Winter Evening at Home

Winter Evening at Home

Who has not seen that wholesome grin that stealso'er Daddy's face, on settling down some winter nightbefore the fire-place? His shoes aside, his slippers on, withlounging jacket, too, for relaxation he's prepared, theevening through and through. The office whirl forsakenis, contentment fills his eye, as in the great chair he re-clines and draws the "kiddies" nigh. "Well, Ross," sayslie, "how are you, son? you love your Daddy true? andhere is baby, angel dear, with eyes of deepest blue; andhere is Maggie, dandy girl, this morn you frowned atme, and would not give the good-bye kiss, nor sit uponmy knee; but now I see you're glad again and thinkyour Had all right. How Daddy loves his darling "kids"on this cold winter night! Let's put some more coal onthe fire ; Ted, you please bring it here, while I take babyon my lap and whisper in her ear; and then we'll have abig, bright fire for Mama when she's through, out in thekitchen, with the work, and comes to join us, too; andbring along your sister Ruth, who in her kitchen blouse

has helped to do the supper work and tidy up the house.Oh, dear, sweet Mama, without you, the scene how in-complete ! We'll fix the cushions for her in the cozyleather seat, where she can lie and watch the flames as upand clown they play, and rest her tired feet and brain—throw off the cares of day. Good! Here she comes;we're ready now, once more we're all together; our pleas-ure made" the greater still, because of blusterous weather.Thus, circling close together, with the fire-light all aglow,and the mantel clock a-ticking, and the sound of driftingsnow, Papa talks to anxious listeners 'bout the things he'sheard up town—how a street-car struck an auto and arobber was run down; and all the "kiddies" listen, with asort of fright or shock, when Mama shifts the subject tothe style of Helen's frock; and how that, just as she hadplanned a big day's work to do, Aunt Sarah came to makea call, and stayed an hour or two. "Yet still," says she, "Igot lots done, although there seems no end to all thethings that one must fix and make and patch and mend ;but 'spite of this, how grand it is that we are safe andwell, and have this cheerful little home in which we snuglydwell; where all is love, where all is peace, where nightsand days ar warm, and where we're blessed with food andclothes, and sheltered from the storm." Then Papaaniens all of this, and says, "The Lord is kind ; it is theduty of us all his word and will to mind." The good-night-stories two times told, the evening prayers all said,reluctant glances here and there, the small tots hie to bed.The larger ones their lessons get, in French and fractionshard, while Papa reads to Mama from the volume of some

bard.

Waldoforest dale, utah