Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1870-07-29
The Oh Folks at Home.

DR.. Aikman, in his Life at Home,
urges children not to forget the old folks
nj home. He SAYS There is always
liability. when sons and daughter have
gone away from the home Of their child
hood, and have formed homes Of their
own, gradually to lose the old attachments
and cease TO pay those attentions TO their
parents which were so easy and natural
in the olden time. New associations,
new thoughts, new cares, all come IN,
filling the mind and heart, and, if special
pains be not taken, they crowd out the
old loves. This ought never TO be. You
should remember that the change is with
you, and not with those you lett behind.
You have every thing new, much that IS
attractive in the present and bright in the
future their heart clings 10 the past they
have most in memory. When yon went
away, you knew not, and will never know
ill you experience it, what 1t cost them TO
give you up, nor what vacancy you lett
behind. They have not, il you have, any
new loves 10 take place Of the old. Do
not, then, hcarllessly deprive them OF
what you still can give OF attention and
love.
VisH y0ur parents. If you live in the
same place, let your step be. perhaps
daily n familiar one in the old home; If
you are miles. yea. many miles away.
make it your business to 60 to them. In
this matter do not regard time nor ex-
pense the one is well spent and the other
will be fully, yea, hundred fold repaid.
When some day the word reaches you,
flashed over the telegraph, that father or
mother has gone, you will not think them
much. those hours of travel which last
bore you 10 their side.
Write TO your parents. / have known
father and mother wait with sick hearts
through weary months, longing that some
word might reach them from the absent
son. They have watched the mails, till
in despair they have ceased to expect any
more, and while they may not have the
grief of great bereavement, they have
what is almost as bad, the bitter con-
seriousness that they arc not in mind
enough even to call out few poor lines
from one whose early years they watched
with slcepless love. Sons are often gulity
of this crime-I cannot call 1t !css-lrom
sheer neglect or Incidence. While an
hour. perhaps few moments, would
suftice to write letter which would give
unspeakable satisfaction. they let months
aud even years slip away in utter IN
difference to all the pain they are causing.
Oh, how full is many mothers heart OF
sorrow and foreboding, when just few
words from an absent son would illI 1t
with Joy and praise! Such indifference or
NEGLECT is shameful and wicked. One
need not wonder that sons guilty OF it are
not prospercd, that they wait in vain Tor
those turns of fortune which will send
them home. rs they dream. TO surprise
the old neighborhood with their wealth
Their thoughtlessness has been pro-
ductiye only of disaster.
Keep up your intercourse with father
or mother; do not deem it sufhclent 10
write when something important IS to DO
told; do not say, "No news is good news.
If it be but few lines, write them; write,
if il be only to say. 81 am well;" it it be
only 10 send the sautation that says they
are dear" or the farewell that tells them
that you are "affectionate" still. Inc
little messengers shall be like caskets oil
Jewels, and the tears that fall londiy over
Them will be treasures ior you. Say with
a warmhcarted son:
ssThe hills may tower, the waves mn. ''so
And roll between my home ana me-
Yet shall my queBchless mehofles,
Turn with undying love 10 'hee