1904.] ESSAY. 71 



To my worthy twisters, true; lovers of lioiue tk'ct)nitions, and 

 ardent admirers of every hint and tasteful suggestion, we present 

 you these thoughts and offer our greeting, with the cordial 

 wish that in every home hei'e represented these suggestions 

 may be the means to make them more beautiful, more enjoy- 

 a])le, happier and more heavenh' — a true ideal New England 

 home. 



The beauties and attractions of the home can be none too 

 pleasant or tasteful. Here gather the young to learn for all 

 years to come. Here social life gains its lessons of utility 

 and sense; and from this essay may all find a stinmlus for 

 new thoughts, more active work with pretty fancies, and 

 aesthetic beauty to gild the days for years to come. 



Bright moments shall still brighter glow 

 "\^'hile home becomes our Heaven below. 



No work is at once so refinetl and ennobling as that, which, 

 by imitating the beautiful and lovely in nature, raises the 

 human mind ''up to nature's God." And of all beautiful 

 things in nature, flowers, sw-eet flowers, are admitted to be 

 of all things most lovely. I love all nature. Her secret ways, 

 her mysteries, her beauties, her wonders, are all open to me. 

 I can say I have got next to her heart and felt it throbbing. 



No home of taste is now^ considered complete w^ithout its 

 window garden, as it develops a taste for plant life and love 

 for flowers. One of the advantages of window gardening is 

 its simplicity — open to every one and impossible to none. 

 Many persons confined to their houses for the greater part of 

 their life have no larger estate than that which the window 

 garden affords. They are educators of taste; they add bright- 

 ness to our homes; and furnish food for pleasant thoughts. 

 A single plant of ivy trained on the wall, or festooned over 

 the window is a joy to all that look upon it. Among the most 

 gratifying signs of the love of flowers, is the introduction of 

 them into our school rooms. They impose a wdiolesome restraint 

 upon the children; when tired with study, a few^ glances at 

 the window sill and its pot of bloom wreathe their faces 

 with smiles, and they willingly go to work again. Flowers 



