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Husband is house-band, or organizer of household hfe. 

 Organize it not only by the sterling, homebred, domestic 

 moralities, but by the binding charm of those thousand 

 amenities that distinguish a cultured home from a bar- 

 barian's hut. The delicate angel of the beautiful knocks 

 at your doors, and begs admission, as well as the strong 

 angel of the useful. Is there the fine eloquence of order, 

 is there the disposing touch of taste, is there the simple 

 and just adorning of nature, round all your doorstones, in 

 all your front lawns, on the walls, and tables, and furnish- 

 ing of your dwellings '? How many hours of a spring 

 morning would it take to embower your windows with all 

 that is graceful in green foliage, and winning in floral 

 splendor 1 Plant trees before you purchase Venetian blinds 

 and painted pickets. You will carry a tenderer and there- 

 fore a manlier heart in your breast all day, if you pass out 

 of a genial circle, through the fragrance of lilies, and roses, 

 and honeysuckles. See that the sons and daughters are 

 interlaced by bands more spiritual than gregarious bipeds. 

 Let the harmonies of evening music weave their souls into 

 some gentle and lofty sympathies, — gaining the boys over 

 from ruder pleasures and doubtful companionships by the 

 pre-occupying satisfactions of a cheerful, and courteous, 

 and hospitable fireside. Starve your palate, if need ever 

 were for such denial, to stock the library. Raise the tone 

 of farm-house table-talk, if you can, — and let the ladies 

 help, — above stale gossip, commonplaces of the day's work, 

 and scandalous tattle. Hang the proceeds of your premiums 

 at cattle-show on the walls, not in battle scenes or daubed 

 millinery, but in the shadings of some pleading picture 

 that reflects a glorious idea, or a heroic sacrifice. House- 

 hold life is not to unfold into grace and moral loveliness 

 by accident, any more than the wealth of your orchard and 

 garden. It must be cultivated. And I take it Christianity 

 speaks of that higher kind of economy, as much as of 



