Smyrna times., 1876-03-08
A Family Journal.

In a certain farmhouse twenty years
ago a great blank book was kent. and
labeled Home Journal. Every night some.
body made an entry in it. Father set down
the sale of the calves, or mother the cut.
ting OF the baby's eye-tooth; or, perbaps,
Jenny wrote full account Of the sleirbinn
party last night; or Bob the proceedings OF
the Phi Beta Club; or Tom scrawled
lned my new gun. Bully. Shot into
the fence and Johnson's old cat"
On toward the middle Of the book there
was an entry of Jenny's marriage. and ono
OF the younger girls had added a descrin.
tlon OF the bridesmaids dresses, and LONG
a1terward there was written, "This dav
father died." in Bob's trembling hand
There was blank of MANY months ofter
that
But nothing could have served better to
olnd that family of headstrong bows and
girls together than the keeping of this book
lhey come back to the old homestead
now, men and women with crizzlcd hair
TO see their mother who is still Iivino. and
turn over its pages reverently with many q
nearly laugh, or the tears coming into thair
eyes 1t is their childhood come back
again in visible shape.
There are many other practical WAYS in
winch home ties can be strengthened and
made more enduring for children. and
surely this Is as necessary and important .
matter III the arrangement Of q household
as the furnishing Of the library or cham.
Oers IN good taste, or the accumulation Of
orlc-a-Orac' One most direct way is the
keeping OF anniversaries: not Christmas
Easter, nor the Fourth of July alone. bpt
those which belong to that home alone
Ihe chlldren's birthdays, their mothers
wedding day, the day when they all came
INTO the new home. There are a hundred
cheerful, happy little events which some
cheerful and happy little ceremony will
make lifelong pleasure. The Germans
keep alive their strong domestic attach.
ments by just such means as these. II
seems natural and right to their cbildran
That all the house should be turned ton.v.
'ufVy with JOY at Water Or Mutter's Geburt-
stag; while to the American bow or Girl II
Is matter Of Indifference when his father
and mother We're born. We know q house
In which it is the habit to give TO each
servant triAing gift on the anniversary Of
Their coming into the family: and. rs
might be expected, these anniversaries |
return Tor many years. Much of the soroo |
humanizing effect NAV he nro.
iuced by remembering and humorino the
innocent whims and peculiarities of chill
'ren. Among hard-workinc peonIe If is
he custom too often to bring uD n famiIv
Il Platoons and to marshal them through
hlldhood by the same general, inAexible
uleS' Ihey must eat the same dishes.
'ear the same clothes, work, play, talk. ac.
orulhg 10 the prescribed notions of father
mother. When right or wrong is con-
efned, let the rule be inexorable but
men taste, character, or stomach only is
lvoived, humOr the boy. Be to TOMS red
ravat little blind; make Will the md
ing that he likes, while the others choose
ie' They will be surer of your affection
nan II you sentimentalized about
lother's love for an hour. Furthermore.
o not grow old yourself too soon. Buy
neSs'ooards, dominoes, bagatelle; learn to
lay games with the boys and girls; en-
ourage them to ask their friends to dinner ,
nd tea, and take care that your dress and :
le table be pretty and attractive, that the :
llldren may be ashamed of neither :
why should l stay at home in the
'ening?" said lad the other dov
Mother sits and darns stockings or reads t
'ys Devotions; father dozes, and Marov d
rites to her lover. I'll go where I can a
ave fun" Meantime father and mother h
ere broken-hearted because Joe was \
gong to ruin," which was undoubtedly
e fact.-FTcsidc.