THE HOME AND THE HOUSEHOLD. 975 



more advantage of the improvements . and facilities for labor saving, and adopt methods of 

 improved agriculture more generally, and spend more time in rest, recreation, and the culti 

 vation of the social qualities than the majority of them do at present, farming would not only 

 be more profitable and less laborious as an occupation, but there would also be more of 

 health and happiness connected with it. 



More holidays should be observed by the farmer than there now are. Each household 

 should have holidays and anniversaries of its own to be observed, such as birthdays and 

 marriage anniversaries. Let each child feel, by some pleasant notice being taken of its birth- 

 day as it comes around, that it is an event to be honored, and looked upon with pleasure, and 

 that they are of some importance in the world, and it will tend to brighten life, and endear 

 home and its memories to the heart in after life. 



Winter Evenings. The long winter evenings afford the opportunity for pleasant 

 social enjoyment in the household, such as conversation on special topics, the establishing of 

 a home lyceum, reading aloud, singing, instrumental music, pleasant, quiet games, or those 

 that are of a more social nature, such as charades, character personations, etc. These 

 should be sanctioned and sometimes participated in by the parents. Children require some 

 amusement; they cannot move according to fixed rules, like mere machines. They are 

 active, restless, eager for occupation, fun-loving and social in their nature, and they must 

 have relaxation of some kind. If they cannot have amusement at home, they will be very 

 likely to seek it abroad as soon as they have the opportunity. Many a youth has been led to 

 seek amusement in the exciting scenes of the gambling table, liquor saloon, and other places 

 of evil associations, because his home was lifeless and dull, and its associations had nothing 

 to amuse, instruct, interest, or attract. Under such influences he soon becomes reckless and 

 dissipated, and goes down to ruin, only another instance of a blighted life, which in all proba 

 bility pleasant home associations might have ennobled and saved to future usefulness and 

 honor. The isolation of the country dwelling should suggest to the farmer the special 

 necessity of his favoring and providing home amusements for his children. The memory of 

 a beautiful, happy home, with its hallowed associations and teachings, has saved many a man 

 from yielding to temptation and treading a downward course, and is one of the richest lega 

 cies that parents can leave their children. 



Kindness and Politeness in the Household. Many persons are very particular 

 respecting their manner when in the presence of strangers, or when away from home; while 

 at home, and to the members of their own household, they are at times very unkind and 

 impolite in speech, as well as in manner. True politeness is kindness expressed in a pleasing 

 manner. While we should ever be polite in our treatment of strangers and those with whom 

 we come in contact, to whom is greater kindness and civility due than those endeared to us 

 by the ties of affection and nature? It is not uncommon to see husbands and wives show 

 such marked incivility towards each other as would be regarded by either as not to be 

 tolerated in the common civilities among refined and cultured people. The same may be 

 said of brothers and sisters. This is what should never be. The home should be the dearest 

 spot on earth to its inmates, who should entertain for each other that affection which the 

 nature of their relations would naturally incline, and, such being the case, scarcely too much 

 care can be taken to avoid the least unkindness of look, word, or deed; neither should the 

 little civilities that would be accorded a stranger, for whom we have no especial interest, be 

 disallowed under similar circumstances to those we most love. This incivility is generally the 

 result of carelessness or thoughtlessness; yet, notwithstanding, it has much to do towards 

 marring the happiness of home life, and in warping the character of both those who practice 

 and receive it. To be sure, home should be the place, of all others, of freedom from 

 restraint, where we lay off the formalities of society; yet we should not abuse the liberty 

 of home life, and blight its pleasure by the practice of such unkindness and incivilities 

 as would not be tolerated outside the home circle. A pleasant &quot;thank you,&quot; &quot;excuse me,&quot; 

 or &quot;please,&quot; in receiving a favor, making an apology or request, costs nothing, and is as justly 

 due the loved ones of our own families as to the outer world, while they do much to soften 

 and refine the character, improve the manners, and brighten everyday life. There should be 

 more affection manifested and more confidential relations established between the different 

 members of the household than is usually seen. Parents should be careful to set the example 

 of politeness for their children by being polite to each other and to them, thus teaching by 

 example, as well as by precept, which is by far the more forcible. Parents have no right to 

 expect their children to take a higher standard in any respect than they themselves have 

 taken and are daily occupying in their presence. They should seek a high moral, religious 



