Powerful as all these influences are upon parents, they are, if possible, still more powerful in their effects upon chil- dren, to whom the importance of a home, with all its strong and sweet associations, its various and lasting ties, is incal- culable. There is almost necessarily a certain training, a certain formation of thought and habit received from living in a permanent, orderly and peaceful home, which nothing else supplies, and this in itself should be a sufficient reason for parents to do their utmost to become possessors of that which is the first essential of a home, namely, a comfortable, suitable house. That this is the foundation of family life is indisputable, and no one who looks at the matter fairly can fail to be convinced that the wisest thing a working man with a family can do, is to secure, as early in life as possible, a house, which will not only be his home as long as he lives, but will also form a provision for his wife and children in case of his death. The answer to the first question, "As to how a working man can best and most quickly become the owner of a house," seems to be very simple, and if we can trust the experience of others, is very satisfactory, i. e. if he has not accumulated ON HABITS AND MANNERS. II3 sufficient money of his own for the purpose, he must buy and build, either alone or in company with others, with money borrowed at a fair rate of interest, giving as security a mort- gage upon his house, and paying off such mortgage as rapidly as possible. In no way can a man incur smaller risk, and all that is required of him, as essential to success, is average industry and economy, so that no able-bodied man who is blessed with a helpful wife, need fear to undertake the pur- chase, in this manner, of a homestead, which, under ordinary conditions, is certain to pay him heavy interest upon the money invested. When a man finds himself the possessor of a piece of land, with money sufficient to put up a small house, i. e. about four hundred dollars, our second question at once presents itself: "How can such a house be built to properly accommodate a family of six or seven members?" N~ow, of course, in answering this question there are many things to be taken into consideration and more ways than one of reaching the desired result. In the first place, climate must be consulted, and as the majority of our readers live where warm weather is to be provided for rather than cold, the suggestions which we have to ofier will be especially for their benefit. Location, also, must affect the decision, as, of course, houses in the country and in the city require in many respects different arrangement ; while the size of the 114 ON HABITS AND MANNERS. family, their prospects for the future, and last, but not least, individual taste, must each and all have their weight in influencing the plans of the architect. CHAPTER XVII.— House and Home— (Continued.) BUILDING.

AI-modernized reading of the original text

Powerful as all these influences are upon parents, they are, if possible, still more powerful in their effects upon children, to whom the importance of a home, with all its strong and sweet associations, its various and lasting ties, is incalculable. There is almost necessarily a certain training, a certain formation of thought and habit received from living in a permanent, orderly and peaceful home, which nothing else supplies, and this in itself should be a sufficient reason for parents to do their utmost to become possessors of that which is the first essential of a home, namely, a comfortable, suitable house. That this is the foundation of family life is indisputable, and no one who looks at the matter fairly can fail to be convinced that the wisest thing a working man with a family can do, is to secure, as early in life as possible, a house, which will not only be his home as long as he lives, but will also form a provision for his wife and children in case of his death. The answer to the first question, "As to how a working man can best and most quickly become the owner of a house," seems to be very simple, and if we can trust the experience of others, is very satisfactory, i. e. if he has not accumulated sufficient money of his own for the purpose, he must buy and build, either alone or in company with others, with money borrowed at a fair rate of interest, giving as security a mortgage upon his house, and paying off such mortgage as rapidly as possible. In no way can a man incur smaller risk, and all that is required of him, as essential to success, is average industry and economy, so that no able-bodied man who is blessed with a helpful wife, need fear to undertake the purchase, in this manner, of a homestead, which, under ordinary conditions, is certain to pay him heavy interest upon the money invested. When a man finds himself the possessor of a piece of land, with money sufficient to put up a small house, i. e. about four hundred dollars, our second question at once presents itself: "How can such a house be built to properly accommodate a family of six or seven members?" N~ow, of course, in answering this question there are many things to be taken into consideration and more ways than one of reaching the desired result. In the first place, climate must be consulted, and as the majority of our readers live where warm weather is to be provided for rather than cold, the suggestions which we have to ofier will be especially for their benefit. Location, also, must affect the decision, as, of course, houses in the country and in the city require in many respects different arrangement ; while the size of the family, their prospects for the future, and last, but not least, individual taste, must each and all have their weight in influencing the plans of the architect. CHAPTER XVII.— House and Home— (Continued.) BUILDING.

On habits and manners