Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1853-01-01
Reading ;ydIlystI' ,ieritah ii esaFiree.-.;SSids.
5eo1YHE FAMILY ALTAR

lt>NNn-nJSSLSce ceSsenr1Ns<.~rSNcS
.bbolYHE FAMILY ALTAR PHI
l@Thh home where tliis institutionis is
not established caniscarcely be called
10 Christian home, ye, bow very many
profsssedl religious heads Of families
neglect the stated gathering Of the
household circle, for the worshipNof
the; Creatorssai eij o 4oilsd alN -
When properly conducted, family
worship cannot fail to result in good
ID, all within lis Influence. Ittends to
establish harmony and peace 'inthei
household, it strengthensthe bonds Of
union, and ditfuses "a sopthings re-
strainipg power which is felt as each
day passes along in its course. And
|ftslgood effects are often made appa.!
rent long after the little band is lbro-l
ken up, and its, members scatteredSupI
ard down Tie earth, to battle with
temptation aud SIM Il ~ 5'ssl y, (,
Lis's busy scenes will cause many
tojgrow celdlin their religious sehti-i
ments, some may even wander far!
from the path Of duty, and almost de-
ny their Maker. butnone can wholly
forget the family altar where they
daily knslt though the impressiblel
season Of infancy and childhood
Thatseasonaand Eits1associati tons, may
be recalled in later years, evenby3a
triling incident; andresult in the res-
toration 'l'a to il idlutylof many g seemingly
wanderer. ~ As5s5ii
I Amanwhoi had dsspent ,hebestyears
Of his life il the unremitting search
forfame and fortune, was once obi.
iged, III consequences Of an. accident
while " I y On d; q Journey throughtho coun-
try, 10 accept the hospitality for tho
night, 26f q gentleman Of whom he
was1nntilitheh, personally unacquain-
nd. tIItthe morning when he de-
Seconded dltoithe sittihg.reon, he found
all the family assembled there, each
lin. a calm, tattentiyell attitude, each
with q serious. yet cheerfn! counte-
nance. He seemed at. once ltoicom-
.prehend the scene, and when asked
iby his host, ifhe would be present at
their morning devotions, he bowed
acquiescence, took his seat wi,h visi:
bic emotion, which increased asithei
service proceeded, until the frame Of
Ithe strong, proud, worldly mon trep,;.
|bled like a shipin a storm, and he
brushed away drops gathered on
cheeks long unused TO such moisture.
Ashewas about to depart. he graspedi
ithe.handIofhis entertainer and thus,
spoke: y -ilite sf's l,ss siIs V d.
"Many years have / beenh nhurrying
on through a bustling, scramblipg
world, taking no time to look back
ward or forward beyond thislife. The!
elements encounted in the pursuit Of
worldly goods and worldly distinc-'
tions had nearly destroyed the religi-;
Gus impressions, the pure and truth
fal principles which ! bore with me,
a precious gift, from my early home,
That home was, long since broken
up, and its scenes and holy associa-
ton wero fast fading into indistinct
shadows on my memory. But The
scene IShave Witnessed and participa-
tedinthis morning; has awakened me
as from q dream. IL has carried me
back through aspace of nearly thirty
years, to see the picture Of my
childhood q home brought yividly be-
fore me, to feelimyselfkneeling again
Us ofsold, at fmymother's side, andto
hear a fathers voice III the solemn ac-
cents Of prayer. l felt once morethe
boy with some ofihe freshness Of
youth returned; /; and ] would now
give all my wealth and honors had !
never n ,y,N stiaed the fountains oftruthand
suffered early Impressions to besfor-
gotten ID the marvellous chase that
has periled the interests Of my impor-
Sishable soul. Henceforth my aim
shall,beEto retrieve a misspent life,
.anddahonor to parental instruction,
-