403 TENANTS OF AN OLD FARM. 



tion for their fingers ? Certes, the}' present a graceful 

 and pleasing feature in the home circle, with pretty 

 work-baskets at their sides tilled with its paraphernalia 

 of thimbles, scissors, emery-bag, needles, pins, spools 

 and divers odds and ends, with rolls of broidery bright 

 with many hues on their laps, or tidy pieces of plain 

 sewing, or meshed bands and bundles of knitting work, 

 while trim fingers move briskly, and the tools of their 

 delicate handicraft tinkle amid the music of their 

 tongues. To say nothing of economies, these womanly 

 ways are a vast contribution to the esthetics of our 

 houses, and show in notable contrast with the ungrace- 

 ful, even ungainly over-consciousness of hands and the 

 mystery of what to do with them, which so often char- 

 acterize the male portion of a family circle. 



These reflections were started by a glance around our 

 sitting-room on that winter night. All the ladies had 

 some pleasant work for their fingers ; even the click of 

 Sarah's knitting-needles sounded out of the kitchen 

 shadows. But the masculines betrayed by their awk- 

 Avard attitudes and restless movements the need of 

 some occupation for their hands to give their bearing 

 poise and gracefulness. 



"Who will discover for man's fingers a suitable and 

 congenial home emploA'ment besides rotating a news- 

 paper and manipulating a cigar ? For such a genius a 

 monument more enduring than brass awaits. 



" Thee spoke of insects se?aii<7," said Aunt Hannah, 

 as we began our Conversation on Insect Tailors amid 

 the above confreuial surroundings. " I have looked 



