The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-07-07
N UMBE R %.
5rltrtra lrtitlps.
Home.

There should be no spot on the whole
earth so beautiful, so happy as home. Nty
where in The world should the heart t,,yts
with so much longing, with such deep fnis
ness OF love, as to that blessed sanctuary
The fondest associations, the dearest recoI-
lections, from infancy to manhood should
cluster and cling around it, and the mem
ory of its joys should brighten the linger-
ing days of old age. Every home was in
tended to be such an Eden in the worlds
wilderness. Alas! how few such there re
ally are. In how many homes coldness.
selflshness, Disregard Of each othcrasesoe,11
lngs andatiection, make all othcrplaCcs seem
more attractive than this. But toset aside
all positive unkindDcss, rudness or ill-tcm-
per, all willful wrong doings of parents or
children, how many homes are cold and
chill as winter from the absence of all
manifestations Of love. The father wrapt
IN mantle Of reserve, never carcssinpiv
draws his children to his heart, and let's
them feel that it beats warmly fo1 tl,em.-
Satisfied if he gives them shelter and food
anb raiment, provides for their bodily and
intellectual wants, and teachers them their
religious duties, he deems it quite supcrfr-
Gus to train up their affections, that Yet de-
mand so much culture. The mother, if
we may conceive it possible of a mother,
seldom or never clasps her child to her
breast, and bcstows the smile that child
hood covcts more than the miscr docs the
most glittcring treasure.
All the little outward tokens and mani
testations Of love, essential to domestic en-
Joyment rs the sunshine, the flowers, the
sweet songs of birds are to the enjoyment
of nature, are withheld from those longing,
hearts to whom they arc as life itself, and
cold, pulseless, measured duty leads the
steady, unfaltering march along that rug
Sed way, which ought to be bright and
beautiful with the thousand blossoms olaf
lection. The heart of child is very ten
der. 1t is full Of strong impuscyS,its af-
iectlons seek boundless requital, bound
less as their bestowa would be- And to
whom should a child look but to its par
'nts, its brothers, its sisters to meet this
,acred, beautiful demand of its nature.
The sweet smile Of affection, the kindly
word, the gentle, beaming glance, the tones
'i sympathy in sorrow and trial, the scoth-
hS Sii'' l'llucI dtlclllDn Ill illness, those
blessed little selfsacrifccs, and unpretend-
nn kindness. that sweet patience, ard
ng ways and aifectionate manners that
make few homes almost heaven, should
make all homes so. In them "out of the
leart the mouth speaketh," and speech
md act arc alike holy and beantifal. Win
hing, attractive, lovely are such homes
Manhood turns from them to the worlds
lutics with a sigh, comes back with
glad smile. Sorrow falls not so heavily
IN them; their inmates bear one another's
'urdens deep peace is theirs even in the
midst of Affections. Words and deeds of
Owe! We'll has it been said, "Oh let us
mite the two,--and however dark and
roubled our earthly course, light will
shine within our homes which no sorrow,
lor care, Eor even death will. have power
o darken or remove. God is love-the
pirit of His Word is love and would we
indeed walk according to his dictates, Love
proved alike in arord and deed, must be
lie Guardian Angel of our House.