common honor or shame, and let each be trained to stand with the other to make and to uphold the reputation and character of all the family. The old fable needs often to be repeated, that the bundle of sticks bound together cannot be broken, but when separated each stick is broken with ease. It should never be forgotten that, as brothers and sisters are to each, so will they treat their wives and husbands in after years, and so will they be in all the relations of society. Happy is that sister whose brother is such a type of manhood that he may reveal to her what is pure and right and good and honorable in all men. Happy is that brother whose sister is such a type of womanhood that all women are lovely, virtuous, and angelic in his eyes. "Be kind to thy brother; his heart will have dearth If the smile of thy joy be withdrawn ; The flowers of feeling will fade at the birth If love and affection be gone. Be kind to thy brother, wherever you are; An ornament purer and richer, by far, Than the pearls from the depths of the sea. "Be kind to thy sister; not many may know The wealth of the ocean lies fathoms below The surface that sparkles above. Thy kindness shall bring to thee many sweet hours, And blessings thy pathway shall crown; Affection shall weave thee a garland of flowers, 5. Relatives may be included in the family circle. Some distant relative with whom fortune has dealt unkindly may here find a welcome shelter; and some have thereby entertained angels unawares. The aged grandfather and grandmother may here find a haven of rest, when too feeble to bear their former share of the burdens and toils of life. When these aged ones have ripened up to a sunshiny, cheerful, pious old age, their presence is a benediction in the family. They add a special element of beauty to the picture. One may find such a group in many happy homes of our land. Without, it is winter, the snow is deep, and the wind cold; but within burns a cheerful fire, and the bright companionship of loved ones fills the house with joy. The aged grandparents sit in the warmest corner. They represent the past; their heads and hearts are full of the experiences and the history of the bygone days. At the table planning the campaign of the coming spring are the strong father and the loving mother, ready to give their lives in sacrificial toil for those who look to them for bread. "The parents are the grand present in heroic mold. The boisterous future is romping on the floor, in the person of lusty children. The infants are the buds of opening flowers, the heralds of a new order."* The following statement, made by a lady to girls, may be a valuable hint to others: "For a long time I did not understand it at all. I thought that, because grandmothers were often feeble and old-fashioned, they could never really feel as we children do; that they needed no particular notice or enjoyment, for it was their nature to sit in rocking-chairs and knit. They seemed quite different from the rest of the world, and not to be specially thought about-that is, by girls who were as full of merry plans as we were. "Grandmother lived with us, as father was her only son. We had a vague idea that she helped mother mend the clothes and knitted all father's stockings, besides some pairs for the church society. We were supposed to love her, of course, and were never openly rude, for, indeed, we had been taught to be polite to all aged persons. As for grandmother, she was one of those peaceful souls who never make any trouble, but just go on their own way so quietly you hardly know they are in the house. Mother sat with her sometimes, but we girls, in our gay, busy pursuits, rarely thought of such a thing. She seemed to have no part in our existence. It went on so for some time, till one day I happened at sundown to go into the sitting-room, and there sat grandmother, alone. She had fallen asleep in her chair by the window. The sun was just sinking out of sight, leaving a glory of light as he went down, and in this glory I saw my grandmother-saw her really for the first time in my life. She had been reading her Bible, and then, as if there had been no need of reading more, since its treasure already lay shining in her soul, she had turned the book over upon her lap and leaned back to enjoy the evening. I saw it all in a moment-her gentleness, her patience, her holiness. Then, like a bright cloud, the sweet, every-day lines in her face told me a secret that even then in the wonderful sunset of life she was, oh, how hu*Henderson: "Social Elements," page 63. man! So human that she missed old faces and old scenes; so human that she needed a share of what God was giving us-friends, home interests, little surprises and expectations, loving offices, and, above all, a recognition in the details of our fresh, young lives. Girls, when grandmother woke up, she found us all three stealing softly into the room, for God helped me when I went to tell my sisters about it. Mary only kissed her, and asked her if she had had a good nap; Susie picked her ball of yarn off the carpet where it had rolled, and began to wind it, all the while telling her a pleasant bit of news about one of the school-girls; and I-well, I knelt down at grandmother's feet, and just as I was going to cry, I gave her knees a good, hard hug and told her she was a darling. That's all, girls. But it has been different ever since from what it was before." "Be kind unto the old, my friend; They 're worn with this world's strife, Though bravely once perchance they fought "They taught our youthful feet to climb Upwards life's rugged steep; Then let us lead them gently down To where the weary sleep." A maiden or widowed sister or unfortunate brother may find your family the refuge needed. 6. Employer and employed. Families may help to solve the social problem of the civilized world by regarding employed help as an incidental part of the family, for the time, and treating these persons accordingly. The "kitchen girl" and the "farm help" both have hearts as well as hands. The heads of the family should take a kindly interest in their welfare and treat them in the spirit of the Golden Rule: "All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them," and, "Love thy neighbor as thyself." When this great law is obeyed in relation to those who are employed in families, it will soon be extended to the similar relations in society at large; and the most needed thing to-day is to carry this law of Christ into all the relations of life. IV. ITS HOME. Home and family, by many, are used to mean the same thing; but this does not occur so frequently now as it did in the past. I have used the term "family" to express the meaning formerly attached to both of these terms, and in accordance with approved usage. I now use the term "home" to mean the location, the house, and the environments of the family. The birds have their nests, the beasts have their lairs, man, in his best estate, has a home for himself and the other members of his family. The most favorable conditions of a family are met when it has the same pleasant home through a period of years, and the tendrils of affection and interest become strongly attached to the house, with its contents, the garden and yard and fields, the trees, flowers, and birds, and the buildings and people in the neighborhood, and the streams, plains, woods, hills, mountains, and skies not far away. One of the evils of society is the homeless condition of so many, the boarding-house and hotel taking the place of home. The family makes its environment; then the environment reacts on the family and molds it. Thus action and reaction go on continuously. A family may live for a time in a sod house or a dugout, but if it is aspiring and planning for something better, to be enjoyed when it can be afforded, no one is degraded by these humble conditions. But if a family live in a pig-pen, and have no higher ideal, but is satisfied, it will soon share the life of the usual occupants of the sty. A very humble cottage, however, may be made a lovely home by letting in abundant sunshine, the tasteful use of a few colors, the right hanging of a few inexpensive pictures, some plants and flowers and books, and everything inside arranged in harmonious order. The outside may be beautified by a green lawn, shade-trees, fruit-trees, vines, and flowers; even the vegetable garden may be made to contribute its element of beauty as well as utility. To these may be added the pet birds or squirrels or rabbits or domestic animals. The mother and daughters must usually look after these things, as the father is too busy in the sterner affairs of life to do so. Let all remember that whatever brings the children into gentle, admiring, sympathetic relations to flowers and plants and animals and all beautiful objects will educate their nobler natures, and will help to remove their harsher elements. Professor Northop says: "Make the home life beautiful within and without, and the seeds of gentleness, true kindness, honesty, and fidelity will be sowed in the hearts of the children, from which the children will reap a harvest of happiness and virtue. The memory of the beautiful and happy home of childhood is the richest legacy any man can leave to his children. The heart will never forget its hallowed influences. Such a home is a constant inspiration for good, and as constant a restraint from evil. "If by taste and culture we adorn our homes and grounds and add to their charms, our children will find the quiet pleasures of rural homes more attractive than the whirl of city life. Such attractions and enjoyments will invest home life, school life, the whole future of life with new interests and with new dignity and joyousness, for life is just what we make it. We may by our blindness live in a world of darkness and gloom, or we may live in a world full of sunlight and beauty and joy; for the world without only reflects the world within. Also, the tasteful improvement of home and grounds exerts a good influence, not only upon the inmates, but upon the community. There can be no progress in civilization but these improvements accompany it, if they do not directly produce the advance in civilization. Attachment to one's native soil is an antidote to the restless, roaming, and migratory spirit of our youth, as well as a safeguard from temptation. Nobody without local attachment can have genuine patriotism." The character of the books, magazines, and papers coming into the home is of vast influence in forming the character of the family. If it is true that the green worm upon the tree must have leaves to eat in order to thrive, and that the green color of the leaves gives color to its body, it is more certain that the home must have some kind of literature for its welfare, and that the kind of literature it reads will give color to the character of the members of the family. The selection of the literature is as important as the selection of the food for the home. A single book has changed or determined the character of many a man. The visitors who are welcomed into the home also help to make the standing and character of the family. Of course, there are times when strangers will be entertained whose characters are unknown. But no person whose character is known to be vicious or licentious should be made welcome in the home circle. The inviting to the home of men and women of distinguished knowledge or character may be made a matter of great educational value, as coming under the magnetic influence of such persons is of highest value to the susceptible youth. "Better, much better, than even the mirror of greatness in biog |