The Family Table

'ji uu iue luminar icaturt'S utlc ftimtïy ihcre is lione tlmt possewes a greater intérest, or ;i rcater onpacuv oí contribu'in lo tlin boasehold happine, tiian tlie tiiblc. Ir. ia tlio prime anifiir - ïiio first and cliief promciter of that nnity whicti makes tlie familj tho inte' gor of all human orgauizatiohs. It wield a moro tim:i v.tuaichal authority. Tli. fatber's ü(miii!í;iihs mj be forgotten ; the mother's ffisUea thougliUessJy disrcganied, but tho uautterud iovitatiooa of the iaurily board, with U whito clolh, are a power which is uevcr re-sisted or glishted. Lheinemb m of the family may bo HéatVered in different places - sjmcatthe cjuntiug honso, somo at the work-shop, some ia the f ores t, in pursuit of pleasure or prosecution of daty. The magie of the white elöth reacbes them herover thev ure, and its raute invitation sumiüous them 11 homo. And even wben tho family is shtittercd tofragmuuts and 'ered over the whola earth- when pjseb o-cpartin membor lias becomc the liend of a different family, that sweet, uuforgotteu picture of a white cloth and tea-uiu will still assort its power, and gather the wan-Jerers from distaut lands to Joyous thnnksgivi igs under the old roof treo. ' T!:e famiiy board ghould be honored of all with joy, peaea and love. It is a uhrino wbero churlishnesa, coldness. sllfDco and irown bhould havo no pla;o. It muy be nade thrice a day the scène of a festival richer and rarer than picnics iu wooded groves, or sumptuous feasts in gilded saloons. lts cffenngs uiay be frugal and humble, but no matüer f ketter is its dinuor of herb., if flaYort'd wlïh love and spiced with olieerful vivaoity, tikan therich cc.ureca of a grand hotel, where sSracgo hundreds swallow and gulp amid a elatter of dishes, rogardless of cach other'a presencti- or tho weary, monotonou ineals of the boardiog house, where the people know each otbor tno well to be entirely reptuved, and too Httle to be familiar. Eaeh assemblage ïound tho ñimily table hi;.s its peculiar cbann, aud each may be n;r.de a feast. Tho table ia no place for stiff dignity I or austeriry. Biting bread and biuter, i A ri n tnlrinfV pau - fA_ _ pleasantly and gracefully ; hut to info diguity aod stülnoss info tho operatio i inexcusable ridiculous. Hunger is levetlcr, and cating and driokiog oae o the roost delightful pleasures. ]No on Las a rigiit to áisake the unocent Bat isfaction of it at the family board by th affectation of au exempticn from so human a weakness as an "appetite, or disdain of tbo vianda eet beforo him. The pleasantest family pictures are those cheerful dioing-room assemblages where fatbcr, motlier, brothers and sisters est and drink checrily, aa though it did tbem good, and clotb, urn, dishea and spoons eeein to look bappy n tho general joy.