Two Pictures Of Country Life

J asng along a country road recent ly I carne surldenly upon a rise o ground ; directly in front was a valley fJolted with fariii-liou8i-a, oroliardí une irregular fields ; bevond thij was a range of low hille cnvered with lounge, ex ccpt directly in frónt whero thu roá( passed over - in the center of wliieh stoo( a targè liberty-pole ; further on was visi ble aootber range eoimideiably higher overed with a dense forest, irregular in outliue, brilliant in colorines, but 'owe dowu witb a deep tingo of "blue. Botl ranges were lit up witb the rays of tb setting Silo, bul tho village was in tlic shade of an ioterveniog c'oud. The fuhage was nglow with Ihe rioliee autumnal tints The ecene was pictur esijue in the extremo. I remarked to one of tlie dwellers ii the valley that tho sceuo bufore ua wa a fine one. :es," he replied, "thnt'a purtv riel land all tbrough thal valley." In passing down to where he lived I found his houe standing abuut a rot from the road ; ;in vd ruil fe:jco strag gjed along in frent; two or ihree shiub bold a doubtful tenure of lüe along the front path; no alteiiipt had ever beei mude toward pleaflaot uurroundin's The house tpód bleak and [Ipne in 'an empty field. It looked more like n soldier' barracks tLan it clid iike a dwéll ing house. Tlie profnietpr w;is a wellto-do farmer, but hè had no eye for the beautiful. He eoald ao.t appi ocióte the gcene from the hill, much less arrauge plesnnt home sirroundiiifis. Farmers aro too uêgloctful of housu ornami'iils. Tliuy 8ay : "We have no time" for snch tilines The questiou of food, shelter, and clothing keeps U8 bu8, We Lave enougli to do clearing, eultivatinp, improving, fencing, and building, without bctbering with posies, piotures, sbadeirees, grouüd wnlkw, and sueh fixia9.' This is very good as far itgoesj Thas some torce in a new cou&trv, btit that ÍS not our case. We have paesed througli tlie pioneer period and aro now reaping .-ome of the fruits of our labors. Our farms are well cleared, fenced, tilled and stooked; our work is largely done with maoliiner ; our market facilities aro much improved with tailroads and can als, with river and harbor improveme:its; our roscls, bridges, scb)ol-houseB, cliurclic, and jaili are mostly built; in short, wc have got ihingB comfortablo arouud us, and are just prepared to live Nów,ifwehave nút BaciiBced the power of enjoying in tho cost of Ketting (as ia too ofteu the caso), we sliould not be content with simjilr providiog f.r physroal neéeenities. Ve ehould ornament OW homes and nir.k thern attiactive, fit aoodfs for ali thn hoiisehold virtue, for the finer feëltngs and emntif08 that cluster around tho heitrthstoae. Douiestic happinem is tniu!, more easily nurtured iu a well-appointed housflinld, where the asprritics of life are ttmed down with muslc ; vvheregood reading, #ood pictures, and tho üke, lifi our thoughts above the petty vexatiooa of tlm day; where pleasant launs grow, arbors aud summur-ho ises invi o the childreo to play, aod the uldor oued occasionallv to pass a quiot hour. If wo neglect our intellectual or spiritual natureg they must oither live by chance or starve If we don't want our boys to pass their evenings at the saloons, and read dime noveln, we must furninh botter social ndvantases and better luerature at homo They go abroad to foed on husks bec:iu3 their home are dostitute ; they feel tbó huuger and ronort to hu-kg. Tlie demimd is natural, the supply should not be withheld. Il we killed the fattcd calf ofteuer wo would have fewcr le'.urning prodigáis. Our daughtcrs would not caro to attend public iiallri if they were otherwise proviii.ed witli proper amusements Hnd social udvantages. A farmer who lias ii.oney at iuterest should not w:át for the secoud or tliird gurrgystion betoro plncing a desired articlo of furni