The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1912-03-20
The Home and It's Maker.
[Given by Mrs. II. A. Dotterrcr at the
Farmers Institute. Kellettyille1


naturally comes to us, what is home and
who and what its maker? The poet tells us
Homes not merely four square walls,
Though with pictures hung and gilded;
Home is where affection calls.
Filled with shrines the heart hath builded.
Home! Go watch the faithful dove,
Sailing meath the heaven above us;
Home is where there's one to love-
Home is where there's one to love us.
Homes not merely roof and room,
II needs something to endearit;
Home is where the heart can bloom,
Where there's some kind lip to cheer it.
What is home with none to meet,
None to welcome, none to greet us?
Home is sweet-and only sweet
When there's one we love to meet usl
-[Charles Swain.
In other words, home is where the heart
and affections are, be it tenement or u
mansion; and each inmate has a hand in
its construction. First, if the husband is
breezy and cheerful, has ready sympathy
for failure, and hearty appreciation of
success; if he casts aside business cares as
he enters the home, lays aside the mantle
of toll as he enters the household as So
cial companion and comrade, we have one
of the first elements necessary in the con
struction of happy home. The children
rush to meet him. They tell him their
sorrows and their joys. They know they
will find ready sympathy or appreciation.
The wife is capable, discreet and executive
She has no division of interests. The boys
have found their rightful places and are
given their rights and privileges. They
have their own rooms, with solid square
furniture, which is comfortable without
being fragile. The right sort of pictures
hang on the walls Plain curtains adorn
the windows. A place is provided for their
tools, coins, curios, etc, They are given
good light to read and study by. Although
they do not make voluble, rapturous ac-
acknowledgements, they appreciate these sur
roundings and are made better and more
daintier tastes, have a chintz or dotted
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS bower,where
everything is provided for their daintier
tastes and belongings. They are unselfish
and considerate of each others rights and
privileges; and dutiful and respectful to
their parents There are a number of
forces which we will call for convenience
stepping stones, which lend help in the
construction of the home. The first of
these is work. Be sure you must work if
you would be happy. The greatest people
in the world are and always have been the
indefatigable workers; the people who are
continually lending their energies to the
great mass of human energy which helps
any of us to do is work which in its en-
tirety includes work of the hands, mind
and spirit. Make sure that each day sees
done some task of the hands, if it be no
more than bit of useful sewing; some
work of the mind, if no more than the
mastery of some difficult problem or
chapter something accomplished spirit
ually, if no more than the learning of a
little patience. So much all of us can do.
My next step is modern conveniences. No
household can live the full rounded life
that it is intended they should live if they
are handicapped by surroundings which
makes of each task a drudgery We now
come to the stone of development Are
our lives, like flowers, changing, develop
ing, blooming. lending beauty to the
world around them? Or are they more
beautiful than flowers even? For while we
look on flower as an exquisite thing, yet
this human life, how incomparably more
exquisite it is, with its possibilities of per-
petual bloom, its sowing of the earth with
noble deeds and high endeavors. One
mode of development we find in books
1t is good plan to have a regular time for
reading. One accomplishes so much more
in this way and besides establishes kind
of intellectual habit, which is good thing
in itself In an hour or even a half hour
given regularly each day to reading a great
deal can be accomplished. Do not make
the mistake of reading only serious books.
Alternate light with heavy reading, never
attempting heavy reading when tired. Do
not read merely to be amused. Treat your
books as friends. Get their inspiration
their viewpoint, to broaden and modify
your own. Do not condemn a book from
hearsay. Some one finds book dull yet
it may be just the friend you need. The
chief end of all good books is to teach you
to think for yourself Our next step is |
change. 1t is lack of change that is &C
countable for so many of the ills and limi-
tations in our lives. What is narrow pref |
udice which limits so many lives but the |
habit of mind too long without change? |
What is egotism but the practice of mind |
selfishness indeed, but the custom of |
mind without diversity of thought? What |
is intolerance but the narrow, unchanged |
view from only one window? Or wretch |
edness but the persistently unhappy condi-
tions or surroundings and ideas that do not |
alter? Go travelling by all means if you |
can; but If you cannot, there are still many |
ways Of getting a change. Travel into |
new countries Of thought. That course is |
always open to you. There are books on
travel which are journey in themselves.
Read the life Of Sir Thomas More, and get |
acquainted with Margaret Roper, as hos
tess, and you will feel refreshed as from a
real visit. We will now mount the step of
kindness. Make it a rule TO do something
for, let US say, three people every day.
Write note, pay visit, do some kind |
ness. Cultivate the friendship of little
children, learn to serve them and meet
their frank demands Above all practice
the kind of kindness that can be trusted
The truly popular person is not she who
receives iavors but who bestows them; not
she who is most entertained but she who
dispenses most grace and hospitality and