The northern star and freemen's advocate., 1843-01-02
Fireside EnjOyments.

Domestic happiness is highly desirable.
Peace and harmony-mutual and reciprocal
Kindness and love dwell in the bosoms of
those, who value and estimate fireside enjoy
mentS. Human life possesses a value and
| importance, when members of families unite
to promote order and quclude-the pleasures
/ of social communion, and when they share
the rational happiness that is the reward of
virtue.
Time is short, unavoidable cares and ankle
ties press upon the man of business. Upon
the professional man-the mechanic, the labo-
rer, and all classes of society will meet with
more or less of disappointment and sorrow. 1t
is in the calm and quiet retreat of domestic
| life that relaxation from toll is obtained, and
in the bosom of an affectionate family, true
happiness resides. To carry with us into the
domestic circle, unhalowed passions, ilrita-
ted and uncontrolled tempers, and the spirit of
anger and strife, renders us more like demons
than men, and transforms that abode which
might be paradise, into dwelling place of
disorder, confusion and inequity.
Place sobriety at the helm, and the affairs
of life will be guided with discretion. In
temperance has been the cruel foe that has
attacked and caused the domestic sanctuary
to be filled with mourning and lamentation.
Intoxicating drinks have bewildered and per-
verted minds, once clear and cheerful and
virtuous, and rendered the houses of once
happy families, the abodes of wretchedness
and woe. Grief that cannot be described,
has been caused by dissipation. Fireside
enjoyments, the value of existence-the hopes
and the sources of happiness, have been
destroyed by rum-that cruel and unrelenting
enemy of human life, of domestic comfort, of
family quiet, content and prosperity, is as
unsparing, as the midnight incendiary, and
the confagration he occasions.
Happiness may be more largely and gene
, rally shared. If all of US would perform our
several parts, as men who expect TO give an
account, and conscientiously discharge rela-
tive and social duties, and feel the just weight
of moral obligations, less of misery and evil
would abound, and more of merit, of virtue
and happiness would obtain. The command
that we love one another, if obeyed, would
contribute to the general good. "Do good
, unto all men as ye have opportunity" is the
language OF inspiration.
1t is fearful thing to run counter to the
obvious requirements of our Maker, and when
we injure our fellow-men, by whatever means
we may do tive are incurring terrible
an awful responsibility.
), Washingtonians who have dealt out to their
fellow-men, liquid poison, and have been the
means of introducing into the domestic circle,
sorrow, pain, shame and death-who have by
the sale of ardent spirits, caused much evil
and unhappiness, deeply regret, and penitent-
ly confess their error and sn.-Fireside
enjoyments, are soon destroyed by rum,-
freside comforts, all vanish where intempe-
rance gains foothold-and many who now
rejoice in their emancipation from the tyranny
of alcohol, look back upon the time when rum
selling was their occupation, with sorrow and
regret.
The traffic in ardent spirits is an odious and
abominable traffic, and yet many of us long
continued in it. Many good men and true,
among the Washingtonians, once thought that