into her home, thus making every room and almost every article of furniture speak of her, she had the gift of drawing out from every guest his personality and of making him at home, thus making him his truest and best self. Neither man nor woman of the world could long resist the subtle influence of that home. Whatever circle of friends sat on the broad piazza in summer, or gathered around the open fire in winter, knew for a time the rare joy of liberty- - that liberty of perfect truth and perfect love. Her home was hospitable because her heart was large; and any one was her friend to whom she could minister. But her heart was like the old Jewish Temple strangers came only into the court of the Gentiles, friends into an inner court; her husband and her children found a court still nearer her heart of hearts, yet even they knew that there was a Holy of Holies which she kept for her God, and they loved and revered her the more for that. The home-keeper began to build the monument in her teens. She did not finish it until she lay down to her last rest. CLASS ACTIVITIES 1. What monument does each of us build for himself? 2. Explain the distinction Abbott makes between housekeeping and home-keeping. 3. Think of an illustration from your experience or from your reading which you might give to illustrate three of the paragraphs. Èxplain, with an example, how contemptible it is for any one to impose upon or take advantage of such a home-keeper. 4. On p. 668 Abbott stops using verbs in the present tense and begins using verbs in the past tense. Explain why he makes that change. 5. Read "The Worthy Woman,” Book One, p. 105. Name the qualities described in this selection which are mentioned in the passage from Proverbs. Read also "The Roof-Tree," in Book One, p. 25. How is the third suggestion in that selection illustrated in the present selection? 6. Find lines in "Work," p. 626, which would apply to "The HomeKeeper." 7. In describing a good man, the poet Wordsworth once wrote: That best portion of a good man's life— His little, nameless, unremembered acts Mention details which show that this quotation fits the true homemaker. 8. Work out the meaning of: vermin, coincide, obstacles, subordination, inspiration, fidelity, subtle. Find and read carefully the sentences in which these words occur; guess what the words must mean to give their sentences good meaning. Then try to use the words in sentences of your own. 9. Topics for oral work: a. When my mother showed tact. b. Science in our kitchen. c. How knowledge of "first aid" helped. d. When father fixed the radiator. e. The many jobs of a housekeeper h. The rights of a hostess. i. My father's monument. j. What my mother abhors. 10. Volunteer work for a girl: Make from the following statement of John Ruskin a suitable motto for a kitchen wall. Cooking means the knowledge of Medea, and of Circe, and of Calypso, and of Helen, and of Rebekah, and of the Queen of Sheba. It means the knowledge of all herbs, and fruits, and balms, and spices; and of all that is healing and sweet in fields and groves, and savory in meats; it means carefulness, and inventiveness, and watchfulness, and willingness, and readiness of appliance; it means the economy of your great-grandmothers, and the science of modern chemists; it means much tasting, and no wasting; it means English thoroughness, and French art, and Arabian hospitality; it means, in fine, that you are to be perfectly and always "Ladies," -"Loafgivers." ADDITIONAL READINGS. 1. "The Sacrifice of Father Damien," Book of Knowledge, 1:65-66. 2. John Halifax, Gentleman, Diana M. Mulock. 3. "The Sentimental Period," in Louisa M. Alcott, Her Life and Journals, chap. IV; chap. V. 4. "The Toy Maker of Nuremberg," A. Strong, in M. Moses's A Treasury of Plays for Children, 261-317. 5. "The Knights of the Silver Shield," R. M. Alden, in Curry C. and Clippinger E. E., Children's Literature, 223–237. 6. "Little and Great," Charles Mackay, ibid., 399. 7. "The Revolt of Mother," Mary A. W. Freeman. 2. WORK: A SONG OF TRIUMPH ANGELA MORGAN Work! Thank God for the might of it, The ardor, the urge, the delight of it Work! Thank God for the pride of it, For the beautiful, conquering tide of it, And what is so strong as the summons deep, Work! Thank God for the pace of it, For the terrible, keen, swift race of it; Fiery steeds in full control, Nostrils a-quiver to greet the goal. Oh, what is so good as the pain of it, And what is so great as the gain of it? Work! Thank God for the swing of it, For the clamoring, hammering ring of it, On the mighty anvils of the world. Oh, what is so fierce as the flame of it? Shaping the earth to a glorious end, Draining the swamps and blasting the hills, Reading a continent apart, To answer the dream of the Master heart. CLASS ACTIVITIES 1. Make your own list of class activities, completing these suggestions, and adding three others: a. Form a question about some man or woman who. b. In reading this poem aloud... 2. Find the poem in “Making and Building" which most resembles in meaning "Work: A Song of Triumph." 3. VICTORY MIRIAM TEICHNER I call no fight a losing fight If, fighting, I have gained some straight new strength; If, fighting, I turned ever toward the light, If, beaten, quivering, I could say at length: 4. DISCHARGING THE COOK ELEANOR HOYT BRAINERD On whom is the joke in this story? There was never a man so besottedly in love, so firmly convinced of his wife's shining virtues, that down in his secret soul he didn't believe half her fussing over domestic matters to be quite unnecessary and wasn't convinced that he could handle the servant problem without trouble if it came within his province. And there's seldom a married man who doesn't sooner or later say, with a greater or less degree of forbearance, according to his temperament and training: "My dear, there's no sense in putting up with such things. I wouldn't stand it for a moment. If she isn't satisfactory discharge her and get someone else. I have no such trouble in the office. If a boy or man isn't what he should be I simply fire him and hire another. That's the way to run things. The moment you truckle to your employees, that moment you get poor service and impertinence. They don't respect an employer who isn't masterful. You must make your maid understand that you are mistress in your own house, instead of cringing before her and humoring her and sacrificing the family comfort to her whims." A very young wife is likely to argue the question: to point out that the situation in the office and the one in the home are totally different; that the supply of office boys and the supply of competent general-housework servants do not balance; that the loss of a cook means more serious discomfort that the changing of a bookkeeper; that every mortal has the defect of his qualities; and that when a servant has a host of good qualities, allowances must be made for faults and she must be handled diplomatically for the sake of her virtues. The Little Woman achieved positive eloquence along this line during the first year of married life. Then, being a sensible Little Woman, she realized that the strongest logic and the most certain fact left her liege lord of the same opinion still, so she gave up argument. When the Busy Man was moved to hold forth upon the subject of servant management she smiled amiably |