396 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



ACG. 



girls can make themselves useful about house, and 

 at the same time find much happiness, even if 

 school or its lessons require most of their atten- 

 tion. In order to become "handy," or skillful, in 

 this work, they should begin quite young and 

 gradually increase their assistance, the boys till 

 they are old enough to work at more laborious oc- 

 cupations, the girls till they are capable of super- 

 intending the household. To perform these little 

 services with ease and dispatch tliey must be prop- 

 erly dressed. If they cannot take off school 

 dresses, boys should have overalls, or loose over- 

 jackets, or frocks and trousers, like their father's ; 

 the girls, sacks and aprons like their mother's, or 

 else loose and long sleeved tires. Make also for 

 the girls, aprons to cover the front of the waist and 

 skirt, to put on when at play, or for school wear. 

 Gingham, or brown linen, are the best materials. 

 Bind them neatly with their own or a contrasting 

 tint, or trim their edges with a few rows of braid. 



I had nearly forgotten to mention the bit of lace, 

 or the little linen collar, with its bright ribbon 

 knot, which the larger girls will always like to 

 wear about the neck ; and the plain, straight collar 

 of linen which may be basted into the neck of a 

 boy's vest or jacket, to be tied with a ribbon. 

 These give a finish to their attire which should 

 never be omitted. But, jeicelry, — boys and girls 

 should never be disfigured by anything that bears 

 that name, — its use by them would be as unneces- 

 sary as to gild refined gold. 



Some mothers believe that the art of keeping a 

 neat appearance comes by nature. They say — 

 "Dirt never sticks to Johnnie, no matter how he is 

 exposed to it, but Will is always in a mess. 

 Jenny's dresses are never untidy, and last twice 

 as long as Mary's, for whose clothing every latch 

 seems a magnet and every nail too." Now, ac- 

 cording to the old adage, "habit is second nature," 

 they are right — in a measure. Habits of care and 

 neatness are formed early in life, sq that children 

 should be helped to acquire them. In the first 

 place by the indirect influence of care and neat- 

 ness in the management by others of all matters 

 connected with their home-life. In the second, 

 by having in charge, under the supervision of 



their parents, as soon as they are old enough, the 

 drawers or closets that hold what clothing of 

 theirs is not in actual use; and, in the third, by 

 being taught to clean and to mend many of their 

 own things, and to do it well. For instance— a 

 boy of six years and older should brush and 

 sponge all dust and spots from his clothing every 

 morning, and also black his boots and shoes. And 

 a girl should remove all traces of soiling from her 

 dress, and from the dresses of smaller children, 

 and point out to her mother's notice, if she cannot 

 mend, rents and bracks in her brothers' as well as 

 in her own clothing. When she is ten years old 

 she should begin to assist in mending, — of course 

 she has helped in making all sorts of apparel ever 

 smce she was five years old. Thus many a house- 

 wife's cares would be shared, and her burdens 

 lightened, while the children are acquiring the 

 means for making their lives beautiful and happy. 



Before leaving the subject I wish to say a few 

 words about faithfulness in needlework : Do all 

 sewing, not only for yourself, but for your hus- 

 band and your children, (which distinction is too 

 often made) strongly, nicely, and neatly. Don't 

 be afraid of setting too many stitches in the seams 

 of a garment, nor of spending too much time in 

 setting them properly. Let your work be such 

 that you will never be ashamed to have it exam- 

 ined, in fact something that you will be pleased 

 and proud to have closely scrutinized. In this 

 way you will help to counteract the popular opin- 

 ion in relation to woman's work ; for much is said 

 of her want of thoroughness in all her undertak- 

 ings, and if you are faithful in this department of 

 your labors you will be likely to carry that faith- 

 fulness into the performance of other duties. 



In concluding, let me give you the words of Miss 

 H. E. Lunt, the author of an excellent essay en- 

 titled "A Woman's Talk About Clothing" : "These 

 items rf;onsidered in themselves are trifles, but 

 they are such trifles as make up the sum of home- 

 life. On the faithful performance of small duties, 

 a great measure of the comfort, integrity, and 

 happiness of families depends. An d in temporal, 

 no less than in spiritual concerns, is the reward of 

 having been faithful over a few things." 



'W^^^^ 



