Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-05-29
An Evening at HOme-Sister, do
Thou Likewise.

staid home from the ball to keep me com
panyl'
That was many years ago. Yes, l re
member it very well, now you have recall
led it to my mind
i have often since thought, Helen, h
said, with serious air, that by the sim
pie act ofthus remaining at home for m,
sake, you were the means of saving me from
destruction
How soP asked the sister,
4 wasjust then beginning to form an in
innate association with young men ofm,
own age, nearly all of whom have since
turned out badly. l did not care grea
deal about their company; still, l liked SO
ciety and used to be with them frequent
ly, especially when you and Mary wen
out in the evening. On the night of tn,
ball to which you were going, these mer
had supper, and | was have beer
with them. l did not wish particularly
to join them, but preferred doing SO t.
remaining at home alone. To find you a.
| did, SO unexpectedly, in the parlor, was
an agreeable surprise indeed. | staid al
home with a new pleasure, which was
heightened by the thought, that it was YOU
love for me that made you deny yourself
for my qualification. We read together
on that evening. we played together, we
talked of many things. In your mind
had never before seen SO much to inspire
my own with high and pure thoughts.
remered the conversation of the young
men with whom had been associating
and in which l had taken great pleasure
with something like disgust. 1t was low
sensual, and too much oft vile and demor.
alizing. Never, from that hour, did join
them. Their way, even in the early stage
of flies journey, l saw to be downward
and downward it has ever since been ten.
ding. How often since have thought OF
that point in time, so full-fraught with
good and evil influences. The few hours
spent with you seemed to take scales from
my eyes. l saw with a new vision.
thought and felt differently. Had you
gone to the ball, and | to meet those
young men, no one can tell what nigh,
not have been the consequences. Sensual
indulgence, carried to excess, amid songs
and sentiments calculated to awaken evil
instead of good feelings, might have
stamped upon my young and delicate mind
a bias to low affections that never would
have been eradicated. This was the grea,
starting point in life-the period when
was coming into a state Of nationality and
freedom. The good prevailed over the
evil, and by the agency ofmy sister, as al
angel sent by the Author of all benefits tt
save me-
Like Helen Lindley, let every elder sis
ter be thoughtful of her brothers at tina
critical period in life, when the boy is a
bout passing up to the stage ofmanhood
and she may save them from many a snare
set for their unwary feet by the evil one.
so many temptations beset young men
of which young women know nothing
that it is of the utmost importance thai
your brothers evenings should be happi
ly passed at home, that their friends should
be your friends, that their engagement:
should be provided for them in the family
circle. Music is an accomplishment
chiefly valuable as home enjoyment.
know no more agreeable and interesting
spectacle, than that of brothers and sister,
playing and singing together those elevated
compositions in music and poetry which
crafty the teand purify the heart, Will,
their fond parents sit delighted by.
have seen and heard an elder sister thu.
leading the family choir, who was the sou
of harmony to the whole household, ant
whose life was perfect example of those
virtues which I am here endeavorine
to inculcate. Let no one say, in read
ing this chapter, that too much is here re
quired of sisters, that no one can be ex
pected to lead such self-sacrifcing life
for the sainted one to whom l refer, was
all would ask any sister to be, and hap
pier person never lived. To do good and
to make others happy was her rule Of life
and in this she found the art of making her
self so.
Sisters should always be willing to
walk, ride, visit with their brothers and
esteem it privilege to be their compan
ions. 1t is worth while to learn innocen,
games for the sake OF furnishing brother.
with amusements, and making home the
most agreeable place to them.
i have been told by some who have
passed unharmed through the temptations
of youth, that they owed their escape from
many dangers to the intimate companions
ship of affectionate and pure-minded sis
tiers. They have been saved from haz.
ardous meeting with idle company by
some home engagement of which theiI
sisters We're the charm; they have refrain
ed from mixture with the impure, because
they would not bring home thoughts and
feelings which they could not share with
those trusting, loving friends they have
put aside the wine-cup and abstained from
stronger potations, because they would
not profane with their fumes the holy kiss
with which they were accustomed to bid
their sisters good-night-MercAsLe Ledger
TO Grow Younger.
Acfrnp0ny bac to,,ob+ nc , rrroo4 ,,,o,,,