satisfied, be content. Pa- rents, see to. 1t that your children have all the advantages and pleasures possi- ble. "All work and no play" always did and always will tmake Jack Q dull boy" Their minds and bodies require relaxa- ton, change and pleasure. Kittens and colts play, and children are only higher animals. Make their lives so happy that they will have no desire to wander from the sheltering home nest, at least before they have reached years of discretion and
 judgment. Raise them so that they will
 look back upon their childhood and youth as the happiest time of their lives, and
 not mere tread-mill and monotonous season. Then they will not be so apt to
 long for city life, of which they know nothing. They imagine there is no tread
 mill there, but variety and something
 new all the while and rapid strides to be
 made in both the social and financial
 world. They do not know or think of
 the many pitfalls and temptations, dis
 couragements and failures. Some suc- ceed, but many fall by the way.