“In herself she dwelleth not,
      Although no home were half so fair;
    No simplest duty is forgot,
    Life hath no dim and lowly spot
      That doth not in her sunshine share.

    “She doeth little kindnesses
      Which most leave undone or despise;
    For naught that sets our heart at ease,
    And giveth happiness or peace,
      Is low esteemed in her eyes.

    “She hath no scorn of common things,
      And, though she seem of other birth,
    Round us her heart entwines and clings,
    And patiently she folds her wings
      To tread the humble paths of earth.

    “Blessing she is; God made her so,
      And deeds of week-day holiness
    Fall from her noiseless as the snow,
    Nor hath she ever chanced to know
      That aught were easier than to bless.

    “She is most fair, and thereunto
      Her life doth brightly harmonize;
    Feeling or thought that was not true
    Ne’er made less beautiful the blue
      Unclouded heaven of her eyes.”

LETTER VII.

Tact—­unobtrusiveness.

My Dear Daughter:—­In one of my letters to you, I said that there were certain excellent manuals which contained important general and special directions concerning the forms and manners or etiquette of polite society, and that all young people should study and profit by some standard works of this kind.  But there are a great many things pertaining to the conduct of life, that go to make up character and affect the impression we make upon those around us, which are not set down in books and cannot be imparted by set forms and rules.  For instance, one of the most desirable possessions for any person, young or old, is tact—­a power of moving on through life without constantly coming into collision with people and things and opinions.  And yet no rules were ever laid down by which anyone can learn to acquire tact.  It is rather the natural result of a disposition to make people with whom we are associated comfortable and happy, since in order to do this we must constantly guard against arousing antagonisms or wounding the susceptibilities of those around us.

Now, to illustrate by some instances of lack of tact:  A lady guest at a table where broiled ham was the meat provided, declined to take any, and then added, “I don’t think pork is fit food for any human stomach.”  Of course an embarrassment fell upon host and hostess and all the company, and the rest of the meal-time was passed in an ineffectual endeavor to restore conversation to a harmonious basis.  What caused this lady to make such a remark?  Simply lack of tact, which means that she had not the fine sensitiveness that would prevent her from wounding the feelings of her friends.  She had no delicacy of perception as to the reflection she cast upon her host and hostess by so brusquely condemning