with china bowls, plates, and vases, simply, yet elegantly adorned.
This work was done by the daughter and mother. Not a large but a
choice collection of flowering plants relieved the bay window of its
emptiness. This is an attractive home. The children never have cared
to spend their evenings on the street nor at places of amusement. Games
of skill, innocent, instructive, and entertaining, may be used to make
home life more attractive. Only let the amusements of the home be
under the direction of father and mother, and be practiced by them.
Here is a chance to teach shrewdness, honor, interest, and by all means,
moderation. To overdo at games and amusements is more harmful
than to overwork.

Religion is essential to happy home life. A family may get on for a
time very smoothly without prayer, Bible study, faith in God, and
love for Jesus Christ; but no family life is completed without a storm,
many storms of some sort. Years may pass as on a quiet sea, but one
day at high noon, or, perhaps, in the silent, early hour, a small cloud
is seen in the distance; it comes nearer; the wind begins to blow, the
thunders peal, the lightnings flash, the old home, for so long an ark
of safety, is being tossed on the billowy waves. A testing time is at
hand. Mother is gone, or father has ventured too far and lost all; or
son has disgraced the family name; or daughter is in shame; or the
darling of the home is no more! It makes a vast difference who is at
the helm when the storms of home life rage. It is a mark of highest
wisdom to place the family ship under the world's best Captain, Jesus
Christ. He never lost a life. He alone can arrest the lightning, quiet
the waves, inspire confidence, and restore peace and good will in any
storm. But religion is not only useful in trouble, it is an ornament in
peace and prosperity, in the making and building of the home. Tempers
must be controlled, dispositions cultivated, conduct improved, hearts