Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1835-09-24
THE FAMILY STATE.
I'm Extract from The Euery Day Christian
BY REV. L. II. GALLAUDET.

| BY REV. 7. II. GALLAUDET.
To render the family state what it should
be, pains must be taken, constant and un-
wearied by the heads of the family, to make
it the scene not only Of subordination and
good order, but of improvement in interest
ing, useful knowledge, and of rational, inno-
cent enjoyment. Home, to be an attractive
spot to the buoyancy and cheerful vivacty of
youth, must be made pleasant and delightful.
1t must have a hallowed charm shed over it,
so that, even amidst the novelties and fasci
nations of the fresh, and fair, and beautiful
world around him, the son, the clerk, the ap-
prentice, may turn 10 it at all hours with fond
Ianticipations Of his quiet joys. Are effectu-
al means used by pareats and heads Of fami-
lies to make it so2
The table may be spread with wholesome
and agreeable food, dealt out in liberal abun-
dance to those who surround it. But 1t not
unfrequently happens, that during the whole
meal, there is profound and demure silence !;
no kindly greeting of interest, no smiles OF
Icountenance, no pleasant tones OF voice to
welcome the inmates of the household no
cheerful and improving conversation; no re-
marks or enquiries, to draw it forth, on the
part of the diffident no innocent sportiveness
at proper times and occasions. Such seasons
recurring thrice daily, and more than thou
sand times year, might be made greatly
subservent to the improvement and rational
enjoyment of the family, to the cultivation OF
the kind Offices of courtesy among its mem
bers subject surely not to be neglected in
the education Of youth to the inculcating of
the important lesson that our happiness Is
best promoted when we make common stock
of it, and to the entwining round the hearts
of all the ties of domestic affection. But such
frequently recurring seasons, full Of these
golden opportunities, are thus often lost, and
,corse than lost;-for they will be regarded
as seasons Of constraint and gloom, and made
as short and hurried as the demand of appe-
tite or the qualifications of the palate will
permit.
And so they are made TO very great ex-
tent, and to such an extent that it has become
national characteristic and reproach. In
incurring this reproach we sacrifice the do
mestic advantages and enjoyments that have
been mentioned; the occasion Of teaching our
children many useful lessons of poiteness, of
kindly feeling, and of minor morals; the BEN
eits by no means to be overlooked, of that
more healthful exercise Of the digestive or
gans which slower and a more deliberate
eating would protuce-and those agreeable
associations, not of an animal but an intel
lectual kind, which might be shed around
the family board, and which would lend no
Intellectual aid in rendering home delightful.
All this may be regarded by some frugal
housewife, or some calculating man of busi-
ness, avarcious of time, because time is mon
ey, as a small affair. But the affections of a
group of children and youth, and of clerks or
apprentices, if this will aid in securing them
to the parents and heads of the family, are
worth something more than dollars and cents
and as trihing as the means employed in
doing this may seem, let it be remembered,
that life is made up of little things, and that
many small and delicate links must be put
together to form the golden ehci Of domes-
tic ioue.