Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1859-06-18
What is the Eamilv ?

constituted in wisdom and restrained by
affection. 1t is derived from the fountain
of all power With this authority is con
nected immense responsibility. No sub
stltutc can be found. To the government
' thus constituted, unreservcd obedience is
required, that its ends may be fully an
swcrcd. 1t is type Of that ultimate sub
mission which will be paid tothe Father of
all by his redeemed family in heaven
Then cometh the end, when he Shall have
delivered up the kingdom to God, even the
Father.
The family isa nursery The idea is de-
rived from material process in nature to
which both animals and plants are subiec-
ted God speaks of planting "noblc
VINE" Such is the family. 1t requires
nourlshlng, protecting, maturing, as much
as the literal vine, "Christian families
are the nurseries of the Church on earth,
as the Church is the nursery in retired
place, bat pregnant with preparations for
eternity. Its examinations are immortal.
1t is the birthplace of body and mind
Happy, when some auspicious star of hope
hovers over it, A train of associations is
there commenced, which is imperishablc; :;
habltudes into which the very soul is moul-
ded; impressions are cngraven, which no
lapse of time shall obliterato, which etcrn-
lty itself will but confirm and perpetratc
Like seed, like harvest q He that SOW
eth to the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap
life everlasting" A mental philosopher
has said, that the character is formed before
the expiration of the sixth year of our cx-
istcncc. And those years are in the hands
of the mother! The mother of Byron
would become frantic with passion and
throw tongs at him, in early childhood. -
Hence he became more and more UNCOVER
nable, i'll fact, never knew what self-gov-
ernmcnt was, for hcwas never taught it
He had no home. Not SO Cowpcr, who
embalms, in fascinating poetry, his rccol-
lectlons of the sanctity of home The
reminlScencc of his mother were so de-
ightful, he could apostrophize in tender
numbers even her portrait when brought
to view.
The family is a school The parent is
tho natural teacher With what beauty
of language and solemnity of style, with
what divine authority does the law-givcr of
Israel appoint the parent to this work
Deut vi. Z. In the house, by the way, in
tho morning, in the evening, must this work
be constantly done. Happy the child who
can say, 81 was my fathers son-taught
me also" Happy the parent who saith,
father" Speak not of wealth, of lcgacics,
OF estates bcqueathed. The best inherit
ance is the education Of the sou for etcrn
lty. Alas! how many thousands are train
ed to career of guilt and shame!
The family isa society. In itare all the
elements Of the social relations. Mum
bcrs, intellect, attachments, sympathics,
tempcraments, attraction of mind, moral
power Thus it is the very foundation of
civil society, whose dignity, advancement,
and prosperity, in everyf .I, depend upon
the same qualities in the family. This is
the only road to the perfection of the So
cial state.
The family is sanctuary. If on earth
can be found a refuge from earth 8 ills,
tolls, and calamitics, it is here. 70 the
man of business, jadcd with cares to the
professional man, the clerk, the politician;
to the sailor, from the stormy wave; to the
soldiers, from the bloody fight; to all who
come from .he battle of life, how refresh.
ing to find one spot where the heart is sure
To rcposc, undisturbed by doubt that
there every face beams with smile of VOL
come, every heart bounds with joyfui emo
ton.
The well-ordered family is little church.
Believers and their children in covenant
God constitute the essential idea of
church-at least in a qualified sense
Such family is the miniature of the
"whole family named in heaven" "To
the church in thy house," said Paul to Phi
lemon. Happy use! Thrice blessed
home! God is their father, Christ their ell
der brother, the Holy Spirit their sancti-
fierand guide. That house is the pestibule
of heaven. The sacred shrine is there
There the incense of prayer diffuses It's
sweetness. The melody of praise is there.
Death does break, bu, anctifes, the link
which binds it to the .amily above. The
grave but opens the passage TO glory!
Meo Krh Observer.
TRUE FRIEND.--Thou mayest be suro
that he that viii in privrtc tell thee Of thy
faults is thy friend. for lie adventures thy
dislike, and doth hazardtiy hatred; for tbero
are few man that can endure it--overy man
for the most part dsljghting. in soIEpraise,
which is one Of the most universal follies
that bewitcheth mankind!---Sk Walter Ra-
leigh.
THERE is nothing like fixed steady
gym, with an honorable purpose. 1t dignl,
desyoST uataurf eaa ehgsrts yUsr saetScst,