Rensselaer Republican, Volume 16, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 December 1883 — Beautifying the Home. [ARTICLE]

Beautifying the Home.

Because the farmer works the soil,, and is engaged in tending his animals, is no reason why his home should be in any wise neglected.. There should be "no place like home';” and let that signify in an attractive sense rather than any other. When that is felt because of its l>eauty and pleasant associations there will be less boys and girls that, will sigh for the supposed pleasures of village or city life. Although in a strict sense the shelter of hare walls may be said to be home, it is really a misnomer until it is supplied with all that goes to enliven life and render it more desirable. Within the walls of the dwelling should be found all theconveniences necessary for housekeeping in the line of furniture; but this is not all. There is much that can be dene to decorate and render more beautiful to the eye, that would not be considered strictly necessary, and yet it is these seemingly unnecessary things that increase the attractiveness of home. Pictures appropriately arranged,, with bric-a-brac here and there, and in the winter beautiful flowers, all have their silent influence in knitting the heart closer to their ancestral home. Nor should the collection of instructive books be omitted, with the supplemental supply of magazines, literary and newspapers, for the supply of food tothe mind. To the patient, hard-worked boy, who has none of these things, hut who as he obtains a view of them in the residence of some city or village friend, there comes a feeling filling the heart with a desire for their enjoyment, and a doubt of his ability to do so, sib long as he continues' upon the farm and so grows the desire for a more agreeable and desirable life, such as his imagination pictured, may be fe»»d nowhere else except in the city. Upon the out side also there shounl be attractiveness. Let the yard or lawn be properly snpplisfLwith shade treesand beds es fragrant flowers, not forgetting to suspend in the shade of trees those mountains of oomfort, the hammock and hammock chair, furnishing opportunities for com- . sortable repose for a few moments asopportunities are presented. It is not the l>oys provided with such hofnes that follow Greeley’s advice to "go west,” but those who are hard worked, with no rest except a few short hours in the dead of night who becorpo' desirous of “roughing it,” however great the mistake which they may make. With this view of the case, is not the duty of every farmer who dfesires his sons to remain firm and steadfast at the old homestead to do all that lies in his power to secure such a result,Wm. H. Yeomans, in City and Country. !