MAKING THE HOIklE. 137 



CHAPTER IX. 



MAKING THE HOME. 



It is now in order that we should proceed to the discus- 

 sion of how to make a home. 



We do not mean a house, we have already discussed that 

 matter, but a real, true home. One may have a very fine 

 house, fitted with every comfort, and with gorgeous furni- 

 ture and beautiful grounds, and yet it may utterly lack 

 that repose and harmony and sensation of " coziness" with- 

 out which a true, heart-satisfying home can not be made 

 any where, even if all the members of the family that 

 occupy it are genial, good-natured, and affectionate, and, 

 as every one knows, these qualities are so important that 

 without them there can be no home life at all, but only a 

 restless unhappiness and a passionate longing for peace 

 and kindly fellowship. 



They make up three fourths of a home, it is true, and 

 with them one may be happy, even Avith the most incon- 

 gruous surroundings, but still there will be a sensation of 

 *' something wanting." 



There are costly houses scattered all over the country, 

 elegantly furnished and full of luxury, but the moment 

 you are ushered into their drawing-rooms, where the ex- 

 pensive furniture is carefully swathed in cold-looking linen, 

 and books, if not altogether absent, are, because of their 

 handsome bindings, practically labeled " touch not, handle 

 not," being stowed away under glass covers to be seen, not 

 read, you feel a chill sense of uneasiness and draw a sigh 

 of relief as you pass out again into the free and untram- 

 meled air. 



Again, there are snug little cottages all about us, where 



