6l8 HOME AND HOUSEHOLD. 



A true, pure home is the "sacred refuge of our life." With 

 silent influence, the strong and tender cord of affection draws 

 the wanderer and wayfarer back into the paths of rectitude and 

 virtue. When these memories and affections are sanctified by 

 a mother's unselfishness and prayers, they reach beyond the 

 things of time and sense, even to the " house not made with 

 hands, eternal in the heavens." While home life is educational 

 in things seen and unseen, it is also eminently practical. It 

 should be a co-operative institution, each member having his 

 allotted task, and performing it with promptness and regularity, 

 thus enabling the wheels of domestic machinery to run easily 

 and without friction. The text, " Order is Heaven's first law," 

 should have secure lodgement in the mind of each, and by faith- 

 fully applying it to every duty, much annoyance, perhaps many 

 "family jars," will be avoided. But, after all, home is pre-emi- 

 nently woman's kingdom. If riches are hers, so that, like the 

 lilies of the field, she need neither toil nor spin, she should 

 still be able to direct. But when she is both mistress and maid, 

 she needs to be clothed with the armor of industry, patience, 

 perseverance, tact, gentleness, firmness, and all the other cardi- 

 nal virtues. Let her ever remember that a true home is em- 

 blematic of a heavenly home. Into such a dwelling the twin 

 sisters, comfort and happiness, never wait to be invited, but 

 enter and take up their abode. She may not be the bread- 

 winner, but such a home-maker's " Price is far above rubies. 

 Her children arise up and call her blessed ; her husband also, 

 and he praiseth her." 



THE FLOWER GARDEN. 



" God might have made the earth bring forth 



Enough for great and small, 

 The oak tree and the cherry tree, 



Without a flower at all : 

 We might have had enough, enough, 



For every want of ours, 

 For luxury, medicine, and toil, 



And yet have had no flowers. 



" Our outward life requires them not ; 

 Then wherefore had they birth ? 



