Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-05-04
What is Your Standing at Home :

We often hear the question asked OF such
and such an one" What is his standing in
society9" or What is his standing in the
Church, or among business men2" But we
never think Of asking before we take him in
TO our confidence" How does he stand at
homer" And yet the man who can make re-
ply to this question with an untroubled heart
aud clear conscience is hero not so often met
with, but that he is worth looking after and
closely cultiyating.
"Home again. dearest Safe at home, once
more Oh, how have missed you ~ So ex-
claims a glad wife, as she meets with caress
the weary man for whose coming she has
watched and waited until the twilight has
dcepened into night. She draws him into the
cheerful family room, talking all the while,
and busying herself in the meantime in sun
dry little contrivances TO make him comfort
able. And here come the children You
hear chirping voices and pattering feet in the
hall long before the little rosy faces come in
sight.
What shouting and clambering and what
disputing to see who shall get to papa first
So much to tell So many questions to ask
So many kisses to be given and taken Aud
there is headlong race and a promiscuous
scramble, ending in general head-over'heel'
tumble at the suggestion from mamma that
papa would like somebody to fetch his slip
pers, maybe
How pleasantly she scolds over the distract
ing noise with a" Now, children, do be quiet y
But it is plain to see that she enjoys the
aforesaid noise as much as any Of them, while
to the contcnted man, who is snugly ensconcet
| in the most comfortable chair in the room
this hour of relaxation is full payment foi
all the tolls aud weariness of the day. This
is one of the men who stand well at home
How | have missed you !"
You must stand well at home, before any
body there will ever say the words to you
just as they ought to be said, How | have
missed you !"
How much of grateful affection is expressed
in that one short sentence 1t tells of hour
of tender, brooding thought for an absen
loved one. What blessed thing it is to b.
missed How we treasure loves remember
ance
How involuntarily the question arises in th'
heart Of the absent, Do they miss me a
. uulllt Auu HOh utoolhAt dhh bANN'i Wv
heart when we feel there are none to miss us
Not one to send loving wishes and thought
out after us Not one kind voice to greet u
when we come How very hard it must b
to lead loveless life | think there can b
no other cross so hard to bear.
God pity and soften the man whose stand
ing at home is not good whose family shrin
, away in fearful silence as his foot crosses tn
, threshold whose children shun the ROOF
that he darkens with his presence who's
wife meets him with pale, spiritess crushe
> look, which tells how small is her hope of
caress, how scanty have been the loving word
and looks that have frightened her life. Go
help those who love him for it is a pen
nance to love such a man. And God bles
the generous, cheerful, large hearted ma
/ who always brings the sunshine with him
! who leaves his cares and business dow
town. and brings only his own cheerful an
/ cheering self home TO his family for h
face is never falling source of gladness
those who love him, and his tenderness
t their highest pride and surest shield, aft,
! Gods.
/ All if your standing at home isn't goo
one, dear reader-irrespectiye of sex-be
greater hurry to make it so than you al
5 to do any other thing in this world Don
c wait until the memory Of the grieved loo
Q upon some dear face--almost habtual TO i
, by reason of your habitual unkindness-sul
: dues you into gentleness when that face hi
e gone forever from your gaze, and you ca
t never call forth a smile to dwell upon
G again.