Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-05-25
Home Happiness.

HAPPINESS has been called by some
''the pearl of life,'' by others q" the SOULS
sunshine" Home happiness is made up
of CLEANS of sunshine-little rays of light.
If your heart drinks in the sunshine, you
will throw out brightness and warmth
around you. The joy Of life is made up
of little kindnesses, pleasant words, cheer
full smiles; these are as welcome in the
home as the sun is to the flowers, giving
forth its warmth and brightness. The
more happiness we shed around us, the
more will come into our hearts. The
secret of all true happiness is having
peace in the heart. This blessing comes
from God himself for he has promised to
bless His people with peace"
Peace is ruler over contending pas
siOns, it brings calmness and tranquility
where there has been turmoil and strife.
We ask, is your home place of peace,
of rest, and refreshment, refuge from the
worries of outdoor life? If not, what are
you doing to make your home happys
Each member of household must do
his part.
Commit the day unto the Lord, for you
will need guidance, and grace and
strength
Your will is likely to be crossed, and
your temper ruf1led; you will find out
that every one at home has an evil nature
like your own; this may disturb the har-
mony of home, and you will need wisdom
to judge between what is right and what
is wrong; what you should yield, and
what you should hold. Family prayer is
a mighty influence for good, and God di-
reefs US to ask for what we want Seek,
then daily grace for daily need for g if
thou seek Him, He will be found of thee"
and Gas thy day so shall thy strength be-"
Home can never be made happy with
out good temper. 1t is like the flower
that grows up in our pathway to revive
and cheer US.
A soothing influence is felt by the whole
family where there is good disposition,
and the temper is not easily ruf1ed
When the working man returns home at
night wearied by the tolls Of the day, and
is inclined to be fretful; if he is met by
the kind word, and the wife is not easily
provoked, how soothing and quoting it is
to his spirit. 1t is like sunshine falling
on hisheart and he learns to say, There's
no place like home"
Study each ones disposition and char
acter, and seek to influence them for good.
Watch for little opportunities of pleasing
them, and show that you are anxious for
their spiritual and temporal welfare
Pray for each one and sympathize in their
sorrows, and rejoice in their joys. You
must give an account to God for your in
fluence, either for good or for evil. Let
it be done all for God, so that in the great
day of account it may appear that youhave
not lived in vain, but acted up to your re-
sponsi bility.
You cannot as a parent exert an influ-
ence for good without gaining the conf
dence of each child. Avoid GOODNESS and
apparent neglect, for by so doing youwill
drive your child to make confidants of
those who will influence it wrongly. You
will help to shut out the home peace and
happiness from your child's life. "a
Sabbath school teacher was trying to i'm
press upon the mind of an interesting lit
tie girl, between six and seven years old
the debt of gratitude due from her TO her
heavenly Father for bestowing upon her
so good ~ kind parent, whom every
body loveetthe teacher was astounded with
the childs answer, looking her full in
the face, with her soft blue eyes, she re-
piled, "Fathe- never speaks kindly to
me- ''-StandGrd.
Some of the superf1uous boys of the |