American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1858-08-06
miscellaneous.
PEACE AT HOME.
For the American Union.

What mind can conceive, what
tongue can express, what pen can
describe, 1.-The amount of meaning that
IS contained in these words Peace at
hone? We do not merely mean peace
in the domestic circle, when we say
peace at home; although this is 4 erl .
1,:oaroo Of peace and happiness. Take
Tor example, family that has dwclt
Tor many years beneath the roof of the
home cdifice, where the grim monster
strife has never been known to dwell.
or to leave its blighting tinge upon the
inmates, and we see Joy. peace, kind
ness, love, benevolence, happiness, dis
tinction and honor. But turE the scale.
and visit that home where the monster
has intruded itself upon the unfortu-
nate inmates, and what do We see en-.
anating from such home 1t is al
together easier imagined than desorib.
cd. But peace at home includes far
more than that which relates directly
to the domestic or family CIRCLE
Towns, villages, cities, and even CONT
nents, are, in one sense of the word,
considered homes. Then how wide is
the boundary to which the words peace
at home may be applied. But we wish
to confinc our remarks within the oom-
pass of one village which, in former
years, was noted for its peace and tran
guilty. 1t was then that the young
as we'll as the aged were seen to meet
togeth or in our little school house once
a week for Divine worship. Yes, they
were mingling their voices in hymns of
praiseato God. Here was peace, yea,
sweet peace. Then when meeting was
closed, there seemed to be no distinc-
tion of grade or sect, for they seemed
to be lost in universal philanthropy.
Where was there ever scene more
charming to the eye or more consoling
to the heart than this? Especially to
see the young Of both sexes so kindly
mlngllng together in social pleasures,
without q jar of discord. The peace
OF this place might we'll have been COM
pared to river of pure water, which
flows plocidly down its channel, with
out the slightest obstacle to impede its
course. But, alas !! like all other rivers
1t has at last reached precipicc, over
which it rushes at n furious rate, and
below which is large island, by which
the once smooth current is divided
The question now arises, will the parts
ever again unite, and glide pcaceably
together, or will the channel always
be rugged and obstructed? None can
answer this question but those who
compose this figuratiye river. And now
let me cntreat those young men who,
in plain terms, have caused divisions
and bad feelings in our community, by
giving nicknames and taking pledge
of separation, to compare the present
with the past, and see how unbecoming
it is for young men, who think them
selves gentlemen, to give such names
as they have done to the fair and in
nocent young ladies of their own vii
lage and then isolate themselves from
their society by signing a pledge!
ask you, what would a stranger think,
if he should come into your village, &
see all the young men going to church,
Sabbath school, &C., in company by
themselves, and the fair sex in another
and separate crowd? The conclusion
would unayoidably be, that the young
men had not enough Of refinement to
allow thom the privilege of escorting
the ladies from place to place.
We arc truly sorry to hear that 80
unbccoming state Of affairs now exists
in that once happy village. But we
look forward to day, not distant, in
which the foolish pledye shall be bro.
ken, and peace and happiness again be
restored in our community.
ANoNYMoUs.
Js0" The above communication is
from "out West" and We insert it
with some hesitation, because it seems
to give fat contradiction to the say.
ing of tho wise man, that "therc is
nothing new under the sun In the