The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-11-10
HOME AS 1T SHOULD BE.
The following essay was read before the La
Sale County Grange, at Prairie Centre, October

The more time and study give to my subject
the greater the area of ground it covers; or II
other words, 1t awakcns in my mind innumcrabl'
trains Of thought, and | am at II loss to kno"
where to begin. My first impulse is, on hearing
the subject, Home as it should bc,"-a rctros
pectiye view of childhood homes, and their etiec,
on my mind, following up in later years our own
! homes and those of friends and ncghbors, dis
secting them, separating the gold from the dross
and building from the best of each q home rs il
should be. In the first place, secure firm foun
daton upon which 10 build, thereby securing
durability, irmncss, strength. 1t matters mol
what material is used for the construction OF the
house, neither the size Of it particularly; but we
would ask to have itplcasantly located, and with
every convenience that could be made available
to tighten indoor work. A good sized lawn sur
rounding it, with plenty of room for trees and
flowers, neat walks, pleasant porches and plain
fence around. do not cost great deal. and ifkcpt
in good order add much to the attractiycness OF
home. The old, the young, everybody likes II
better for the charms which lie around 1t.
We are pleased with the exterior. We enter
and find Il genial spirit experimenting here, also
neatncss and order reign supreme, but not to the
degree Of primncss and stiffness as to make one
feel uncomfortable. Everything shows refine
ment and culture. Perhaps the window hang
ings, upholstery or carpets are neither of them
expensive, but all mpart chaste and hallowed
influence on the home Every day life runs
smoothly. Jars and discords would CRATE on the
nerves sometimes were it not for the daily discl-
pline, the coming of kind words and gentle acts,
the selfforgetfulncss the bearing of one aEoth-
er's burdens, the tender care for the comfort OF
each, the mutual sympathy of parent with chIld
and child with parent, the entering into OF JOYS
and sorrows not forgetting that the little one ;
trouble is rs hard for it to bear as the trouble
that comes TO older ones. Here it is in the early
home that character is formed, though | can
hardly agree with some that the first three years
are the guiding star to the future; yet do be
leve that the young mind catches hold of and
clings to the acts and influences surrounding II
in youth. Just as naturally does it imbibe the
air of refinement and culture, grow in the atmos
phere of love and strengthen in the principles Of
Christianity as the young plant grows in the pure
atmosphere of heaven, nourished and strength
pnCu lTOill lnt ttiHtHlS VI lt sui pA'I'NI'A y
the all.wisc Creator.
Early taught in the home as it should be the
great principles Of industry and economy, the
powers which produce and preserve prosperity
strong when together, weak when separated
much Of happiness lies imbeddcd in these princi-
pies Ii seems to me we can hardly fathom their
great worth &c us at the present day, when We
see before us, at all times and places might say,
the two cXtrcmcs-povcrty and riches, showing
plainly the regard and disregard of these laws or
principles.
Could we only all 90 back and, pausng in each
old state, see what conqucsts industry and fore
thought had won, we should want to have statues
of the ideas, that we might have somewhere to
place the laurel wrcaths. By every river, by cy-
cry plain, economy has come to build up home,
n village or city. II is generally conceded that
a universal industry and sobricty was a most po-
tent element in that religion which carried the
Mosaic commonwealth onward in success for so
many centuries. One of their salient laws was,
that each family should have home. We pos
scss better implements for labor, better conre-
nenccs for travel, but they surpassed Us in the
constitutional idea that each family must own II
home in city or country. That law made indus
try universal, and the probability is that for hun
drcds of years they were wonderfully free from
paupcrsm or pinchinS poverty. Industry and
forethought thus began their bencdccnt career as
soon AS history began to record the facts Of lm-
man life. Looking thus into the past and sean
ming history down TO the present, We see industry
economy and forcthought springing up and CIV
ing promise of becoming at some day group al
most as divine us Paul's "Faith, Hope and Char
ity" But there are other principles Ia he IN
grated in the Young mind. Integrity Of chai;c-
ter, sterling worth, that embodiment of h"sh
which when one saws "Fll do so and So" you
are satisfied and think il sure as the sun is 10
rise and set What help to mankind, LniRgtq,
this implicit trust and confidence in one another.
4 self reliance or independence is also necessary,
which can prompt one to provide for reasonable
wants, but turn a deaf ear to the many r,lS uuH.s.
Wants need looking into most carefully. They
will il let alone, do some most wonderful things
with anybody income. No doubt many persons
are robbed, q, it were, by the prevailing falsc
wants. Scandal i another evil to be- Stunned.
Let Il be far removed from the household. Sian"
phrase, go with il. Keep them great ways Oh.
Substitute for these bclittling habits something
clcyating. Cultivate music with all is charms.
Bring in the innocent game, and pastimcs of
youth. These the young must have, and il they
cannot be- enjoyed al home they will seek them
elsewhere. Furnish good reading, high.tned
and wholesome. Let good picture upon the
walls De silent, refining influence upon the
family.
Last. but not least, let me notice one important
point. 80 generally disrcgarlcd; that is. the al.
tiyation Of social faculties. Home l. the place Ia
use py,gsr hD,g,agc, Ia discuss tho topics Of the
day, aud talk them over frc ,ly an incentive to
research and study; allowing the joke aud hearty
laugh for a relish. Seems Ia me hi, would tnd
10 education and cement Sin stronger the tie, Of
home life.
We viii conclude, that II all these principles
have been thoroughly Taught, together with al
the book knowledge that could Dee made ayuila