The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1902-08-12
prAUr1rY1He QUIZ HOME LIFE.

Chat SO often absent from the space
= should occupy in our good paper, I
feel encouraged to send in my mite,
feeling that at this time it may not
crowd out some more entertaining
contributor. Your letter in one of the
late issues on the privacy of the home
ras so exactly what I feel that I wish
10 tell you how true is your picture
If what some persons will do to find
ont others surroundings.
The very thought of a mother ex-
nosing her child to unknown COM
p~anionship and sending it where she
besitates to go herself is to the we'll
balanced mind culpable in the ex-
IRENE. Our children's souls, minds,
and bodies should be guarded care
fully, so carefully that we may be sure
the seeds sown are good seed that will
bear good fruit to a bountiful harvest
for the Master. And how can we
know this if we send them where we
ourselves fear to enter2 No, rather if
there is a home near us of whose in
mates we feel the least doubt, as to
principle or manners, let US visit that
home, leaving our little ones in care
full hands and study those people be-
fore we even take them with us in
their company, for young minds are
very receptive and remember much
that we little think they notice.
In visiting the sick of this neigh
borhood, I ran across a very funny
occurrence, and on returning home,
without thinking of my little fve-year-
old boy, related the incident to his
father. The little fellow made no
comment on it, but the next day visit
ed his aunt who lives a short distance
away, and told the whole conversa-
ton in detail. 1t was a lesson to me
to be more careful in future.
And now a word or two about what
I think our home should be, so that
should spies be sent or come, they will
find nothing but good to report.
Home, heaven of rest" 1t should
have its full meaning lived each day.
Each inmate should feel that it is the
one place where there is rest and re-
taxation from all form and ceremony
except, of course, true p~oliteness
which the law of love should keep al
ways before US. The home should be
ruled by love. Firmness, of course, Is
necessary with a growing family and
always with servants, but never should
it be allowed to develop into harsh
ness. If father and mother love each
other and are thoughtful of the little
courtesies that make up so much of
life, the children surely will immitate
them.
Some people have an idea that a
home must be always in beautiful or
der-the house, I mean-and every
thing done methodically on certain
days, meals at certain hours. Then if
anything happens to interfere, every
thing is out of gear: mother irritable,
father cross and sometimes even an
CRY, children feeling i'll at ease and
miserable-and all for absolutely
nothing. I believe in a home where
the wheels of all the machinery are
so well oiled by love and ~gentleness
H. -o+4o- ;f -o,,o+bSn- Iooz hon
pen to break into the usual routine
every day in the week, and even if
some long cherished plan is frustrat-
ed, if we have to bear bitter disap-
pointment, we can do so without a
frown, without a bitter word or a
single wheel stopped On account of
anger or impotence.
If I could live up to my ideal my
home would be one that could bear the
Investigation of old and young and
they would say, "There is a home akin
10 what heaven should be-" We should
rule our children wisely and with
frmness, but never through fear. /
remember a home l visited often in
my childhood that seemed to be a
beautiful, delightful place; but there
was always a cloud over it. 1 know
I used to draw a long breath of glad
ness when I left; and yet I would go
again and again. The family we're all
so kind to visitors, made you so vel
come, and the home was so beautiful
inside and out, and so comfortable,
iIled with books, pictures and music.
Il was nice for the girls and boys who