302 Our Farming. 



in the kitchen, some plain pattern, if my wife would let me. 

 In time I shall triumph, I think, for she used to declare she would 

 never have anything there but a rag carpet, and they would cut 

 and sew rags, making about a cent an hour, instead of reading or 

 resting. I don't believe in that sort of work. I won't do it out 

 doors, and I preached it to my wife for years, but old practices 

 die hard. But, friends, last winter when I was gone she did put 

 down some second-hand ingrain carpet in the kitchen ! By the 

 way, the above is the only use for tobacco we have, and I 

 rather think the saving in the last thirty years would pay for a 

 good many home comforts. We might afford both now, but 

 never shall. Tobacco and drinking, which is quite apt to follow, 

 has kept man}'' a man from having a nice home. My young 

 readers, avoid these two evils as you would the smallpox, and 

 when you get to be my age you will thank me. A young married 

 man with two pretty little children, told me last winter that he 

 had to give up a farm he bought after trying some years to pay 

 for it. He was just about to move into town. There was a sad- 

 ness in his wife's eyes that was hard to see in one so young and 

 pretty. She almost cried as she told me how she disliked to leave 

 the farm. Her husband was secretary of our institute, and I saw 

 a good deal of him for two days. He came in early and staid at 

 the hotel with us, and there was hardly an hour of the day when 

 there was not a cigar in his mouth. I believe he smoked ten 

 at least per day. When the institute closed the last afternoon 

 his wife came to the hotel with her children and urged him to 

 come home with them. But, no, he must stay and see us off. I 

 protested and tried my best to get him to go, but.no, he must 

 stay, and immediately a cigar was lighted. When it was 

 train time he lit another and went down with us. Shame on a 

 man that will spend money in this disgusting way that is needed 

 to make a home for wife and children, and give them every com- 

 fort that money will buy. 



But, however you may furnish the living rooms, let them be 

 cheerful and bright day and evening. Artificial light is very cheap 

 now ; do not try to enconomize in its use. I have just bought a 

 barrel of the highest grade of oil made, which, after returning the 

 barrel, costs me just six and one-half cents a gallon. I can well 

 afford to make my home bright and pleasant in the evening. 

 Have a powerful hanging lamp of sixty or eighty candle power, 

 so every one can see to read with ease all around the room. And 

 then have the table well covered with papers, magazines and 

 books, some that will suit the children as well as the older people. 

 Such things are so cheap now. Even these cheap pleasures may 

 be beyond your reach at present, but work for them, as they are 

 wanted in that perfect home your are striving for. If you, my 

 older friends, were not brought up to read much, you should give 

 the children every chance in this line. Papers and books move the 

 world nowadays. 



