Year: 1879

W Hoinc llle, especially III the COuD-


try, is its monotony. AS general


rule, one day is so like another,


and especially one evening so like


another, that they cannot be told


apart, and they drag their slow


length along with weariness, that


to the young and active seems al.


most uncomfortable. In this dread.


ful monotony all enjoyment, even
all affection, seems to die out
what there is really good in their


home life the younger members of
the family neither appreciate nor


enjoy, while the elder ones are dis.


tressed by their restlessness aud


complaints, and cherish sense OF


injury at this unlooked-fo result


OF their cares, anxieties and pains.


taking.


What is needed to break up this


cloud of discomfort is variety. The


mother has never bestowed thou ght


upon the necessity for an attract
/ i've home life to save her children


from the Temptations to be found


abroad. She has never seen or


known anything, perhaps, but hard,


drudging work, and when she sits


down at,er tea, it is with u mind


tull of the weeks mcnding, or the


morrow's breakfast, and the duties


which Will come after it. She is in


no mood to propose games, to sug-
gest the reading Of bright book,


tor general edification, to start an
apple-bee, or make suggestions re-
specting the preparations for the
gifts OF the coming Christmas or


birthday. Christmas is but little


kept the observance of birthdays


dies out. Nothing is thought of


but how to save money, or how to


save trouble, and that domestic
happiness should die ont for want


OF some cheerful, healthtul food to
| thrive upon, never enters the heads


Of these always tired, superior


members of the family group.


Disregard like this OF natural
laws and.inclinations aud tenden-'
cies brings its own punishment.
The home life, to develop all the
good of which it is capable, must
be very carefully cultivated. There
is no one in the world that has the
need to exercise such varied gifts
as the mother of a family. She
neods to be well read, in order that
she may be able to direct, suggest,
and to certain extent control the
reading of her children. She
should be actress enough to con,
ceal her own feelings in order to
make life more bright aud enjoya-
bic for them. She should be artist
enough to amuse them with quaint
ideas and cunning pictures, and
cook enough to furnish them with
healthtul food to strengthen and
develop their bodies. An impro-
vised Shaker dance, game at
blind mans buff, series of light
gymnaStic exercises, or an apple
pairing, in the ample old Kitchen,
will serve often to brighten the
dullnesS OF winter evening, and
make the sluggish blood flow rap
idly through the stimulated veins.
Books, periodicals and games are
all valuable as furnishing a motive
for mental or physical activity. and
the friendly droppingin of neigh
Dor to share the glass Of cider, or
the dish of nuts and apples, should
be valued as it deserves.


The pleasant social evening
should indeed be made as long and
as attractive at possible, not cut Off
in the midst of its warmth and
brightness, not cut oft in the midst
of its brightness, or just as the
chilled and unWakened minds which
compose the ciacle are beginning
to thaw out under the influence of
reviving circumstances. Over
worked mothers would find it some
times to their advantage to save
some OF their tlreSOme duties, and
distribute them among the children
or their evening occupation. What
s difficult and trying when per-
ormed alone and under the pres
sure of other cares, becomes easy
md even amusing, when it is shared
Dy others, and done in company.
We spoil many of the good things
II this life by not knowing how to
AXE them, what they are really
good for, and in what way we can
make them most beneficial to 9th
RS. An experiment in trying to
'elieve our homes of their dullnesS
md sameness would certainly be
worth the trying.-DemOrest's for
January.