The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1858-06-05
Titcomb's Letters 10 Young
Married People,
NuMnEn SIX.


many Of the French people have the thing
without the name, while large portion Of
the American people have the name without
the thing There are comparatively iew who
have an adequate idea Of what home Il, as an
institution, II in recognized as house, con
lalniug q convenient number Of chairs and
tables, with o sulIiaieucy Of chamber furniture
and calahes,-a place 90 eat and sleep in,
simply II 10 not unjust 10 say that half Of
the young married people Of America have
no higher conception Of home than this
What they call their homes are simply board
ing-houscs, where, for purposes Of economy
and convenience, they board themselves.
In my idea, home rises 70 the dignity Of ON
Institution Of life, and, like everything logili,
mately 10 be called nm institution Of he, Is
both IN oulgrowth Of life, and contributor
o. its development. Like nl institutions, II
has In external form and internal power and
Significance. Like tho church, IL has its edi-
ice and appointments, not only, but IL mem
bcrship, its bonds Of spiritual fellowship, and
its gcrminal ideas, developing Themselves in
TO influences that bear flowers and fruits 10
charm and feed the soul. II ia into the
meaning Of the word home that would intro
ducc you first, my friends, and then into the
home itself Marriage is the Legitimate bnsis
of a genuine home, A husband il It's priest
and wife It's priestessi and il ia for you,
young husband and young wife, 10 establish
this institution, 10 maintain It, beauty il in
It's outward form, fll It with all good naucn-
ccs, develop its capacities, make IL the ex-
preston Of Your best ideas Of intimate social
life, and to use it us an instrument Of genial
power in moulding such outside life as may
come into contact with il. Its outward form
and is internal arrangements should, so far
as your means will permit, be the outgrowth
of your finest ideas and the expression Of
your best tastes, combined with the practical
ngcnuitics which may be rendered necessary
by a Wholesome economy.
It is not the elm before the door Of home
tha, thchdilpr pines for when tossing ON the
distant sea. It is not the house that shelter
ed his childhood, the well that gave him
drink, nor the humble bed where hc used 10
ir and drcum, These may be the objects
that come to his vision as he PAGES the lonely
deck, but the heart within him longs for the
sweet influences that came through all these
things, or were onssocaicd with thcmj for
the heart clngs to the institution which de.
,copcd ito that beautiful tree Of which it
Is tho fruit Wherever. therefore. tho hoat
wanders, Il carries the thought of home with
il. Wherever, by the river, of Babylon, tho
heart feel, its loss aud loneliness, It hang, It's
harp upon the NiliowSand- -wceps. 1t prefers
homo il H. laiel !ol.--lL Mil nrXcr i1r.e, III.
For thcrc svcllcd It's first throb. There
were developed It's first affections. There a
mothers eyes looked inta il; there moth
er's voice spoke To III there a mothers pray.
ers blcst it. There the love Of parents and
brothers and sisters gave it precious enter
tainmcnt. There bubbled up from unseen
fountains lfc's first cfAvcscng hopes
There life took form and color, and consist
cnct. From that centre went ont all its
young ambitions. Toward that focus return
its concentrating memories. There It took
foim, and fitted itself to loving natures and
pleasant natural sccncsi and it will carry
that impress wherever it may go, unless it
become pcr ertcd by sin, or make to itself
another home, sanctifed by new and more
precious affection.
II is in the little communities which we
call American homcs'that the hope Of Amer.
ica rests. 1t is here that subordination to
wholesome restraint and respect for law are
inculcatcd. 1t is here, if anywhere, that the
affections receive their culture, that amable
dispositions are devclopcd,that the amenities
OF life are learned, that the mind nnd the
body are established in healthful habits, that
mutual respect for mutual rights is engendcr-
ed, and here that all those faculties and quail
tiles are nurtured which enter into the struc-
ture of worthy character. In the homes of
America arc born the children Of America,
and from them go out into American life
American men and women. They 20 out
with the stamp of these homes upon them,
and only as these homes are what they
should be will they be what they should be-
1t is with this in view that l offer few sug-
gestions touching the establishment of this
institution by you.
Just as soon as it is possible for you to do
so, buy house the ground it stands on, and
as much land around it as your business CON
venience or taste may require. A home can
never be all that it should be to YOU and
yours. unless you own it This is doubtless
impossible to great multitude who will read
this letter, but fut not such be discouraged.
A beautiful home life may be developed, even
by a tenant at will though the security and
fixedness Of proprietorshp are greatly tribu-
tary to homes permanent influences. If the
home is owned, see that its exterior represent
you faithfully. What you cannot afford in
architecture, you can supply in vines and
flowers The interior should receive the i'm
press of all the order, neatness, taste and in