The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1905-09-22

Wn1cn eltner may be Interested. 10
tell timid girl that her hair is ar
ranged in, a most becoming manner
that she has a very pretty head OF
hair, anyway, that her gown is pretty
or becoming, is sure to make her feel
good for some time to come; Show an
interest in the collection the boy may
be making, make very light of his
awkwardness in dancing, assuring him
that he is learning quickly, and he will
almost worship you in his heart. Re-
member that the very young and the
very old are good champions to have
on ones side, since they feel privi-
legged to speak of likes and dislikes,
and, at the sam time, these very
same very old and very young friends,
especially if one of the latter is young
boy, can become most exasperating and
annoying, and prove stumbling block
to ones progress in most disconcert-
ing way. -.
Be frank and pleasant with those of
your own age, showing an interest and
even assuming it if it does not exist,
in whatever they may be engrossed
with at the time. Assuming an inter
est will counterac Jet any tendency to- in
difference you may have, and keep you
| out of the $clutches of selfishness-that
horrible octopus that slowly winds its
tentacles around every happy trait
one may. possess. counteracting and
| crushing it to nothing, and leavingtin
it's place the stuff of which meanness
and unattractiveness is made
The first place to acquire gracious
ness is in: ones home One family
known to the writer has small room
that is known as 1.-The growiery."
When any of the children become disa-
greeable and threaten to spoil the at
mosphere of pleasant kindness that
should exist in all homes to make
them worthy the name, he or she is
requested to retire to the growlery;
the adults, too, first as a sort of joke,
began to retire when selfishness showed
itself in the form of exhibiting disa-
greeable crouch Ito make use of lit
tie slanguage), and as each one very
soon recovered when left alone by
himself it was easy to come out
with smile on the face Indeed, it
is hard to help smiling at the very
idea.
There is no place like home, in
which to cultivate the gift of gracious
ness. If father comes to the table
with his "before breakfast CROUCH" re-
member only that he may not have
slept we'll last night; he may have
business worries and difficulties you
know nothing of, and may be worrying
because he cannot secure for his fam
lily some wished for pleasure or pos
session; assume a pleasant expression
and keep still until he has his break
fast we'll Under way, then, if you have
some pleasant thing to talk about,
some bit of news or bit of knowledge
he may be interested in, breach the
subject in tactful way, and the
breakfast table will soon become a
most pleas ant meal Father will start
downtown: with a far lighter heart; he
may not know just why, but he will
have particularly kind heart for his
daughter. ''Shes fine girl, anyhow"
he will say to himself, perhaps uncon-
sciously, and he will surely take new
grip on his business affairs and may
even come out successful and all be-
cause of a gracious daughter. Mother
will forget for time her nerves"
and the responsibilities Of the house
hold and family; the children will
start for school with light hearts and
home will mean to them the very best
place on earth. There are little acts
to perform in the effort to acquire the
gift of graciousness; ask mother if
she has any errands; do not wait till
she must ask it as favor from you,
and: OF all things. never say you
haven't any time for any of these lit
tie acts; remember it Is the busiest
people in the world who always can
make time for something extra; it is
the busy ones who do the worlds
work. Do not refuse the sinai! re-
quests of the little brother or sister.
Not only is the gift of graciousness
for young girls, although it is more
easily cultivated in youth; it is really
a must have for the woman who is
leaving youth behind. Selfishness and
Indifference leave their sure mark on
the face of any woman, and do more
than any other one thing to help the
years trace the lines of age on that
face A mother has particular need to
be gracious. for young people of the
better sort love to enter a home where
the mistress is tactful and gracious. A
little tact goes far in rearing children
to be what we would have them, and
the children of q ztactful mother have
far more opportunity to meet the right
sort of companions. and make their
selection of "a life comrade among the
most eligible and: desirable of their
| friends. S
Value of Sunshine. !.
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