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MAKING OUR HOME BEAUTIFUL 211
green fields, the sights and sounds of a city may be a great pleasure, even though it may not seem possible to those who are tired of them.
It is surprising how many things there are to see, in any locality, if one will only take the trouble to find them; and the hope of making a visit pleasant to a friend is a good incentive to help one in the search.
If you cannot give your young visitor any elaborate and expensive pleasures, do not be discouraged. The sight of a brilliant sunset from some neighboring hill; a walk down Broadway; the inside of a great factory, where the throbbing looms are full of interest to stranger eyes—if you have no more wonderful sights than these to show, these are enough.
"Who does the best his circumstance allows, Does well, acts nobly. Angels can no more."
Do not think it necessary to insist upon riding with your friends, if there is not room enough for you without crowding the others. I knew a lady who turned to her sister, who was visiting her, when but one seat in the carriage was left, and said: "Shall you stay at home, or I ?" The guest replied that she was willing to give up, if necessary; whereupon the hostess handed her the baby and drove off, although she knew that her sister had particular reasons for wishing to go wTith the rest. This is almost too bad to tell of, even though it is true; but it exactly illustrates how selfishness in trifles may grow upon one unconsciously, until it becomes a controlling power. This fault has been rightly called "the taproot of all other sins," and is the greatest difficulty we have to overcome in acquiring habits of uniform courtesy and consideration for others.
Do not urge your guests to extend their visits, after they have clearly explained to you that the time has come for them to go, and that it is inconvenient for them to stay longer. Let the subject drop, merely letting them know that you are sorry to part with them. Do not convey the impression that you think you can judge better than they can of their own affairs, by constantly teasing, them to stay, and saying that you are sure they could do so if they pleased. |
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