No. 7 DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 299 



swerve, a simple religion devoid of all bigotr}', and full of trust, 

 hope and love, and to such a pliilosopliy the world will give up all 

 the empty joy it has. 



.Epicures tell us that contentment consists not in great wealth, 

 but in few wants. Ruskin says to watch the corn grow, or the 

 blossoms set, to draw the hard breath over the plowshare or spade, 

 to read, to think, to live, to pray, these are the things that make 

 men happy and contented. Timothy, you know, classes contentment 

 with Godliness, when he says "Godliness, with contentment is great 

 gain." 



If there is any class of persons who should be contented at all 

 times, but especially in such times of financial depression as our 

 nation is now passing through, it is the farmer. Ah, yes, my friends 

 of the farm — men and women — I am sure if you could but realize 

 the hunger, the want and the woe, that is, and has been stalking 

 through our cities and towns the past months, you would go home 

 tonight praising God that your lines were cast in the country, on 

 the farm, where if one works and is economical, he will never hear 

 his children crying with hunger, and have nothing to give them to 

 eat. 



BEAUTIFYING FARM AND VILLAGE HOMES. 



BY Mrs. C. W. BrodheAD, Montrose, Pii. 



In taking up the subject of beautifying village and farm homes, 

 my idea is that beautifying the home does not wholly consist of 

 the decorations and surroundings of the home, but that each in- 

 mate has a part to do. In none of the ancient languages, nor in 

 those of modern times, aside from English, is there a word expres- 

 sing the ideas and associations which are aroused at the sound of 

 the simple word "home." 



In this great fact of "hom.e" lies the superiority of the people 

 who enjoy it and know full well what it means. It is the centre, 

 the unit, the hub, around which everything revolves, from which 

 everything of national good flows. There can be no great people, 

 no great nation without its inspiration, "Home, Sweet Home." Dr. 

 Stark says, "The only test of the utility of knowledge is its pro- 

 motion of the happiness of mankind." Viewed thus, the subject 

 I am about to treat, presents claims superior to most others, and 

 is eminently worthy of study. The superintendence of a house, and 

 the management, forethought, domestic economy, and good sterling 

 sense, requisite for the discharge of this duty, demand application 

 and perseverance, and ought to receive as much, at least, as is 

 bestowed on the acquisition of music, painting, or any of the orna- 

 mental acomplishments. Young ladies are educated to shine in 

 society; would it not be well if they were also sedulously taught by 

 a system of training to perform the homely duties which make the 

 home the abode of comfort both indoors and out. 



It has been said that Americans in general have little attachment 



