The Ideal and Real ix Life. 233 



inability to find time to read much, although papers and books 

 may abound. 



No one with a practical knowledge of the average home-life 

 denies that the housekeepers of the present day. often with in- 

 capable help, and many of them with none at all, are decidedly 

 busy people; but we read women cannot do too much to make 

 home attractive. Every investment to this end is better than 

 one in the bank. Just in proportion as we make our homes 

 happy may we hope to save our children from outside snares and 

 devices. 



Although " Cleanliness may be next to Godliness," even this 

 can be overdone. We all admire well-kept homes; where the 

 carpets are bright and free from dust; where the polished floors 

 are always clean; where the china and silver never grow dull and 

 tarnished, and where the dust never forms on the immaculate up- 

 holsterv; but if this commendable state of affairs be reached 

 only by the mistress of the home becoming a veritable household 

 drudge, it is purchased at a great sacrifice. If the wearied mis- 

 tress of this beautiful home has no time to read, no time to cul- 

 tivate flowers, no time to visit her neighbors, no time to amuse 

 and instruct her children, no time to be an agreeable, social com- 

 panion to her husband, then indeed the neatness which is com- 

 mendable has deteriorated into the neatness that is detestable. 



The majority of our farm homes are happy ones, where the 

 best lessons of all our lives are learned; but while we as house- 

 wives and mothers are careful lest the dust gather in our homes, 

 let us remember the wholesome words of Dora Eead Goodale: 



•' Don't let the dust gather on your ideals, they are the best 

 part of your mental furniture. Don't let the dust gather on your 

 enthusiasm. Don't let the dust gather on your vows — your 

 church vows, your marriage vows. They are as real, as binding, 

 as when the good pastor laid his hand on your head, as when you 

 stood at the altar with the man that you loved. Don't let the 

 dust gather on your blessing; a diamond covered with dust seems 

 no better than a stone." 



We are told that history repeats itself; if this be true then the 

 boys and girls in our farm homes to-day are, many of them, those 

 to whom the nation looks to bear the grave responsibilities of the 



