Year: 1876

Pause a moment. and listen to the
echo of home adornmcnt. The word
home gives Il certain sense of security
to the mind. What a sweet word it IS,
and how much Is contained therein!
Many there are who know not its mean
ing. The object of home Is to he the
center, the pivot on which the family
life turns. Home is not name, nor Il
form. nor 4 routine. 1t is a spirit, a
presence, a principle. The first requi
site is to make it so attractive that none
of its inmates shall care to linger long
outside its limits. All legitimate means
should be employed to this end, and no
effort should be spared that can con-
tribute to it. Many houses, called
homes, kept with waxy- neatness by
painstaking, anxious women, are so OPP
pressive in their nicely as to exclude all
home feeling from their spotless pre-
cincts. The name of home is synony
nous with personal freedom and relaXa-
ton from care. Cheerfulness is more
essential to home than all the spotless-
ness that ever shOne. Therefore, we
should adorn our homes with love, sun
shine and flowers. Nothing is more re-
mote from selfshnesS than q generous
expenditure in building a house, and
adorning it with all that makes it beau
tiful without and lovely within. Chill
dren that are surrounded by books and
cultivated natural objects, become re-
fined IN thought by familiarity with art.
Whatever expenditures refine the fam
| lily, and lift it into a higher sphere of
living, are really spent upon the whole
community as we'll.


Communities need example to excite
ambition. Fine grounds not onl y con-
fer pleasure on all who visit them, but
they incite ambitious men to improve
their own homes. Every element that
adds to the pleasure and refinement of
the family puts honor and dignity upon
it. Whoever makes home seem to the
young dearer and happier, is a public
benefactor. Then, dear friends, let us
adorn our homes with instructive books,
music, and beautiful pictures. In so
doing we promote not only our own well
fare, but encourage literature, music
and art. You believe with me that a
farmers home may possess much grace
and beauty, and be somewhat suggestive
of high hopes, as we'll as others. The
realities of noble life here are so easily
attainable, that every country dweller
may adorn his home, and cultivate his
appreciation of the beautiful in art and
nature.


In the adornment of homes we should
not only care for the social position of
our children, but for their personal
comfort. We should cultivate charity,
cheerfulness and love. Charity is placed
at the head of all Christian graces.
Cheerfulness and smiles are the very es-
sence of existence. What sunshine is
to the flowers, smiles are to humanity.
They are but tribes, to be sure; but,
scattered along life's pathway, the good
they do is inconceivable. How often do
we see persons who reserve their smiles
and courtesies for society, while they
hurt and wound the feelings of the dear,
loving friends at home.


Then do not adorn your homes,
Only with wealth and pleasure,
For we can give our dear ones


far greater treasure.


II we give them smiles and love,
When we meet them day by day,
1t will win their loving hearts,,


And cheer them on their way.
-FdHHie NJ, IN Western Rural.