i 
¥®m®(iii;raa 
Onk of our coDtribut„r.s says that some the courses suggested by Dr. Ifarper of home was on one of the “isolated fa.-ms.” Young people are usually fond of 
, the winter evenings might be spent the Chicago Unirersity ? bet some time Hut 1 hear it said, “ These are hard games, Ld where there are several in the 
be given to reading some of the popular times, and we can’t afford to buy litera- family, many a merry evening may be 
As much as possible, ture.” Many an Eastern friend would spent in that way. To be busy is to be 
reading be done aloud, that be glad to furnish plenty of reading mat- happy, and if the hands or brain are oc- 
may be an interchange of thought ter, if he knew where to send it. When- cupied, the young people will be happy 
I family. ever it is possible, get all the neighbors in any weather, whether the neighbors 
Although we spend so much time out together for a friendly visit and a famil- are across the road or two miles away, 
of doors, life is often too hard and .serious iar talk and an enlivening time, for i.iNiiA wir.TON mcnkii.. 
change agrees with us all. We recall 
the old lady who wished to go away for Time FHes m a Bright Home. 
a vi.sit, that .she might have “a change if parents would have their .sons and 
of talk.” It’s the variety that will daughters happy in spending their even- 
.shorten the long evenings of farm life. ingsathome,they must study to make the 
FI.OKKNCK IIKOWX. home the one attractive place to them. 
T! c • j L' r n / Purely there is no higher duty than the 
" training of the sons and daughters who 
In the country, where of necessity have been intriusted to our especial care; 
familie.s must live at some di.stance from to this end, the parents must u.se all 
each other, is the place of all places their tact and ingenuity. In the first 
the day. I here are novels which are novels of the day. 
well worth reading, and which help and let all the 
do not harm the reader, whoever he may there 
be. Hut from our observation, the popu- in 
lar novels of the day, most of them, be¬ 
long to another class. A certain class of 
writers have decided that it is their duty for us to see much of the beauties of 
to tell the unvarnished truth about some Nature which surround u.s ; and so I 
specimens of humanity who are in no would draw attention to this bv learn- 
to spend their evenings, should be as 
pretty, tasty and comfortable as circum¬ 
stances will allow. It should have a 
comfortable lounge, well supplied with 
pillows, easy, not to say, expensive, 
chairs, pictures, flowers, pretty bric-a- 
brac, etc., for beautiful .surroundings are 
not only'pleasing to the eye, but refining 
also. With all the.sej 
let the room be well 
warmed, and well 
lighted ; for what makes 
a room more cheerless 
than a lack of warmth, 
and a dim light ? 
(-)f course there must 
be something to enter¬ 
tain the young people. 
I’lenty of good reading, 
newspapers and books 
will serve to pass pleas¬ 
antly many an evening 
that would otherwise b<i 
dull. There should also 
be some musical instru¬ 
ment : a piano, organ, 
or violin, or more than 
one if it can be afforded. 
At any rate, there may 
be singing, in which all 
the family should join, 
the father and mother 
as well as the children. 
Of games, there ai*e an 
almost endless variety 
from which to choose. 
Let father and mother 
I learn the story or theme so who makes a friend of Oliver Twist, not feel that they have no time to play 
II be as familiar as the tales of David Copperfield or Robinson Crusoe, with the children, for time is well spent 
re. Only those who have tided always has company at hand for a time that keeps the young people happy at 
the pleasure to be derived of storm, or a snow blockade. Rlack home. More than that, it will bring the 
Let there be an occasional Reauty, too, tells his story in a way to father nearer to his children to unbend a 
to sweeten life, and don’t be make the boys fonder than ever of the little from his parental dignity, and join 
2 t the young folks have a romp horses. Happy the boys, and girls, too, the young people in their youthful 
ir. It may upset the house, who make friends of good books. amusements; it will rest the tired mother 
11 upset your heart more, in A reading club is a first-rate institu- to lay aside the endless darning of 
if they have it to say that tion in every country neighborhood, and, stockings, and mending and making of 
never any fun at home. properly conducted, is both plea.sant other garments, and lend a hand in a 
no end of amusement in acting and profitable. Let young and old unite game of dominoes, or renew her olden 
Have we improved on the fun in a prescribed course of reading, with skill at the checkerboard, 
indmothers so v^ry much ? meetings once a week or once in two Do not keep all the pleasant bedrooms 
try an old-fashioned paring weeks to discuss what has been read, and in the house for company. When the 
that we need the dried apples compare notes and ideas on the subject evening hours are over, see to it, that 
hut then there is that old in hand. your boys or girls do not go to some 
counting the seeds, with “One There are many little household cares cheerless, bare room from which they 
A GROUP OP KINDERGARTEN CHILDREN IN A NEW YORK POOR DISTRICT SCHOOL. Fig. 219. 
WINTER EVENINGS. 
How may fanner's sows and dmujhters 
best spend the long winter evenings on 
isolated farms f 
A MuHitude of Ways. 
YDNEY SMITH said, “ They are 
never alone, who are accompanied 
by noble thoughts.” Parents must sym¬ 
pathize with their children, or else as 
the latter begin to feel their wings, they 
will soar above the heads of the parents. 
We must enter into the interests of our 
children if we are to keep them at home. 
Let some of the evenings be devoted 
to reading aloud from one of the many 
systematic courses of reading of which 
the Chautauqua is an excellent example. 
As so much attention is being given to 
Rible study, why not look into one of 
I love, two I love,” and so on through 
the old jingle until we have decided our 
fate ; and the apple paring in one piece, 
which we swing merrily over our heads 
and on dropping it look to see what let¬ 
ter has been formed. 
There are numerous question games in 
such subjects as geogi-aphy, place, office, 
character, etc., which are simple, amus¬ 
ing and instructive, and very slight in 
expense. Occasionally, with pencils in 
hand, let the whole family try to di’aw 
some familiar object in the dear old 
sitting-room, and see how unlike (?) the 
real object the di*awing is. Rut per¬ 
chance one may learn that he is “at 
home,” with his pencil. A successful 
artist now living in the metropolis of the 
Empire State, first learned in a similar 
manner what his one talent was. His 
in which the daughters of the family can shrink, where they are glad to close their 
assist during the long evenings. Every eyes as soon as possible, that they may 
girl, as soon as old enough to sew prop- see no more of its ugliness. Make the 
erly, should be taught to keep her own children’s bedrooms cheery, cozy and 
wardrobe in order, and, as she is in school bright. A room to which each will turn 
nearly all of the daylight on sliort days, with a feeling of pleasure when bed- 
she will need to do those tasks in the time comes. A hoy or girl will be much 
evening. more likely to want to spend the even- 
Highest of all in Leavening Power.—Latest U. S. Gov’t Report 
ABMIUITEE.Y PURE 
