The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-05-13
What is Your Standing at Home7

We oftcn hear tho question asked Of
such and such one-"Wfmt is his stand
ing In society? or, what Is his standing In
the church, or among business mcn" But
We never think of asking before we tako
him into our confidcncc-"IIow does he
stand mt homer" And yet. tho man who
can make reply TO this question with m
untroublcd heart and clear conscience Is n
hero not 30 often met with. but that he Is
worth looking amer and closely cultivat-
Ing. a u.s .Hi.D Irlyl .ir.s.j a, i,an...
"IIome again dearest ! Safe nj home
once moro! On. how have missed ysu!"
So cxclaims glad wife, rs shc meets with
carcss tho weary nInn for whose coming
she has watched until tho twilight has
dccpcncd into night. She draws him In
to the cheerful family room, talking NIL
the while. and busying herself In the mean
timo In sundry little contrivances to mako
him comfortable. And hero comes the
children! You hear chirping voices and
Iattcring feet In the hall. long before tho
rosy faces come In sight.
What shouting and climbing. and what
disputing 10 see who shall get 10 papa
first! So much TO tell! So many qucs-
tons to ask! So many kisses to bc given
and taken! And then there Is hcadlong
race and promiscuous scramble, and end
Ing In general head ov@ heels tumble
at q suggestion from mamma that papa
would Ike somebody to fetch his slippers,
maybe.
How pleasantly shc scolds over tho dis
tracting noise with snow children, do
DO quiet I" But Il Is plain 10 SEQ that she
enjoys tho aforesaid noise rs much rs any
ofthcm, while tho contented man, who Is
80 snugly cnconccd In tho most comfort
able chair In the room. considers this hour
of relaxation Is full payment for NIL tho
tolls and WEAKNESS OF the day. This Is
one OF tho men who stand well Mt home.
"IIow have missed you!"
You must stand well nt home, before
anybody there will ever say tho words to
you, just as they ought To DO said, "liow
/ have missed your
How much OF grateful affection Is cx-
pressed In that one short sentence! It
tolls of hours of tender brooding thought
for mn absent loved one. What blessed
thing Il Is to be missed! How we treas
urc loves remembrance!
How involuntarily the question nriscs
In the heart of the absent one, "Do they
miss mo mt homer" And how desOlats
and bitter the heart when We feel that
there arc mono 10 miss us! Not one To
send loving wishes and thoughts out after
us! Not one kind voice to greet .us when
we come! How very har,l IL must bc tn
lead loveless life! think there can bo
no other cross 30 hard 10 bear.
I'll ..tS.. .,..l snn.s, Sha MAN xwhoaN
standing Mt home Is not good; WHOSE fam
lily shrink away In fearful silence ~ his
foot crosses the threshold; whose children
shun the room that no darkcns with his
presence; whose wffe meets him with y
pale, spiritlcss, crushed look. which tells
how small Il her hope ofa carrss, how
scanty have been the loving words and
looks that have frightened her life. God
help those who love hinl for u h . pc's-
ance to love such man. And God bless
the generous. cheerful. large-hcartcd man.
who always brings the sunshine with him
who leaves his cares and his business
'.down town." aud brings only his own
cheerful self homo TO his family; for his
face Is nsvcr.failing source OF glsdness
TO those who love him, and his tender
meas their hishest prido and surost shicld
after Gods. ~ ' 1-I.
All! II your standing at homo isn't =
good ons dear rcadcr.-ircspcctive OF
sex-be In greater hurry to make Il ~
than you aro To do any other thing In this
world. Don't wait until tho memory Of
the grieved look upon some dear face. al
most habih,al unkindncss, subducs you
into gentlcncss, when that faco has gono
forever from your gaze. and You can ncv.
er call forth . smile 10 dwell upon it
aOnin .HH. 49,