The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1865-03-22
Family Intercourse.

This is 4 sore subject to touch. One
feels like trcadins e.! At once on 4 hun
d.ed corns. Nearly every family has its
sore spot, its dark corner, It's private
clo5at, carefully locked Up. and in the
interior hidden from the light Of day
1t seems strange to say that most family
difficulties arise from the ignorance oil
the different members Of each other, and
vet /. IS sadly true. Many families live
together for years, and separate, know
ing less cf caoh others secret feelings,
motives, and the springs which guide &C.
ton, than of others who have lived out
side the family circle. Sinai! icalousics
petty selGshness, creep in aad produce
sastrangcments, which frequently mar
the happiness Of 4 lifetime 49,
Thcrc is little appreciation Of the di.
vine beauty and loving, graceful posi-.
bilitics Of the family relation. 1t is 50
common a fact that VIC lose sight Of its
wisdom, just as We forget to be thankful
that tao sun shines, or :hat tho dew or
rain falls. The sweet Eamc Of mother.
brother, sister, falls apon the car with
out meaning, while We arc constantly as
scciatcd with thcm, and in the habiiual
rn;oyucnt of their kind Offices; it Is
only :ong after, when perhaps some
bright eyes have become d!mmed, and
the merry laughter Of others hasEcd
and the weary, tired hear, seeks its resi-
among strangers, that tic magic o.
household names, and tho deep, tender
meaning Of the household relationship,
arc reslly felt.
Tho great want in families is justice
and reciprocity, aud the for5ear"nce
which it is necessary for mortals always
to exercise toward each other. We will
ingly accept it from others, but We arc not
willing to give i, in return. We estab'
fish claim on some incidental ciccUm
stance, or tic bare fact Of relationship,
and impose burdens and accept kindness
without thought Of obligation on our
part. Children make the life Of their
parents orc of ncycr.cnding toll and
anxiety, and often refuse even the poor
reward of their lore and coafdcncc.-
Sisters demand aid, protection, and favors
Of all sorts from their broth ers, and il
asked to mako ;hcir skirts, mend their
hose, or even hem o handkerchief in re-
turn, would have thousand excuses, or
perhaps fatty refuse the needed service
Habitual politcness is . valuable Gle
mcnt Of family intercourse. a coarse
rude speech is less excusablc, addressed
to q father, mother, brother, or sister
than if used to a stranger or simple
acquaintance and yet how common it is
OF course the fault of this lies with the
parents. Prcccpt is Of little use without
example. Some parents think itbeucath
their dignity to prefix request, elf you
please" :" Have the kindness" aud then
wonder why their children can not be
manncrly' like other people. We
havo known the sons Of poor widow
who on no account would have permit
ted themselves to 81, down to table with
their. mother without first arranging
their toilet in the best manner their cir.
cumstauccs would permit, aud never
suffered her, no matter the temptation
to attend church or weekly prayer meet
ing alone. This consideration extended
to the minutest acts of their daily life
and was most charming thing to see.
The mother, it is hardly necessary to
say, was lady Of birth and education,
aud had carefully practiced toward hcl
children that respect Tor their feelings
and ,hough,fulness for their comfort
which she afterwards received from them
[Phrea0Iogica! Journal