HOSPITALITY. 1 89 



The true spirit of hospitality necessarily includes a hearty wel- 

 come. It is easy to give that to invited guests — unless the wish 

 to pay off social dues be the predominant motive. That motive 

 is least worthy of all and has little tending to make a guest happy. 



A hearty expression of welcome to invited guests adds a charm 

 to every visit. A returned missionary says that a rare charm 

 was once given his entire visit at an elegant home because his 

 host, as they crossed the threshold of the house, said: "My house 

 is honored by having you, and in you the great work which you 

 represent, under my roof." 



To find a welcome for the uninvited guest is not so easy. But 

 that natural feeling of annoyance caused by the interruption to the 

 routine of the day by the advent of an uninvited friend may be 

 changed by a minute's thought to joy at the opportunity thus pre- 

 sented to come into contact with one another personally. One 

 thought may always create a welcome for an uninvited guest : "I 

 need the one who needs me." That which we give enriches us, 

 and a visitor is an opportunity to give ourselves and thus enrich 

 ourselves. 



The chance friend breaks up, too, the monotony which is the 

 bane of the ordinary home and deserves welcome for that reason. 

 He enlarges our sympathies, our power to feel with others. Every 

 occurrence which takes our thoughts, even temporarily, from our 

 daily routine deserves a cordial welcome, even if other duties seem 

 to claim us. 



The true spirit of hospitality requires a welcome also for the 

 unexpected, incidental visit of strangers as well as of friends. 

 Even the itinerant lightning rod agent or the nurseryman with his 

 impossible trees and shrubs compensate for their theft of time by 

 the glimpse they give of a different human nature ; and we owe 

 them something if their persistency can give us that valued gift, a 

 good laugh. 



An itinerant Sunday school or church missionary deserves his 

 welcome despite the extra trouble he causes, for he, too, contributes 

 to life, even if only for an hour, variety, a change of thought, a 

 new point of view, a glimpse of larger, better things. 



It is rewardful tO' entertain such guests at the family table. It 

 was a wise mother whO' once said, "1 welcome for my children 

 every opportunity to be at table with invited or chance guests, or 

 strangers. The conversation is often the best kind of an educa- 

 tion for the children. They are helped tO' get over their shyness, 

 they learn self-restraint and practice their lessons in good man- 

 ners. It is a course of practice in social culture ; even if the guest 



