64 



HOME AND FLOWERS 



words were, "How could you be so horrid 

 as to paper the house without consulting 

 me!" There may have been love in these 

 hearts. If so it was frozen up. Sunshine 

 tries to set love free, and to encourage its 

 expression. To the husband of the first story 

 it says, 



"A kiss of greeting is sweet and rare 



After the toil of the day; 

 And it smoothes the furrows ploughed by 

 care 



The lines on the forehead you once called 

 fair 



In the years that have flown away." 

 To the wife of the second story it says, 



"We take but we do not give ; 



We starve each other for love's caress; 

 It seems so easy some soul to bless, 

 But we dole the love grudgingly, less and 

 less, 



Till 'tis bitter and hard to live." 

 To all it says: Don't keep your roses for 



the dead, or for strangers; instead, lavish 

 them upon the living, especially upon those 

 about your own fireside. Smiles are the sun- 

 beams of the soul. Scatter them abroad. 

 Kind words oil the machinery of life. Do 

 not spare them. Caresses heal the wounds 

 made by thoughtlessness, and fill life with 

 sweetness and strength. Be lavish with 

 them. And it shall come to pass that your 

 iBOUse shall be a home, sunshine shall reign 

 there, and winter storms will have no terror 

 far tho^ who dwell therein. 



Next month we hope for reports from 

 those who wish to co-operate with Sunshine 

 in the work of scattering Christmas good 

 cheer. We shall also publish a list of Sun- 

 shine wants, and of various state presidents 

 with whom our readers who are interested 

 in Sunshine may communicate, with the 

 view of becoming identified with the work of 

 their own state. 



THE MYSTIC GARDEN 



Conducted by Aunt Eunice 



[All matter relating to this department should be addressed to Aunt Eunice, Elmwood, 

 New Hampshire.] 



Greeting and Welcome 



HOW gladly we hail your return, our dear 

 "head gardener," to our erstwhile neg- 

 lected little garden! Let all the former 

 band evince their appreciation and delight 

 by a grand reunion, and let us "get our gar- 

 dening tools and help" with renewed inter- 

 est and vigor every month, so that Aunt 

 Eunice may never be at a loss for choicest 

 stock to fill the vacant corners. The Mystic 

 Garden department being much enlarged, 

 there is ample scope for co-operation. So 

 let your combined efforts "blossom forth in 

 brightest thought" to crown it, after its sea- 

 son of rest, with a wealth of bloom. Let us 

 raise our voices in united cheers for Aunt 

 Eunice and the Mystic Garden, and may 

 each cheer be as heartfelt as that of 

 Portland, Oregon. Stella. 



'No. 1 . ENIGMA. 



There's a wonderful land by travelers found. 

 Not mentioned on map or chart, 



A clime where life's fairest hopes abound, 

 And life's dearest joys depart. 



This country extends to the farthest zone, 



And boasts of treasures untold; 

 Yet here the miser loses his wealth, 



And the pauper gloats o'er his gold. 



The gray-haired sire drops his burden of years. 

 And rejoices in manhood's pride, 



While the aged matron with furrowed brow 

 Stands a blushing bride by his side. 



The impatient boy becomes a man, 



The youth rushes on to fame, 

 Ambition reaches its highest goal, 



But finds it an empty name. 



The mother embraces her wayward child. 



No longer his footsteps roam; 

 The homesick wanderer rests in peace 



Within its childhood's home. 



The thirsty drink from crystal streams. 



The hungry soul finds bread; 

 The living are clasped in death's embrace. 



And to life return the dead. 



Now who will locate this wonderful land? 



Or who will its name declare? 

 'Tis not far away — so near in truth. 



That all, no doubt, have been there. 



Lunenburg, Vermont. Verd Mont. 



2Vo-s. 2 and 3. — squaees. 



1. The editor of Home and Flowers. 2. A 

 postoffice in Crawford county, Ohio. 3. Reed- 

 pipe organs so small as to be held in the 

 player's hands. 4. A hypothetical continent 



