The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1868-06-10
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FoR THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
Household Counsels.


sad to think that many, many mothers
feel not their responsibilities, and live on
unmindful of their duties.
These trying tunes that have fallen
upon us bear especially hard upon you.
Many of you have been reared in atHu-
euce and ease, and to such, daily toll Is
rksome in the extreme. Very few kinds
of labor call for more patience and self
control than the toll necessary to carry
on household arrangements.
The time was when you had tried and
faithful domestics, who assisted you in
the routine of daily work, and who
shOuldered the burden of labor. Of
these you are deprived. We stop not to
say how much you have been wronged,
or where the blame lies. Our Heavenly
Father permitted it in goodness and wis
dom, and we grieve not for our losses.
But they are still our friends. Those
who nursed US in infancy, and who in
turn we have nursed in sickness. Those
who were the attendants of our children,
and who shared in their sports are still
our friends, and the kindly greeting We
give and receive when We meet, attest to
the sincerity of cur friendship. But now
many of our Southern matrons toll on
unaided, fulfilling their daily tasks as
best they can. Draw supplies of grace
from above Be cheerful and contented
with your lot, however different it may
now be from what it once was. Fret not,
at the many, many demands on your
time and strength. 1t is said woman's
work is never DONE The multiplicity of
little cares and household works, will
leave not much time for rest or recrea-
ton, but it will help matters greatly to
be cheerful and happy, rather than dis
contented and fretful.
Your responsibilities too are increased.
Your husbands are Strengthened in means,
They are worried and perplexed to OBJ
tain support for their families. 1t is
in your power by frugality and economy
in all your arrangements to assist and
aid them. By a cheerful temper, and
good management make their homes
happy, and their hearts light Repine
not if your fare is plain, and you have
it not in your power to entertain your
guests as generously as in former days.
Fret not, if your wardrobe be scant, and
cheap. No one was ever the more
esteemed for costly apparel.
The education of your children must
now, in a great many instances, be car
ried on at home. Very few have it in
their power to pay teachers to instruct
them; and now their education must be
carried on under the direction and con.
troll of their mothers. See that you give
them proper aims and incentives. Teach
them to think, and set before them mo-
tives for earnest effort. Give them true
views of life, so that they will become
useful men aud women. Are your
daughters discouraged, because so many
avenues to pleasure are closed, and they
are unable to receive the accomplish
ments :hey desire? Teach them to be
useful at home. Require them to assist
you in household work, so that in their
turn they may make good wives and use
full members of society. Teach them
that the great end of life is to do good.
Are your sons gloomy and disheart-
ened because their prospects are clouded,
and their aspirations unrealized? Teach
them that earnest and patient effort will
certainly succeed. What though ike our
Master, and the Apostle Paul, they must
follow some occupation. Let it be an
honorable calling, and no disgrace can be
attached to it. Nay, diligence and in
dustry in honorable callings secure the
appreciation of all.
Let us, dear friends, be more sober
and earnest Christians. A Christian
mother influence ought to be felt in her
family-and if so many Christian moth
ers in our land had not departed from
the simple faith, and Bible teachings of
their mothers, perhaps the judgments of
Heaven now visited on us, would have
been stayed. Would our land be as sunk
in vice and corruption as it now is, i'll
Christian parents had not withheld rei-
giOus teaching from their children, and
by their example inculcated frivolity and
love of the world?
Strive to be faithful, dear friends, and
remember that He that goeth forth and
weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall
doubtless come again with rejoicing, bring
ing his sheaves with him" Press forward,
fulfilling allneedful duties, land your aching
limbs and soil-worn feet will soon rest on
the banks of the river of life, and your
weeping eyes behold the Lord in His
glory. W.
Hale Co., Ala.
plsa for the Tittla Folks