River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-11-06
| Speak to You, Fathers.

pleasant" to them, and you feel
that means luxuries beyond your
means. Very likely you do not
realize that there are certain things
which cost hardly anything, some
OF them nothing, which are most
powerful of all in making home an
attractive place to stay in.
The first is good natured treat
ment. In this the father is espec-
tally potent. You are worn out
when you get home at night. And
the dinner hour is not much better,
nor the hurried early morning. Now,
are you good natured to your fami-
ly or are you not? You live for your
children, perhaps are shortening
your life by hard work for their ben
eft; and you think that they ought
to at least appreciate that and ap-
preciate you, SO as TO overlook what
you call "a little crossness."
But they do not even know it.
How should they? You are too
proud and loving to tell them, and
other people do not think much
about it. What your children ought
TO feel is your manner to them.
What makes evenings at home most
unattractive tc them is fear of gruff
or angry treatment. With them, as
with wives, as with all human be-
ings, kindness is the most drawing
power in the world.
Next to crossness the thing which
chiefly drives boy out in the even
ing is what l may describe as the
lack of a welcome at home. This
idea surprises you; but has it not
actually crept into the family atti-
tude? You are very tired; your wife
is very tired; and it is the only
chance you have to rest during the
twenty-four hours. Your one heat
ed and lighted room is, small and
there may be several children and a
baby. Who can blame you that you
feel more comfortable when the big
ger ones go out? You are really
more comfortable; there is no doubt
of it. And the next night if they
stay in longer, you are inwardly
wishing they would go and leave
you at peace. All too probably you
show some of this outwardly, and
the boys find themselves feeling
more at home on the street corner.
Along with your habit of enjoying
their room better than their compa-
ny, grows up the habit of monopo-
lizing whatever accommodations
your living room has. They know
that if they come into it they will
find the space around the lamp pre-
empted and also the space around
the fire, and the lounge, and the
better chairs, possibly all the chairs.
No doubt if they are good, they may
think this right and natural, being
used to it; but for all that, there is
really no place for them; uninten-
tionally they are crowded out.
1t is not luxuries they are suffer
ing for, but necessities, seat, a
light, and a tolerab1y undisturbed
spot to sit in to read or work out
some boyish scheme. Most of you
are not so poor that these things
are impossible to secure for your
sons; it is largely thoughtlessness.
You do not notice that the room is
occupied TO their exclusion. You
could make a visiting friend well
come, and we'll accommodate him.
If you are too poor to prevent the
overcrowding, the relief lies in the
kind behavior which have touched
upon. If your ladies feel that you
want them and gather them in warm
heartedly to such comfort as there
is in a helpful mutual partnership
in this as in the rest of life, they
can enjoy themselv IS. 1t was not
a well-to-do little BOY who replied
to some question: "Why, father
did it for me. Oh, we have beau
tiful father!"
1t is not always expensive things
that are delicious 1uxuries. A moth
er of four sons gave great deal of
money to making their home de-
lightfu1. But of all her arrange
ments the one which filled me with
admiration for her skill was four
lounges in their sitting room! This
exact thing you may by no means
be able to copy; but you see the
principle. The lounges were not
necessarily fine, but all could lie
down at once if they choose; and
that unconsciously counted for more
even to those strong, hearty young
men, than all the handsome uphol-
stery and bric-a-bac that she could
buy Her principle can be carried out
by even the poorest, the effort to
give boys common comfort so far as
is within the parents ability to give.