368 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



ill its biiikling' the virtue of woman must be its corner-stone, her 

 self-sacritice. ])iety. |L!,"entleness .and cheerfulness the four walls of its 

 superstructure, and. canopied over all, the mother love and wifely 

 devotion which time cannot lessen nor misfortune quench. No 

 nation can become fully enlightened whose mothers are not qualitied 

 to discharge the duties of home education. The country woman is 

 usuall}' busy and energetic: she rises early and goes forth to labor 

 with strong heart and willing hands, and as she plants seeds in her 

 garden or flowers in her borders, sows broadcast over the earth and 

 in the hearts of her family the seeds of truth and honesty, good 

 deeds and noble thoughts. She does not consider that household 

 cares are in any way degrading to the noblest woman. Cooking and 

 eating are earnest, urgent things that must have attention: still she 

 will study to hide, in part, the domestic machinery, and letting the 

 l)eautiful come in with the useful, puts a glass of fresh flowers on 

 the dinner table, even though they do droop gracefully over a plate 

 of boiled beef and potatoes. 



Next the country boys — the happiest, most independent mem- 

 bers of the human family. They usually have a good dash of 

 Young America in them, and we like it. Restless, eager, wide-awake: 

 feeling like they would burst right open if they couldn't run and 

 laugh and shout and whistle — boys who will make a stir in the 

 worhl if you will give them a chance. They are considered great 

 pests when little, and when older, a terror to their sisters, who are 

 always getting shocked at their rudeness and out of patience with 

 their carelessness, but who couldn't at all get along without them. 

 They are always willing, helpful, and hungry; their mother's firm 

 friend and ally because they seem to realize that their mother is their 

 best earthly friend. There are 'very few of them who do not have a 

 soft, tender, genial side to their nature, and mothers can always 

 search it out. A love for flowers, woods and pleasant scenes, and all 

 beautiful things which God has made, is a part of their natures, and 

 a daily ministration to their unfurnished, hungry minds as well as 

 stomachs — a touch to their unformed tastes, and wise reproof of 

 uncouth speech or manner, shall make them more comely than 

 costly garments, and be remembered and practiced in after life when 

 they must be crowded, jostled, and leveled by the great world. Their 

 faces may be tanned, freckled and homely; their bare, soiled feet 

 look large and clumsy, but notwithstanding all a bright, swift, 

 prompt intellect which at first must slake its thirst at the small 

 fountain of the district school, but later will prove to the world how 

 little the circumstances of early life are able to impede the progress 

 of those who are truly great. 



And last, but not the least, the country girl — the flower of the 

 family. Like the boy, independent and fun-loving, but unlike him 

 in gentleness and pride — a gentleness without weakness and pride 

 without vanity. Loving everything connected with her country 



