46 The Country Mother and the Children 



so many head of live stock ! So here goes my wife, 

 and here go my children into the hopper ! Perhaps 

 they will have to give up their lives. At any cost 

 I must make this thing pay !" 



Then, how would it be to set apart an hour or 

 more each day, regularly, for the rest and relaxation 

 of the mother, and call it " Mother's hour" ? Dur- 

 ing that time let it be the policy of the entire family 

 to require no work, no assistance, no favors of her, 

 unless it be in case of illness. During such a time 

 of recuperation, the delicate organism of the ordinary 

 woman would tend to regain its poise. The nerve 

 energy would be more or less restored, while she would 

 tend to view the better things of life more nearly 

 from their right angle. Best of all, she would re- 

 gather during the hour not a little strength to be 

 used later in the caretaking of her children. Try 

 it for a week. 



3. The home conveniences. This is not the place 

 for a detailed discussion of what might or ought to be 

 put into the house for the sake of the convenience of 

 the home-maker. But if such materials be thought- 

 fully arranged, they may be made most effective, 

 even though they be small and inexpensive. A little 

 inquiry among the ordinary homes will show what 

 is meant here, by either the presence or the lack of 

 the things indicated. It is not so much a question 

 of expense as it is one of thoughtful provision. The 

 guiding principle of the home convenience is that of 



