7(j THE HOMK, FA1.M AND i iVKDIA. 



not only her own, but the houseless children of less worthy women. How 

 many friendless boys there are in the world who come gratefully to such 

 shelter ! How many a sick and weary pilgrim, deserted by those whom 

 he has trusted, floats into this safe harbour ! Every member of a happy 

 household goes out into the world to find these waifs, whom he brings 

 home to the family table and the family protection. It is one of the best 

 privileges of home to the benevolent, this power of doing all the good 

 which thus accidentally comes in one's way. 



Many a young man living forlornly in lodgings has been saved from 

 fatal illness and despair by the kind interposition of some family who 

 have found him out and have taken him home, who have nursed him in 

 illness, encouraging him to hope and to recover. Many a house becomes 

 a " home for the friendless" in this way. Certainly a noble hospitality. 



It is not the richest house which is the most hospitable ; so no one 

 need be discouraged in the attempt to be hospitable by want of money. 

 It is charming to one's self-love to have a well-furnished house, a French 

 cook, and a beautiful dinner service, a butler and fine wines, and to ask 

 one's friends to come to excellent dinners, to see how well we live. But 

 those of lesser means have the power to give, and to exercise the true 

 spirit of the most sincere hospitality without these adjuncts. 



Home, being a strong background, should not be carelessly used to give 

 a factitious respectability to those who are unworthy. Women of large 

 hearts sometimes do this wrong to the world. In their earnest desire to 

 help the unfortunate, they take in a person of uncertain character, and 

 launch upon the world an adventuress or a rascal. " He or she has Mrs. 

 So and So's indorsement ; he has lived in her family." This has started 

 many a specious vagabomi in society. This looseness of goodness has 

 done much harm. Of course, we can not help being sometimes deceived 

 ourselves, but we can help being culpably careless. 



Much of this kind of patronage undoubtedly springs from a love of 

 approbation, which is a poor motive. People like to patronize and to be 

 looked up to ; they like to hear themselves spoken of as being generous, 

 noble, and hospitable. The flattery of those whom we have rescued from 

 a doubtful position is sweet, in vast contrast with the utter want of 

 gratitude which often comes to us from those who owe us everything. 

 We do not always receive the praises due to us for the work we have 

 really done, and the heart of woman craves praise. Glad is she to get it, 

 even from the unworthy. 



But here the hospitable heart should stop and ask herself these ques- 

 tions : " Is my motive in taking in this woman purely generous and 



