The Monticellonian., 1903-01-01
NEW YEAR IN THE HOME.
True-Hearted Meet the New Year with Hope for Bet terment.


 the life, work and pleasure, have been during the past, the coming year shall witness improvement in their quality. Those who feel that the record of the previous year has been, in the main, good, are stimu- lated to further efforts; those whose hearts are sore because of what lies before them long earnestly for an improved condition of affairs during the days to come. So, whatever the life has been, however the work has fared, the true-hearted everywhere meet the new year with hope and a prayer that in its monyhs they may Rise on stepping stones of their dead selves to higher things"
 It IS not to be expected, writes Elizabeth Lord Condit, in Minneapolis Housekeeper, that the homekeeper or the housewife shall be exempt from the number of those who desire to reach greater excellence. With her it may not mean more of individ ual work, but it may mean more of giving the mind to work that is un- pleasant or disliked It may mean stronger effort to systematic work, or to perform it in orderly fashion cn the part of those who have little method in work, or who do things in desultory, haphazard way.
 It may mean for some the putting of conscience into the work; for others the gradual apprehension of the uplifting truth that only in the discharge of duty-whether it be the performance of homely household tasks that often seem to exhaust body and mind or in more congenial cmployment-they advance toward the realization of the highest ideals; and, if the spirit has serene control, this is accomplished 9th the least friction possible, the least waste of physical and mental strength.
 When woman comes to recognize her personal responsibility in the faithful, cheerful doing of her work as essential to the fulfllment of the Divine plan-not simply for herself, but for the betterment of the world she becomes conscious worker with God, and desire for self-adYance- ment gradually reeedes into the background. She does not efface herself, she respects herself, and thus ommands-whateyer her work the respect of every right-minded person, and grows into a broader, stronger, sweeter, nobler soul day by day. Her outlook embraces both horizons-thee earthly and the heavenly.
 This much of comfort every ear nest and tired worker should take for her refreshment at the beginning of the year. When eyes ache because of close scrutiny, nothing rests the strained or weary nerve like the far off gaze. The broader field of vision calls into play fresh set of muscles, the tension is relaxed, and, after q little, the eye can return to the nar- rowest limits with renewed vigor and brightness.
 So it is with the wearied home keeper There is such sameness in the necessary round of homework; such q daily repetition of toil; three meals Il day to be prepared by ones own hands or planned for another to provides; the family fig leaves" to be made ready and looked after for daily or special use; the house to be kept fresh, i'll order, and ready for family occupation or friendly visit; and the general oversight of the home with all that implies of fore thought which may include range of months. If, to all this, is added the care and training of d growing family, and also a very limited finan- cial ability, the strain on a strong woman's strength is tremendous; on n weaker woman is often more than she can bear.
 See, then, the need of deliberately changing the range of vision at least once a year. Perhaps the relief ob- tained then will convince of the wis dom of more frequent looking off be- yond the narrower horizon of home cares. duties and pleasures, into the broader one of Gods great world, and the still broader one where mind and spirit learn to interpret the great truths of life and love to the material comprehension and redemp- tion May the New Year bring this joy and refreshment to all