Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-06-06
Don't Forget the Old Folks at
Home.

I Home.
There is always liability, when sons
and daughters have gone from the home
of their childhood, and have homes OF
their own, gradually to lose the old at
tachments and cease to pay those at
t, antions to their parents which were sc
ca sy and natural in the olden time
Ne W associations, new thoughts, new
car es, all come in, filling the mind and
heai t, and, if special pains be not taken,
they crowd out the old loves. This
ought never to be. You should re-
memb er that the change is with you
and no I with those you have left be-
hind. You have everything new, much
that is attractive in the present and
bright in the future; their hearts cling
to the past, they have most in memory.
When you, went away, you knew not
and will never know till you experience
it what it cost them to give you up, nor
what vacancy you left behind. They
have not, if you have, new loves to take
the place Of the old. Do not then,
heartlessly deprive them of what you
still can give of attention and love.
Visit your parents. If you live in
the same place, let your step be, per-
haps daily, familiar one in the old
home; If you are miles, yea, many miles,
away, make it your business to go to
them. In this matter do not regard time
nor expense; the one is well spent, and
the other will be fully, yea, hundred
fold repaid. When some day the word
reaches you, that father or mother has
gone, you will not think them much,
those hours of travel which last bore you
to their side.
Write TO yOHr parents. Ihave known
father and mother to wait with sick
hearts through weary months, longing
that some word might reach them from
an absent son. They have watched the
mails till in despair they have ceased to
expect any more, and while they may
moi have the grief of bereavement,
they have what is almost as bad, the
bitter consciousness that they are not in
mind enough even to call out a few poor
lines from one whose infancy and early
years they watched with sleepless love-
Sons are often guilty of this crime-I
cannot call it less-frOm sheer neglect
and Incidence. While an hour, perhaps,
a few moments, would suffice to write
a letter that would give unspeakable sat
isfaction, they let months, even years,
slip away in utter Indifference 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 fill it with
10y and praise. Such indifference or
neglect is shameful and wicked. One
need not wonder that sons guilty Of it
have not prospered, that they wait in
vain for those turns of fortune which
will send them home, as they dream, to
surprise the old neighborhood with their
wealth. Their rthoughtlessness has been
productive only Of disaster.
Keep up your intercourse with your
father or mother; do not deem it sutii-
cient to write when something important
is to be told; do not say mo news is
good news" If it be but a few lines,
write them; If it be only to say " | am
we'll; if it be only to send the saluta-
ton that says they are dear, or the
farewell that you are afiectionate
still. The messengers shall be Ike cas-
kets Of jewels, and the tears that fall
fondly over them viii be treasures for
you.