FUBtflSHIKG. 55 



inexpensive ways can frugal living be tempered and 

 softened to their needs. 



MOTHER'S BOOM. 



Every good home must have its " Mother's Eoom " 

 the pleasant half nursery, half sitting-room, that enfolds 

 all the family in its affectionate atmosphere, and leads 

 each member to feel that here at least is a bit of anchor- 

 age ground from every storm that blows. 



In this room, also, let us all insist on sunlight and an 

 open fire things that go farther in furnishing an apart- 

 ment than anything that can be found in the shops. 

 Open stoves of different sizes and designs can be had at 

 moderate cost. Some are designed to close into an air- 

 tight stove, whenever it is desired to " keep " the fire, 

 but these are more expensive than the ordinary open 

 grates, like the "Franklin." 



There should be a lighted closet or small room opening 

 from this apartment, containing a wardrobe and the con- 

 veniences for bathing and dressing. This is very essen- 

 tial even in a primitively arranged farm-home for 

 sponges, towels, brushes, slippers, and the like, have 

 rather more of prose than poetry in them, and no room 

 can be properly used as a sitting-room where such very 

 personal property manifest's itself. Banish these things 

 to their legitimate place ; but if the house is small, and 

 sleeping-space limited, a bed can remain in the room, and 

 if neatly made up, will add to rather than detract from 

 its air of cozy comfort. 



Since . there must be a few healthy, blossoming plants 

 in the east or south windows, and since dust is their 

 natural enemy, it will be best to give the floor a three-foot 

 border of paint or stain, and cover the center with a 

 square of carpeting, which can frequently be taken up 

 and cleaned with little time and labor. 



