Year: 1877

seen during the day. Sometimes he
was earnest to impart some new truth
CLEANED from new book and garnered
for me, who have so little time to read
Sometimes the new book came home
with him, and he eagerly read aloud
the choice extracts selected especially
for me. But alas! how often in the
very midst of this delightful commun-
ing, came little feet within the door.
Glad to see papa, the merry elves longed
for frOlic with him, or at least a place
on his knee, though they seemed utter
ly unable to be quiet there. Little ton
CUES must ask questions, and we felt
obliged to say almost every moment,
Don't talk now, dear,n "Papa does not
feel like playing now," or, ''Do be quiet,
children !" 10th to send them from the
room, we would try to continue our
conversation but innocent mirth, quiet
at first, soon grew into pleasant muir
mur, then bubbled and boiled, till,
grown wild over its own music, it could
no more stop in its rollicking course
than the mountain brook when fed by
an overdowing spring.


On this particular evening we had
sent them from the room, perhaps with
more impatient look or tone than
usual. noticed the disappointed faces
and feared that within there were
grieved little hearts, and when heard
the simple prayer of my boy, my own
heart was panied. 1 determined some
thing should be done to avoid this, the
only discordant note in the melody of
our home.


have never been able to determine
the reason, but l find it true, that as
the day wanes the activity of my chill
dren increases, till during their last
waking hour it reaches its climax. At
this climax it is very difficult to bring
the excited little beings into state of
quiet and fitness for saying prayers and
for peaceful sleep. 1t requires some
decision and labor ON the mothers part
to restore order from chaos.


eyes," said | to myself, .'something
must be done, and | am the only one to
do it The hour before the children's
sleep must be more quiet hour, both
for their own sake and for their fathers.
Thus shall we root away the weeds of
annoyance and impatience, WEAKNESS
and heart-ache, and in their stead find
flowers of love and happiness in our
home-garden." l determined thence
forth to deny myself the pleasure which
had been accustomed to fill that hour,
and to devote the time to my children.
Long did l sit in the darkness maturing
my plan. 1t rose before me clear and
bright, vision of hope and happiness,
and | went to my rest cheered and
comforted. 70 this plan we adhered
throughout the long, cold winter, and
with real happiness do we all remem-
Der that hour before bedtime. The de-
tails of my plan for the amusement of
the little folks may be given at a future
time.


The summer days, with their rambles
among the beautiful hills or by the
shore of the sea, have passed. During
those days, when the air was full of
bird-songs, sunshine and fragrance, it
was better that the children should live
out of doors, and enjoy to the full these
gifts of God. But the winter is at hand
again, and my children long ago began
to beg fol their precious hour.


The "wise man" hath said, Gas in
water face answereth to face, so the
heart of man to man, Perchance there
are mothers, at times tired in spirit with
restless little ones, who yet feel that
they cannot give an hour from their
duties or pleasure solely for ''children's
amusement" For them l have written
this page of my home life-a story sim
pie and true-hoping it may influence
some mother to have a "children's
hour" in which she will be one with
them in their simple plans and pas
times an hour spent so lovingly and
cheerfully that the young hearts, warm
and happy, shall turn as readily to their
Heavenly Father, when the hour to rest
shall come, as the buds unfold in warmth
and sunshine.


o mothers of little ones, l beg you re-
member how short the time they will
be with you as children, how few and
precious the hours in which you have
the privilege of moulding them for
good. There are those who spend
money ungrudgingly for the happiness
of their children, who, nevertheless, are
not happy for the want of the control
ling power of a mothers loving guild
ance. Better than toys, however costly,
are hours spent with a true-hearted
mother. Sweeter the memories of sun
ny home-hours in childhood than the
memory of richest dainties or most
deliberately trimmed garments. Take,
then, the time from the preparation of
these, and give it to the hearty, in
nocent and useful entertainment of your
children, for short time each day. o
mothers who frequent operas, parties,
and other scenes of gayety, preferring
to ''shine in society,"" rather than to
stay in the home-circle, believe me
there is more soul-satisfying, enduring
happiness to be found in ministering to
the wants of your child's mind and
heart, than in being the admired and
fiattered centre of the gayest and
wealthiest circles.


If my story shall be the means of
happiness to single group of little
ones, if it shall make them in after
years look back with tenderness and
gratitude to home-hours with mamma,
if it shall help mother to answer the
question, s'What shall be done with the
children ?" it will not have been written
in vain.