Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1872-11-07
Fireside Department.
Coming Home.
BY MARY +. KELLY.

BY MARY T.. KELLY.
Oh, tell me not there is not a
charm in the well-swept hearth, in
the soft dressing gown, and the cozy
slippers, waiting by the easy chair
to rest the weary feet that have all
day toiled, to bring so many com
forts to the loved ones at home.
Home. home, that haven of rest
for which so many toll. Working
mems feet weary for home; think
ing mems brows ache for home; the
merchant builds his great ware
houses fer home; for it the black
smiths anvil rings; the plOwman
turns the soil; the author thin ks
and writes his volumes; and far
across the tossing biliows of the
ocean, the sailor turns his longing
eyes homeward; while the brave
soldier, devoted heart and soul to
home, as he treads his lonely beat,
breathes the names of "wife, chill
dren, homer
And now, from all his care and
toll, the husband and father comes
to claim the chair, the slippers and
the gown, the work of loving hearts
and busy hands. Happy children's
voices call, "Papa, papa" and little
pattering feet run in eagerness to
get the first kiss, or to be caught up
in strong arms to nestle in fond EN-
brace! while mothers eyes brighten
as if it were the happiest hour in
all the day, as indeed it is, for the
kind, good, genial-hearted toiler is
so welcome at his own hearth stone.
Care is banished, toll fees away;
here is rest for the weary; bright
lights are cleaning, cheerful fires
are burning, and the warm supper
is spread on the snowy cloth: moth
er looks SO beautiful, the children
are so clean, each little cheek seems
like blooming rose, and child
hoods silken hair lies in soft waves
over brows like the lily.
Now the chairs are at the table,
every little hand is folded and papa
asks God to bless them with his
love and tender mercy. Then, after
tea, story for the little ones; a
story that makes the blue eyes
dance, and yet contains some treas
ure for their hungry minds, some
ailment for mental growth, for these
active little ones do crave such nu
triment. A kind, a cheering word
for mamma, that says loves labor
is not lost; even mamma cannot
walk by faith alone, although we
think she is SO strong in everything
that is good, even she is stronger,
better, for the gentle, loving word.
All! the kind, thoughtful affec-
tion, which makes home the very
dearest spot on earth, is a mutual
regard from every member of the
household to every other member.
l know that charity vaunteth not
itself, is not puffed up, is pure, hum
BILE, and all unselfish. Yet it is not
so very undemonstrative; now and
then it will not disdain a caress;
the father cannot resist the pretty,
winning ways of his sweet, beauti-
full child; the mother will some
times lift on her slender fingers the
soft, dark hair from a brow that is
so thoughtful for her; and somehow
she cannot help but just touch that
with her lips, as she never did in
her maidenhood. and with a smile
the thought comes to her that the
husband is dearer than the lover
ever was.
There is an immortality of affec-
tion that all might wish could bless
their homes. 1t is, alas. too rare.
But in the home blest by the love of
Jesus, how can it quite fail? There
is a sanctity there that is a whole
some atmosphere for all the gentle
virtues, the small sweet courtesies,
that ought to save many bark of
human happiness for making ship
wreck upon the shoals of selfshness.