Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1900-11-21
Dear Friends:

Dear Friends:
think we will have a there and there
column this week, SO many things suggest
themselves to me that would possibly be
helpful to US either in one way or another.
Did you ever think how various are the
helps different persons need? If you have
considered that point, you understand
how much tact is required to give help
Just how. when and where it is most
needed. Even keeping silence is some
times the best help we can give a person.
ohicions help is annoying. Outlines the
simple but sincere offer to a neighbor who
has sickness or extra care in the family:
III l can be of any help, call on me any
time, is in itself help. 1t brings relief
to overtaxed workers and watchers by the
thought that If their strength fails, some
one is ready to aid them and give them an
opportunity to rest.
One can scarcely be neighborly and not
be helpful, and neighbors should be will
ing to be helpful, not knowing how soon
they may need help themselves. A man
had the misfortune to break his leg. His
neighbors were very kind to him in various
ways, in going in often and taking in eat
ables they thought be might like. He had
not been an unkind man nor a particu-
larly selfish one, bat he had always been
well and busy, and had not realized what
it was to receive or give these little atten-
tions. He learned lesson in those weeks
when he was laid aside from active labor.
He said: II shall be better neigh Dor than
| ever was before, for l have learned to
appreciate my neig bors."
Some OF you will think ought not to
mention Christmas until the last remnants
OF Thanksgiving are thing OF the past,
but you see had sort of theory last year,
that as did not get time to complete as
many Christmas presents as had friends
whom wished to remember with a gift,
/ would make christmas presents.
(This last is not an original idea with me.
Only parody" ON the un-birthday
presents referred to in "Alice in Wonder
landry
My theory was that / would continue
making those Christmas presents through
the year, and as soon as one was finished
and bestowed on friend, l would begin
another. But like many another theory,
mine was failure, and SO l will just re-
mind you that christmas is cominpn.
and an hour or two each of these long
evenings, spent in preparations for Christ
mas will perhaps save you much hurry
somewhere about the oath of Decem Der.
Girls like to make something in needle
work, especially. those who have only been
sewing few years. Mothers, encourage
them in it. Let them make holders and
cushions and needle books. This
week wanted new ironing holder and /
went to particular drawer in the pantry
and there found the holder wanted and
l said: Here is just what want, il is a
holder K. made me last Christmas - r. is
a school girl who always remembers us
housekeepers with useful gifts. You see
she Is one OF the helpful kind of neigh ors.
want to suggest to the girls that round
holders are very convenient for handling
f1atirons. Make them about six inches In
diameter. Put six or eight thicknesses OF
old calico inside and let the outside be
wool goods; bind around with braid.
l had a set of pretty white table mats
given me some years ago that have been
very serviceable. They were knit OF cotton
yarn. In looking over some old papers
came upon page headed s'The Christmas