Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1877-06-27
SWEET HOMES.

]
SWEET HOMES.
The clustering meanings that gather
about our dear Saxon word "home'
are numerous, 1t suggests to us {
temple Of love and truth, of peace, con
ISOLATION, and rest; the centre of Joy
and harmony, of all that is beautiu
and desirable; and so we come 10 re
gard heaven as home, differing from
our earthly ones only in perfection.
OF every reality in the world We
can in our minds form an IDEAL of none
q more beautiful than OF home. There
should be all that tends to cultivate
and refine taste. Books to invite one
to scan their contents; music to soothC
and cheer; well-chosen pictures, al
artistic and harmonious blending oI
colors which quickens the sense Of the
beautiful; plants, since in each swell
ing bud and blossoming flower lessons
OF love and trust may be found.
This is our ideal home-but, sad tc
say, and ideal too seldom realized
Every homo is happy one until you
sec beneath the roof" said q writer in
the olden time, and grievous il is that
the peaceful looking roofs so frequent
1y cover disharmonies and indifference,
or gathering storms. In these uncon
genial abodes, each member of the
household has his or her opinion on
every subject, if they are strong char
acters Each one tenaciously advo-
Gates his side of the question bitter
grieving words ensue and coldness
creeps into the hearts, till home be-
comes dreaded, and only meeting
place for food and lodging, where
wearily drag the hours and days. So
important are the seemingly little
things in home.liie, so many are the
causes that produce these sad results,
that it is difficult to know on which to
descant, or how TO make the weight
of their Importance felt.
Our homes should be the strong.
holds of our country, since in their in
fluence arc the minds OF our future
citizens anG statesmen formed, and
girls are nurtured who will raise up
other homes fashioned after the models
of those they have known.
Every vocation in life requires years
of preparation. A life work demands
a life study. But woman whose
mission and whose work il is to make
the home, too often enters upon hei
duties wholly untitled and unprepared
having given no thought to the weight
her influence will have there. She
neglects her mind forgetting that the
impetus TO improvement and culture
must emanate from her. She neglectt
her body, forgetful that good health
alone begets good temper. She neg
lects her manners, forgetting that hers
will leave their impress upon every in
mate, while she overloolss no fault il
Others She descends to idle gossip
too little mindful of womans home
life, and fogettng that, as in old Rome
the Lares made the home, so she now
is the presiding and comforting deity
The training Of boys also is rarely
that which will fit them to be loving
and thoughtful. If mothers would re
alizc this, and educate their sons fol
husbands, and to be gentlemen indeed
hall the sorrow Of home-llfe would be
avoided. Were boys taught to be
courteous, kind, and attentive to theii
sisters, and were made to understand
that they had a duty TO fulfill in The
home, we need no longer say as now
that husbands are also greatly rospon
sible for the too universal wrctched
ness.
They too often address TO then
wives sharp and discourteous words
(Which they forget and VIC remem
bcr," young wife sadly said to me
the other day. Fully absorbed in
their own pursuits, oblivious to the
trials and needs of their wives, they
offer no word Of cheer to those who
have labored YEARLY in dull monotony
all day. They give no and in the educa
ton Of children, but deem that their sole
duty lies in providing pecuniary sup
port; failing to read in the careworn
patient face, from which the girl.bloom
has too soon faded, silent pleading fol
a little thoughtful tenderness, a little
loving aid. True, they love their
wives dcvotedly; but love, without