Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-12-13

is apt TO sink into the background aud be
crowded ont by the too prominent and 40.
sorbing cares and ambitious which have sen
Tor their centre.
There is one source Of happiness which -
seldom il ever, fully appreciated or made 70
yield half the delicious enjoyment II Is capa
bile of aifording We allude TO home gfe.
There are more exciting pleasures, more I'M
petuoln qualifications, more beWitching at
fractions. but nowhere can we find more
solid and permanent happiness, more calm
aud enduring satisfaction. more innocent
aud gleefnl oy, than in a family home
where love reigns supreme. One cause OF
this lies in the perfect naturalness oi lis re-
lations There is nothing forced or arbi-
trary about the grouping of this assenblage.
The father and mother have been drawn
together, il is 10 be hoped, by mutual alice
ti0n. The children, bringing with them
new interests and new Joys, have found
one by one, their appointed places and their
glad welcomes. 10 Is no artificial assembly,
gathered together for some vowed purpose,
and dissolved when that purpose Is gained.
1t has, indeed, no direct mission 10 inlhli
outside its own boundaries. Its existence
and happiness, and the mutual good Of its
members, are its sufficient aims. Each
/
duties TO the outside world but the family,
as taRiiI is little world in itself. All
the socalistic enterprises which have striyen
20 osupplaut this institution have failed, sim
ply because they were warning against one
Of the strongest instincts of human nature
that which draws father, mother and chit
dren under one root-tree and around one
/ hearthstone.
Another cause of the happiness which
/ family life is capable of shedding may be
/ found in the importance with which each
/ member is invested. We al love TO feel our
I selves centers around which others revolve
I but comparatively few la society can have
/ this experience Most of us are ever circling
around Others. and are thus reminded of our
I own insgnihcance but at home each one is
I a center. No matter how obscure or petty
his life may seem in the outdoor crowd, let
/ him once enter the sacred portal OF home and
he becomes Of consequence. His health. his
interests. his prospects are here discussed
with ayidity his tastes are consulted, his
affection prized, and his whole being seems
invested with higher dignity.
II is true, however, that many families dc
not realize this happiness Sometimes this
is because they lack the vitalizing power OF
love, without which family happiness must
I Witner aud die as surely as the plant Wltn
ont the sun. More commonly, however, the
love is there, but obscured and shadowed by
uumberless little vexations tempers and dis
contents. The husband truly loves and
would risk his lie for her without mo
ments hesitancy yet he continually sacri
fees her happiness 10 his own self-will or ii
humor OF selfish indulgence The wife is
sincerely attached to her husband, and il
any great issue of life would be his staunch
est supporter; yet she carelessly makes hin
the victim of her frettulness or eXtraya
gance, or neglects TO make cheerful and
inviting home for his weary hours. Sc
with parents and children, strong cords o
affection bind them together but the harsf
reproof or the stern denial on one side, anC
the sharp retort or the sullen silence on thu
other. loosen the bonds and destroy th'
beauty of the relation. 1t is not great grief'
that mar the harmony of family life. 1t II
little faults little neglects, thoughtless words
selfish exactions bad habits. There arr
many things that we crave, that we neve
can acquire, but a happy home Is accessible
to whoever will take the pains to obtain 1t
1t does not require much money, deep cul
ture, great genius nor marked talents /
does need love for its main support, and th'
constant expression of that love in kiudl,
deeds, gentle words, and willing self-denial
-Phlddelphid Ledgsr.