The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1859-07-14
Essentials of Pleasant village.---No.
PLEAAsNT HOMES.

Nv.
PLEAAsNT HOMES.
We are aware that here we approach
the region of dream-land and castle
building. Without doubt there are
very many who have thought, that if
they only possessed the wealth they
would make delightful home. But
something more than wealth is needed !;
indeed, it is not the chief nor a needed
element. The costliest dwelling the
land can furnish, may not shelter a
happy home. The owner may crush
within him all that is manly, and so
render himself an unfit companion for
men and women. Gid it as you will,
varnish it as you may, it is only den.
Just so far as the animal nature, rules
and controls in the home, it can not be
truly happy. No truth can be more
manifest to the rejecting reader than
that there must be some measure of
culture or refinement to make any home
pleasant as it should be. And this
culture and refinement is within the
reach of every one. But the value of
this is not perceived as it should be,
and so is not sought for.
But the happiness of the home will
depend more than all upon the spirit
that prevails there. We may have
wide circle of friends; we may use the
richest furniture; we may have ample
means; we may have every external
good, and it shall profit nothing SO
long as there is fretful, or peevish, or
fault-6nding, or discontinued spiritin the
house. We have seen husbands and
wives, who were obliged to wranglo
about every thing. No matter wheth-
er it was the weather or dinner,
new dress or the children, church
going or school-going, there must be
just so many words and just so much
sacrifice of all pleasure, comfort and
decency.
We have mentioned pleasant homes
as one of the essentials of pleasant
village, because we do not believe that
any man or boy can go out in exactly
the right spirit to meet the world, un-
less he starts from pleasant home.
Thence flow the influences that will
make or mar the pleasant village. 1t
has been shown that, the great MAORI
ty of criminals are homeless people.
They may have had place of shelter
but never, during their lives anything
worthy of the name of HOME. 1t has
been beautifully said that, the three most
beautiful words in our language, are,
MOTHER, HOME and HEAVEN and we
verify believe that our homes in this
world may be made such centers of
pure and refining joys that they shall
more than family typify the bliss of
heaven.
"There blend the ties that strengthen
Our hearts in hours of grief,
The silver links that lengthen
joys visits when most brief!
Then, dost thou sigh for pleasure?
o! do not widely roaml
But seek that hidden treasure
AT home, dear homel'
A good home is something for every
man and woman to build up. We
want to know what good home is.
Wewant ourplan of operation, and then
we must work it out, day by day and
year by year. We should not sit down
under the evils that have collected
around us; we should not grow impa-
tient and despair; but very patiently
and persistently we should seek to re-
move them.
Nor need we power or splendor,-
Wide hall or lordly dome;
The good, the true, the tender.
These form the wealth of home
JUSTINIUS.