Year: 1879




cided nod that the other lady could
only calculate, "Why ? where 2 when ?''


Because you want more sun and
space, into this room because you will
find both, and to-day because Pm here
to help you"


Mrs. Bennett gave little gasp and
looked about her in dismay at the bare
idea of living in her cherished best par
lor.


"But the back room does very well,'
she protested. ''It is warm and small
and handy to the kitchen and we al
ways live there"


mo, my dear, it does not do very
well, for those very reasons. 1t is too
warm and small and near the kitchen
to make it a fit place to live in, espec-
tally for little children.


Why don't you put your plauts there
if it, is such nice place 2" asked Mrs.
Gay bent on making a clean sweep of
her friends delusions and prejudices.


"Why, they need more sun and air
and room, so keep them in here"


Exactly and your babies need sun
and air and room more than your roses,
geraniums and callas. The plants would
soon die in that close, hot, dark nnrth
room do you wonder your babies are
pale and fretful and weak Bring Eem
in here and see how soon they will
bloom if you will give them chance" J"


'sI never thought of that. Pm sure
could do anything to see them well and
hearty, but it seems pity to spoil my
nice parlor. Wouldn't the best cham
Der overhead do as well ?"


81 want that, too, for your bedroom,
and the little one at the side for the
children. You use the back chamber
now, and have the cribs there also,
don't you 2"


Eyes. My patience! Mary, would
down just for a little more sun 2"


ADO you love your best room better
than your children ? Hadn't you rath-
er see them spoilt by daily use than
empty and neat, because the little busy
feet were gone never to come back =?
Pm in earnest, Lizzie, and know you
will agree with me when you think it
over. My own dear little boy was
killed by my ignorance, and | have
learned by sad experience that we
mothers should make it the study of
our lives to make home healthy and
happy for our boys and girls, no matter
how much we sacrifice show and fash
ion. Come, now, try it for a month,
and see if you don't all feel the better
for enjoying the best and sunniest side
of life"


Mrs. Benefits eyes wandered around
the pretty room, and went from Polly
singing to herself as she sat looking out
of the pleasant window, to baby con-
tentedly playing bo-peep through the
bars of the fender with the yellow
flames, which were his delight, then
came back to her friends kind, earnest
face, and seemed to wake with sudden
energy and life and resolution.


''I'll try it !" she said, feeling that it
was a heroic thing to give up all her
cherished ideas and put Sunday best
things into every day wear. But Mrs.
Gays words touched and startled her,
and with self-reproachful pang she
resolved that it should never be said
that she loved her plants more tbs her
children, or that the house should ever
| miss the sweet clamor of baby voices if
she had the power to keep the music
there.


"Good knew you would, and Pm
going to show you how easy it will be
to change the climate you live in as
well as the scene, and tighten your
work, and benefit your health without
going far away cried Mrs. Gay, de-
lighted with her success, and eager to
see her reform well carried out.


"What will John say 2" and Mrs.
Bennett felt inclined to laugh and to
cry at the thought of the coming revo-
luton.


ale will approve; men always like
to have things bright and rOomy and
nice about them. l have been through
| it. and l know, for when we kept in
| two rooms we got careless, and narrow,
and low-spirited. Now we live all over
the house and keep everything as
bright, and pretty, and nice as we can.
George does not shut himself up in his
untidy den, but stays with me, and
people drop in, and we have social
happy time of it, all enjoying our good
things freely together, and feeling the
worth of them"


"How do we begin 2" asked Mrs Ben
nett fired with the spirit of emulation
now that the first shock was over, for
John did shut himself up because the
dining room was so full of an evening
with two tumultuous boys, and the lit
tie woman wanted to see her husband
during the only leisure hour she had
out of the twenty -four.


81 should just move all the delicate
things into the little library there out
of tile way of the children. That room
is rather bare, and they will make it
more attractive. Leave the pictures,
they are safe, and it is good to have
pretty objects for young eyes to lest
upon. Put the covers on your furni-
ture, large drugget over your carpet
| and take that other bay window fol
Polly and baby's play corner. 1t is
sunny and snug, and looking out always
amuses them; and at night you car
Just drop the curtain before the recess
and hide their little clatter without dis
turbing it, In the other window there
is room for your table and chair, an6
work by the machine. There you car
sit in bower with your flowers about
you, pleasant view outside, and every
thing cheerful, wholesome and pretty
three very important things to wo
man. Keep up the open fire, it is wortl
a dozen furnaces, and have thermOm
eter to be sure you don't get too warm
that takes all the strength out of you
and makes taking cold easy"


''It won't take long to make thu
} change; John isn't coming home t.
: dinner, so we can be all ready by night
| if you can really stop and see m'
, through the job. declare l feel bet
+ ter already, for am tired to death o
! that back room and don't wonder Poll.
/ is always teasing 'to go in the parlOr
The boys will dance for joy to get
, full swing here they never are allowe'
| If. excent Sundays. and then thev be