After-supper Talk

J.ii uie average rainuy, tuis is tne one only hour of the day when father, inother and children can be togetlier, free of cares and uahurried. Even to the poorest laborer'a family comes now something liko peace and rest forerunning the intermission of the night. Everybody who has any artistic sense recognizes this instinctively when they see, through the open doors of humble houses, tho father and mother and chiidren gather round their simple supper. lts mention has already passed into triteness in verse, so inevitably have poets feit tho saered charm of the hour. Perhaps there is something deeper than on first thougüt would appear in tho instant sonso of pleasure one has in this sight ; also in the universal feeling that the ovening gathering of tha family is the most saered one. Perhaps thero is unconscious recognition that dangers are near at hand when nighfc falls, and that in this hour lies, or should lie, the spell to drive thein all away. There is soruethiug almost terrible in the mingling of danger and protection, of harm and help, of good and bad, in that ono thing, darkness. God " giveth his beloved sleep " in it ; and that in it the devil sets his worst lures, by help of gaining many a soul which he couki never get possession of in sunlight. Mothers, fathors' cultívate "after-supper talk ;" play " af ter-supper games ;" keep " af ter-supper books;" tako all tho good newspapers and magazines you can afford, and read thein aloud " after supper." Let boys and girls bring their friends homo with them at twilight, sure of a pleasant and hospital weieome and of a good time "after supper," and parents may laugh to scorn all the t'emptations which town or village eau set before them to draw them away from home