274 TRANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTURAL 



of all men everywhere, and in all ages. To-day the whole world of 

 thought is before us, and at our disposal, in every city and village, 

 for a mere pittance. 



Every rural home should have a library. What bread and other 

 articles of food are to the body, books are to the mind, and as the mind 

 craves knowledge, its wants should be supplied or provided for with 

 great care. A library always affords the choicpst companionship. 

 Some books inspire us with awe and veneration as we read them ; 

 others are fragrant; they breath the air of the mountain, the hill- 

 side, the valley and the home; others are inspiring, every page and 

 sentence stirs us to higher motives and a higher life. 



Those who have a well selected library may dine with kings, 

 reason with philosophers, associate with poets and painters, and 

 number the masters of thought of all ages among their personal 

 and most intimate friends. 



A home without books is a dreary, inhospitable place. A good 

 )»ook is always a genial companion. We should therefore select our 

 libraries witli the greatest possible care, beginning them with the 

 Bible, and making the poets our especial friends, adding each year such 

 books as it may come within our province to purchase. Some years 

 ago twenty thousand people gathered in old " Castle Garden," New 

 York City, to hear Jenny Lind sing as no other songstress ever had 

 sung. She had rendered some of Handel's best works, when the 

 Swedish nightingale thought of her home and seemed to fold her 

 wings for a grander flight, she began to sing with deep emotion 

 " Home, Sweet Home." The multitude could not refrain, they 

 burst into applause, until the uproar stopped the sweet singer. 

 Tears gushed forth like rain, for the multitude could appreciate 

 " Home, Sweet Home" far more than the more difficult productions 

 of the masters. This song has become the home song of the world, 

 and was written by an American author, John Howard Payne, 

 whose name has become immortalized by this one little poem per- 

 taining to the home. 



The rural home is almost as incomplete at the present day with- 

 out some musical instrument as it would be without books. We 

 should cultivate a taste for for music, both instrumental and vocal. 

 Music is classed among the fine arts, and is taught as a science, 

 which all may learn. 



Music has a refining, inspiring and patriotic influence. From 

 the mother's lullaby to Mozart's requiem masses, and the master- 

 pieces of Haydn and Beethoven, we can mark the influence of music. 



Who has not felt the quickening spirit while singing or listen- 

 ing to the sweet songs of the " Gospel Hymns? " Have we not the 

 testimony of thousands that martial music thrills the warrior with 

 a spirit of bravery on the field of battle! 



The rural home may not have architectural adornment, not even 

 a bay window, or so much as a piazza, but it may be glorified by the 

 l)eauty of the climbing woodbine, ivy or wisteria. 



