The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1850-08-24
The Family.

II there are any joys on earth which rha-
monize with those of heaven, they are the
joys of a Christian family. When the snow
fakes fall in the wintry evening, and the
moaning winds struggle at the windows what
is so delightful as 10 see the happy little ones
sporting around the blazing fire. Look at
that little creature in her night-dress. frolicl1-
ing and laughing as though she never had
known, and never would know care Now
she rolls upon the carpet now she climbs the
chair, and now she pursues her older sister
around the room, while her little heart is over
flowing full of happiness. Who does not COW
ct the pleasurable emotions with which the
parents look upon this lovely scene?
But with these joys are associated response
bilities. All the inmates of this family are
immortal This home of their childhood must
be either the nursery of heaven, or the broad
gate of destruction. These infant prattIers
are acquiring feelings and habits which are 10
control them through life, and to guide their
destinies for ever. How necessary, then,
that purifying influences shonld surround
them in their early bome How important
the duties deyolving upon those who have the
control of the family How soon will this
household be scattered This little boy, now
so timid, and susceptible TO every impression,
may soon be breasting the storms offs distant
ocean, or controlling the decisions of Justice
and law, or mingling in the angry conflict Of
armies. He may be honorod for his virtues
and his influences, or be an outlaw, pursued
by justice, and the hopeless victim of wretch
edness and crime. He must struggle in the
embrace of death, and his spirit go TO other
worlds, TO range infinite space, TO exist
through endless ages to be happy associate
with adoring angels, OF, leagued in rebellion,
to wage dreadful and eternal warfare against
the government Of God. This little girl may
live to be, in her turn, the happy parent re-
lJoicing in the opening virtues and increasing
love of her children; or a wretched outcast
stroling in shame, a disgrace 10 herself, hel
friends, and her sex. She may go down tc
the grave burdened with sins which will sink
her to the deepest abyss ofthe sinners glooms
How many parents have found life cleered
by the virtues of their children have had all
life's blessings multiplied, and every individ.
uaI blessing magnfed by the affection oil
those whom they have nurtured to virtue
Even the joys of youth, with its vigor and its
ardent hopes, cannot sustain comparison
with those of venerable age when surrounded
with the reverence of children and grand
children. He who lives TO good old age,
with passions subdued and mind disciplin-
ed to serenity, as he looks upon his grandchil.
dren clambering upon his knee or riding up
on his cane, enjoys some of the most precious
emotions of happiness which this life affords
But on the other hand, how many parents
have wept in agony, that their children were
ever born. How many have said, Oh, that
my child had died in the innocent hours of
infancy, or that had died before this dread.
ful day. What scenes of sorrow can earth
afford more affecting than that of an aged
parent weeping over his ruined family, and
going down with broken heart to the grave.
Around the Preside they are probably ac-
curing unchanging characters, for good or
i'll. They will probably go on, through time
and through eternity, in that direction upon
which they enter during the first few years of
life. The stamp is in your hand with which
TO place upon their characters that impress
which never can be effaced. 1t is therefore
almost impossible to exaggerate the impor-
lance of domestic influence.