Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1844-02-02


lie who has truly a happy home, has almost
every desirable earthly blessing. There are com
pnraiively few happy homes on earth and we
desre nv the following remarks TO show our read
ers how this blessing may be most eftecluaily Sc
cured.
Let us, in Imagination, enter this splendid
mansion on Beacon street, III Boston. III arrests
the admiring eye by its massive grandeur Pass
inv through tho spacious hall you enter, early i'll
The evening" the parlor adorned with every con-
yeuience and luxury which wealth can furnish
The most costly paintings, in rich gilt frames, or
pament the walls A brilliant chandelier is sus-
pended from The lofty ceiling, illuminating, with
lis clear flame, the whole room, with radiance
hardly surpassed by the noon day sun. Imperial
cornels are spread over the floor thick and soft,
ihot velvet cushion would be hardly more yield.
;nr tn the pressure of The foot. Crimson dam
AK curtains, mingled in delightful contrast with
the finest embroidered muslin, hang in graceful
drapery over the windows, glazed with painted
class almost as Transparent, as the atmosphere 1t.
self Sofas, and lounges, and dlvans, OF the most
Iuxuriant patterns and Of satin covering invite to
soft indulgence. Mirrors extending from The
door to the ceiling reflect the light of this gorge
ous apartment and invest the whole scene with
mys,erious and bewiIderng magnitude. Italy and
China have furnished vases 10 adorn the rich mnn-
lie. Statunry from the chisels of Greenocgh and
Cbantrey enbellish appropriate inches. Plate OF
massive silver HlllltTs ul'Oh c'uV ""otu' SoSt
Nv enprayings, and books in the richest editions of
the London press. are lying oh the centre table /;
md ann chairs of luxurious capacity and soft as
down, entice to voluptuous enjoyment
There are ladies moving about the apartment,
ladies' who were Graded in sumptnousness, and
have ever been Tapped in indulgence; and they
nrc adorned with the richest fabrics OF French and
Italian looms. Each pleasant day the carriage is
a, the door, and they take their morning ride thro'
The rural districts of Bronkline and Dorchester
with obsequious servants, obedIent TO every desire
There are children in this tumily; and in the
bright and sunny mornings of summer, n careful
servant draws them in their little carriage, rock
ing upon steel springs, along the gravelled walks
OF Boston Common, under shade of The over
reaching elms, The owner of this magnificent
establishment and the father Of this family, has
property invested in all valuable stocks, and hi:
ships are exploring every sea. The net annua
profits of his business are perhaps fifty or sixty
thousand dollars. "Surey," says the reader, thi
must be happy family. Here are all the ingre
dients of earthly joys" Such u family may b.
happy, but these erernals do not make il so. w
had almost said, they have no tendency 10 consti
tue happiness,
LIE, us suppose that the passions of the mem
bers Of this family are uncultivaed and unsuhdu
ed The father comes TO his home in the even
ing, irTilaed by the petty annoyances OF business
Always accustomed to domineer, he is the tyrar
OF his family, and when thwarted in any Of h
plans, the ebulilions OF his rage cast their gooI
around his fireside In his iretfu humour, b
stalks through his parlors like the chafed hyeu
and neither wife nor child Gun win from HIM
kind word. His children, accustomed TO lhes
outbreaks OF peuance aud rage on the part
their father, have lost all respect for him. The
regard him with no reverence. They greet hi
with no kind attentions. Their only object is
teaZe from him AS much money as they can,
squander in exrayagances. Brought up und
such influences, they are hearless, enpty-mind
girs-mere funcys articles; and are strangers
any 10y but that of oushining their rivals in /
pomp and pride of life. They hardly know I
meaning of The word happiness.
"Father," says one 10 another, "has cot
home night as cross he can be. do wi
he would go 10 England again and stay there.
There is no living in the same house with him.
The mother is perhaps vain anh weak min
ed woman Her husband has So often detect
her in petty deceit 10 accomplish her wishes, q
he treats her with the most contemptuous neglt
She is accustomed 10 be trampled upon at hor
and though she dresses her face in fashiona
smiles when her friends call she passes ma
hours in mopng melancholy.
Now and then the thoughts Of death will 70
themselves unw welcome lnlruders TO the mil
ofthe members Of this family.
They ride to Mount Auburn, and there is
etnbells tomb, where m0ulder tho remanl
one, who, a few days before met them in the
assembly, where "music's yoluptuous swell"
pels, for a time, all thoughts OF death and ~
rnent. An acquaintance dies, and cold cour
compes them to attend the funeral. And III
in the dukened chamber and by the sbrou
body of the dead, they cannot repel the terri
reflection that they must die. The gloomy /
sends faintness to the heart and palsness TO
cheek.
They are living in the world without CO.
They ARE rejecting the Savior. And death,
terrible foe 10 the unprepared soul, is coming
giant strides upon Them. Thus are they Il
joysss. All this external show of wealth
splendor, is but as the garniShng OF the sepulc
Iibut wells the desoslion OF an empty heart.
often read OF misery in rags. There il also n
clothed in purple and fine linen.