GOOD MANNERS AT HOME. 13 sullied; the second quarrel becomes comparatively easy, the third is easier still, and, at last, we grow quite accustomed to the war of words, and enter the lists with almost eagerness. Our Girls will find in a close attention to the rules of politeness a safeguard against internecine conflict. If they will studiously observe in their intercourse with the members of their families the same laws of courtesy that they would observe in their dealings with their friends and neighbours, they would render quarrelling almost impossible. And why should we not practise at home that decorous and becoming etiquette which in society proves so valuable? Why should a daughter be less polite towards her parents than towards Mr. and Mrs. FitzSmith or Miss Mac Brown? Good manners are always precious; and, if cultivated at home, will clear away many of the clouds that at times seem to darken over the household firmament. I have noticed many a family dissension begun by an act of rudeness. John pushes up against Charlotte, Charlotte resents the rough usage with a slap; this high-handed action calls forth a volley of reproaches; Harry joins in, and Kate; and so the area of disturbance widens. Whereas, if John had remembered that his sister was entitled to as much courteous treatment as any other young lady, he would have passed her without a rude collision. Then Charlotte would have had no occasion for reprisals; John would not have been stirred up to use strong language; and Harry and Kate would have peacefully pursued their various avocations. Moral: Let politeness begin at home. The Girls may also promote family peace by preserving Order, which is not only Heaven's first law, but Home's main secret of happiness. Order means-a place, a time, a work, a duty for everybody. Well, our readers may argue, that a daughter or a sister, though conscious of the value of this requirement, may not have the power or authority to enforce it. Perhaps not; but at all events she may recommend it by her example. One orderly person will soon leaven an entire household; and unless we practise what we preach, our preaching will necessarily excite ridicule rather than admiration. 14 THE GOLDEN RULE ÓF ORDER. Disorder, absence of method, and unpunctuality, are cardinal vices among young women, and entail a deplorable amount of waste waste of time, of temper, of energy, of skill, of resource. It has been well said, that disorder is at the botton of the uselessness and the folly of much undisciplined force which is lavishly expended in many directions, serving only to choke the paths, and to deter new workers, by the wrecks which are left behind. We also know-it is one of the commonplaces established by the experience of generations-that ten times the amount of work can be accomplished by rule and law, by the introduction of method. And this increased amount of work is done with a diminution of friction, and at a smaller outlay of strength and energy. Of this be you certain, that no Girl-and for that matter, no woman-can attain success in any pursuit or study, any outdoor or indoor vocation, unless she first define for herself a system, and follow up that system as rigidly as is consistent with a due regard for the rights of others. Repeating Miss Tytler's excellent advice, I would say, Have a fixed hour for rising, a reasonably early hour, and keep to it. Have fixed meal times, fixed hours for all your employments: for your private devotion, your work, your bodily exercise, your natural relaxation, your ministrations among the poor. Abide by this appointment of your time; adhere strictly to your engagements; be careful that all your belongings have their proper places, and are always to be found in them. Infinitely various, and not less elaborate than various, have been the rules, the regulations, prescribed for the assertion and maintenance of order in body and estate, in soul and spirit. Sometimes the directions formulated have been almost grotesque. Pious men, not without reason, have connected order immediately with the practices of meditation and prayer; and, of course, I take it for granted that any girl who reads this book studies her Bible daily, and at least twice a day sends up her thoughts in prayer to God. Formulas founded on right principle, it is said, have not always been far-sighted or practical. Still, 'A MAIDEN OF OUR OWN DAY.' 15 their constantly recurring apophthegm-'to consider and settle as definitely as possible in the morning the duties and engagements of the day, and to review at night the steps which have been gained and the lapses which have been suffered to occur in the programme'-is a reasonable and possible exercise. The elasticity of the system enables it to be adapted to any interest and occupation. And, indeed, the pursuit of business which is not thus conscientiously undertaken and executed had better be given up at once, both for its own sake and for your own. Above all other arts, the art of living well depends upon the principles of order and method. George Herbert calls it 'the dressing and undressing of the soul;' and to a pure and truthful soul the custom will become as natural and refreshing as to the body is the process of dressing and undressing. On this point I may be permitted a quotation from Miss Wilford's pleasant story, 'A Maiden of Our Own Day.' Gyneth Deshon is conversing with Augusta Weatherhead, and has promised to assist her in painting some illuminated scrolls. ""I shall be exceedingly obliged to you, Miss Deshon,” she said; "I really have not much time to spend in trying to design things, there is so much to be seen to at Christmas: clothing-clubs, and distributions of blankets, and bread-tickets, and then the preparations for our school-feast. I am rather glad the two schools are not to be together; if they were to be, Mrs. Gordon would want to manage everything." "Then that would at least save you some trouble," suggested Gyneth, a little mischievously. ""Oh, I don't mind trouble, and I am anxious that all should be managed as papa would like; no one can know his wishes so well as I do." ""You must be very useful to him," acquiesced Gyneth, mildly. "Yes, and it is so pleasant to feel that one cannot possibly be done without." ""I don't know," hesitated Gyneth ; "I think it is Miss Nightingale who says that one's aim ought to be so to arrange 16 VALUE OF METHOD. matters, that if one were taken suddenly ill, or anything of that sort, all might go on as well, or nearly as well, without us, as it would with us; not to make ourselves necessary so much as to provide that what is necessary should be done, either with us, or without us." "I don't understand that," said Augusta; "who could be to papa what I am ?” ""No one, indeed; I only meant that if I were at the head of the house I should feel more comfortable in knowing that I had taught the younger ones and the servants to understand papa's likings and to study his comfort, so that if I were to be laid aside, he would still be attended to as far as possible, and all go on as he would wish it, than in thinking that he could not possibly do without me." ""That is very well in theory," said Augusta, "but you would not find it easy in practice. I adhere to the old rule, 'If you want a thing done well, do it yourself.' I think servants are almost un-teachable." Needless to say, that whether servants can be taught or not, and whether the household machine can or cannot be made to work easily, depends on the method and order that we observe; and this method and order should be so well established as not to be capable of being disturbed even by the temporary removal of those responsible. Maintaining, then, this firm and settled method, and bringing to bear upon our work a patient and cheerful spirit, with an intense desire of knowledge, and a gentle waiting and trustfulness, and an industry that toils on steadily, without fits or starts, we may hope to achieve that particular object which our Almighty Father has set before us, and this in no ambitious or restless mood: 'Not as although we thought we could do much, Home Happiness promoted by Home Culture-The Study of Music-Of Singing-Robert Schumann's Maxims on Music-Thoroughness enjoined -Pianoforte Playing and Singing of the Day-On Drawing and Painting -Anecdote of Opie-Anecdote of Etty the Painter-Shakespeare's 'Marina '-Charles Kingsley's Lines-The Hare and the Tortoise-The Study of Elocution-The Art of Reading-Reading Aloud a rare Accomplishment-Mrs. Gaskell's 'Mrs. Medlicott'-Fancy Needlework— Painting on Glass and China-Mrs. Delany's Paper Flowers-Botany -Marine Zoology--Tennyson's Lines on a Shell-Conchology-Wholesome Recreation necessary to Health-Work and Play to be DistinctA Time and Place for each-Games for Girls-Outdoor and IndoorOther Pastimes-Driving-Superior Advantages enjoyed by Country Girls-Riding-The Early Hours best for this Pleasurable ExerciseSwimming-Its Importance-Boating-Skating-Rinking-ReadingWalking-Dancing. OME-HAPPINESS can effectually be promoted by home-culture; for idle girls, as everybody knows, are a sore grievance in a household. I use the term 'idle girls,' on the understanding that idleness is, after all, misapplied industry. Killing time, which is the idler's favourite occupation, is laborious idleness. When the mind has no honest and useful work to do, it will plunge |