Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1872-02-17
Don't Forget tine old Folks at
Home.

There is always liability, when
sons and daughters have gone from
the homeof their childhood, and have
homes of their own gradually TO
lose the old attachments and cease
to nav those attentions to their pa
rents which were so easy and natu-
raj in the olden time. New associa-
tions, new thoughts, new cares, all
come in filling the mind and heart,
and, il special pains be not taken
they crowd out the old loves. This
ought never to be. You should re-
member that the change is with you
and not with those you have left
behind. You have everything new,
much that is attractive in the pres
ent 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 il, what II
cost them to give you up nor what
a 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 you parents. YOU live in
| the same place, let your step be,
perhaps, daily, a familiar one in the
| old home; If you are miles, yea,
many miles away makeit your busi-
ness 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 your parents. | have
known father and mother 10 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 dispair they hive ceased to
expect any more, and whue they
may, not have the griefof bcreave'
ment, 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 can
not call il less-frOm sheer neglec
or Incidence. While an hour, per
haps a few moments, would suffice
to write a letter which would giv'
, unspeakable satisfaction, they lie
months, even years, slip away II
: utter Indifference TO all the pain the.
t are causing. Oh, how fuh is man,
mothers heart Of sorrow and fore
; bodying, when just few word
= from an absent son would fiji IL viii
} joy and praise. Such indifference
= or neglect is shameful and wicked
: One need not wonder that son
: guilty of il are not prospered, tina
, they wait in vain for those turns o
fortune which viii send them homo
as they dream, TO surprise the oil
: neighborhood with their wealth.
Their thoughtlessness has been pro
! ductive only Of disaster.
Keep up your intercourse wit
r your father or mother; do not deer
( il sufficient to write when some
I thing important is TO be told; do no
! say, "neWs is good news" IL IL b
l but few lines write them; Tit b
{ only to say, 81 am well; If il be onl
r to send the salutatiOn that says the
2 are ''dear," or the fare well this
1 tells them that you are affection
ate" still. The messengers shall B
i like caskets of jewels, and.the teaI
e that fall fondly over them, will /
e treasurers for you.