he was a
New England housekeeper, and her standard of neatness was high. If she
had attempted anything but the simplest manner of entertainment she
would certainly have had nervous prostration. But her simplicity of
living saved her, and she is still hale and hearty, though she has
passed the limit of threescore and ten.

A friend who has lived much at the South, in speaking of the beautiful
hospitality for which Southerners are distinguished, says that it comes
partly from their easy way of taking life. They do not think it
necessary to put the house in order because guests are coming, but let
the guests take them as they find them. More than that, they are less
given to "pursuits" than Northerners, and so less easily disturbed.

Believing, however, in the value of "pursuits," I have been interested
in observing the manner of hospitality in a family among my friends. The
family consists of the father, mother, and three grown-up daughters.
All the daughters are earning their own living, and the mother is much
occupied in household cares. It is a highly intellectual family. All are
readers and keep abreast of the literature of the day. Beyond that, one
or another of them is always studying German, or French, or history, or
mineralogy, or taking up some social reform. Two of them find time to
write acceptably for magazines. It would seem as if they could not have
much leisure to entertain friends, yet their great rambling house, which
stands in the midst of a shady old-fashioned yard and garden just
outside the city, is seldom without a guest or two, and there never was
a place where a tired soul and body could find sweeter rest. A cup and
plate at table and a bed to sleep in are provided for the visitor, and
so far there is not much trouble. The family meet at the table,--when
convenient,--and there is plenty of delightful chat. One or another is
often at leisure for a walk or a row or some other pastime, but no one
appears to feel it necessary to give up any of her ordinary occupations
for the sake of the visitor. I consider myself rather a particular
friend of three of the family, yet I have often passed a Sunday there
without seeing more than one of the three. The others had something to
do on their own account. One of them, tired with her week's work, likes
to rest all day in her own room. Another is an ardent Episcopalian, and
wishes to follow all the church services from early morning through the
evening. As there