Los Angeles herald., 1892-06-06

the visit was then recalled, that of the
children's hour, which Longfellow has
iinmortalized in that sweet poem, be-
ginning:
Between the dark and the daylight,
When the night is beginning to lower,
Comes pause In the days occupation
Which is known as the children's hour.
How beautiful it was to see that
mother gather her little flock about her
and tell them a good story, or read to
them, or recite some pretty poems, and
talk with them about their lessons, and
after dinner play few merry games
with them. Then when bedtime came
she excused herself for half an hour and
staid with her children as they pre-
pared for bed, singing sweet little hymns
to them, and with unstudied effort guild
ing their thoughts Alright and bidding
them happy good nights That, she said,
was one Of her precious half hours which
was seldom interfered with.
could not but contrast with all these
sweet memories my visit at Mrs. Bar
slows. While she was as attractive and
intelligent and more witty than Mrs.
Van Dyke, she had no repose of manner,
no faculty in keeping things in order,
no quiet control over her children and
much less enjoyment with them. There
was continual friction in her household,
and while there was no lack of love and
confidence there was lack of unity,
and consequently continual conflict.
Two or three children were frequent
ly late to breakfast, morning prayers
were often omitted because all the
family were late, at school time books
could not be found, and shoe buttons
and mittens were missing, and there
was general scurry and commction
until the children, with hurried and
often reproving words, were started for
school, Then Mrs. Barstow had many
little things to do which the children
should have done, for the entire house
was in confusion This hindered the
mother from attending to her own
duties at the proper time, and through
out the household this lack of prompt
ness and order was felt, and much which
otherwise would have been easy to ac-
complish was made difficult.
To Mrs. Barstow, therefore, it seemed
a great undertaking to give dinner
party. Then, too, she attempted an
elaborate affair with seven or eight
courses, with decorated menus and
much expense, dinner that required
most Of her time and thought for sew
eral days, and the time.of her servants,
as well as the expense of hiring extra
help. All these preparations so ex-
hausted the hostess that she could not
enjoy her guests with the zest she might
otherwise have had, and the effort made
was unconsciously felt by the guests,
and it hindered perfect ease and un-
affected pleasure.
meditated, too, on the constant
friction which eugendered discussions,
harsh criticisms, hasty words and fret
ted spirits. All this led the children,
interesting as they were, to grow dis
respectful toward their parents, which
did not tend to increase the love and
interest of friends.
It was seldom that the evening hour
was happy or restful one, for the moth
er, worn and weary with the many per-
plexities and cares of the day, was too
often unable to be merry with or atten-
tive to her children Their voices and
their noise disturbed her and the moth
er's fretted spirit was contagious. The
little oneswere hurried off to bed with m
uninterested nurse, and Mrs. Barstow's
| sigh of relief was significant. When
| left one home with reluctance, where
the order, the repose, the easy hospitali-
| ty had cheered and delighted me, was
Ao %1~o
| my own spirit became fretted before the
day set for my departure.
In the quiet Of my own home, and by
that CHEEKY blaze in the twilight hour,
said aloud: '.And all this difference
which made one home so delightful to
visit and the other so much less agree
able, can be accounted for by the order
and promptness and harmony in the one,
and the disorder and dilatoriness and
friction in the other. The good cheer
and respect shown to parents in the one
and the lack, of it in the other: the ease
of entertaining in the one, the burden
| of it in the other; the time which the
parents devoted to their children in the
one home, the absence Of such devotion
in the other; the happy, peaceful spirits
in the one, the fretted spirits in the
other; the close fellowship between par
ents and children in the one and lack
of such sympathy in the other; all this"
l said, lis the,result of good early train
| ing. or lack of it, in such habits as
must have powerful influence in every
home, which will be felt through life."
Fair faces beaming round the household
hearth,
Young joyous tones in melody of mirth,
The sire douby living in his boy,
And she the crown of all that wealth or Joy;
These make the home like some sweet Tyre
given
To sound on earth the harmonies of heaven.
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