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HOME AXD FLOWERS 



There are those who would not be robbed of 

 their faith, but who go away from it in their 

 thoughts and activities and expect it to flourish; 

 who believe in and support the church, but who 

 have not time to lend their presence there once 

 a week. Time for prayer, meditation and read- 

 ing of the great truths of life would smooth out 

 many troubles, lighten labor and give masterful 

 calm. The Bible should be studied by all per- 

 sons for its literary value, to say nothing of 

 the spiritual benefit to be derived. There is too 

 great an ignorance even among many well edu- 

 cated persons of the history, the poetry and the 

 philosophy of the book of books. 



Our next witness, "If an hour's time were 

 given me each day, I would enjoy Nature." 



There is no doubt but that "Books in the run- 

 ning brooks, sermons in stones and good in 

 everything" may be found by many who care to 

 read them. The city dweller tries to provide 

 opportunity to send his family to the country 

 in the summer time, not only for the benefit to 

 health, but because he believes their lives will 

 ;be the richer when influenced by the running 

 brooks, the hills and valleys and the green fields. 



Another says: "If I could get an hour from 

 my work, I should keep up my social duties." 



There is no doubt but that much of the mar- 

 gin of time is spent in idle talk, not to say 

 gossip; but, on the other hand, it is too easy as 

 one becomes very busy, to neglect old friends 

 and acquaintances. The stiff, formal call has 

 taken the place too often of the friendly visit, 

 the formal reception of the old-time tea party, 

 the formal holiday gathering, of the good old 

 family party when the children and grand- 

 children were there and the latter had to wait 

 till the second table, even though it was a 

 bountiful one. It is not well to become so 

 busy that we lose interest in the affairs which 

 are perplexing the lives of our friends and 

 neighbors. We need them and they need us, 

 not for gossip, light talk and formal exchange 

 of remarks about the weather, but for sympathy, 

 cheer and the exchange of ideas about things 

 that are well worth while. 



Another says: "My hour of margin will be 

 used for knowing my family better." 



It is not' an unusual thing for parents to find 

 no time for companionship with their children 

 or with each other. That is a happy boy whose 

 busy father spares an hour to become interested 

 in the games, sports and studies of his son. It is 

 very pathetic when household duties crowd so 

 heavily on a mother that she cannot take time 

 to enjcv her children as they are growing up. 

 Filled with tenderest affection and the deepest 

 solicitude, a mother often gives no time to the 

 expression of that affection, and the child longs 



for it and perhaps learns not to show the natural 

 affection which is so becoming. This gives 

 place to the suppression of feeling and results 

 in an awkward exchange of affectionate greet- 

 ings from really very loving hearts. 



One person would spend the margin of time 

 with books, another with music, another with 

 entertainments and with various means of im- 

 provement. 



This busy world will move right on if the 

 people in it take time to enjoy the things that 

 are passing and not try to live in the spirit of 

 constant and humdrum work without relaxation, 

 enjoyment and self -improvement. Longfellow's 

 advice to Mary Anderson is good for all : "See 

 some good picture— in Nature if possible, or 

 on canvas — hear a page of the best music, or 

 read a great poem daily. Find a few moments 

 for one or the other, and at the end of the year 

 your mind will shine with such an accumulation 

 of jewels as to astonish even yourself." 



Margaret Sangster in the following poem 

 speaks the sentiment of many a weary and busy 

 person: 



Plenty of Time 



I hear you complaining, dearest, 



You have ever so much to do; 

 Your temper is worn with trying 



To make old things look like new; 

 You sew for the little children. 



You mend for the rollicking boys, 

 You were never a shirk, and you fret and work, 



Till your life is shorn of joys. 



If the day were longer, dearest! 



If you never need go to bed ! 

 But the time goes racing by you, 



Till the hurrying week has sped, • 

 And your basket's overflowing. 



And your tasks are never done — 

 Poor, weary friend, will they never end 



Till the sleep of death is won? 



It's time you are needing, dearest ; 



Ah, yes! but there's time to spare, 

 If you'd let our Father carry 



One end of your load of care. 

 If you'd tell Him all the trouble, 



And ask from His tender hand 

 The gift of His peace, your pain would cease; 



His way you would understand. 



There is time for loving, dearest; 



If we take the time there is. 

 And fill that up with sweetness, 



Whatever beyond we miss. 

 Let the little frocks be plainer, 



Let the dust alone for a while; 

 Let the good man see how blithe it can be, 



His home, in your tender smile. 



