The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1877-08-19
MAKE HONE ATTRAC7ITE.
"H Home is the sphere of harmony and peace.
The spot where angels find . resting place
When, bearing blessings, they descend to ca r

Home Hon els, is the sphere ot, Of harmony M and peace,
When, bearing blessings they descend to earth"
There are few words in the English language
more beautifully significant than the word
Home" 1t is the poets theme and the
painters subject. Home, sweet home," is, or
ought to be, the synonym of happy abode.
Around it ought to cling the affection's sweet
est memories and Hopes choicest antioipa-
tions. But alas how few really happy homes
there are in this little world of ours. How few
there are who strive to make home the most
desirable place in the world home on earth
is, ought to be, the symbol of that happy
home in the great Hereafter, where the Hea-
venly Father gives perfect and eternal hsppi-
ness to those faithful children who dwell with
Him there. 1t ought to be, too, like the Oasis
in the Desert.-the green spot to which the
weary traveller over life's burning sands can
look back with sffectionste regret, or forward
to with joyous hope
Yes, we should all make home happy, beauti-
full, desirable
Wide hall, Or loIdly dome:
Theso sSI; form nG the eS wealth sS Of home"
But, alas how We in this regard! How
very many of those who, forsakipR the path of
their msfortDpes and misery TO the neglect of
parents to make home the most beautiful, the
most desirable of places! Here there are sour
looks aud cross words there q child sent into
the streets, or anywhere, to keep it from dis
turbng its fond parents. Here there is 10
pleasant company, no music, no good books /;
there there are no toys, no attractions to make
home lOvable. Here there is no religion, no
morality there there is opprobrious and i'm
proper language. In short, there ls nothing
TO make home attractive and desirable; aud 30
the poor children go into the streets and the
by-weys in search of recreation aud pleasure,
and are lost TO God and 20 their country. They
tnrn their backs upon the bleak homes aud
upon all that is coed, and 60 forth luto the
world immoral people and bad citiz ans.
Oh, then, what a responsibility rests upon
parents and guardians! What q duty ID in
cumbent upon them to make houe happy
GIVE your children good and beautiful boeks
to read, give them toys and tools tc play with,
give hem little parlor entertainments of magic
lanterns or stereoscopic views, give them
music encourage taste for it IN tuem, adorn
your walls with chsste and elegant pictures,
plant beautiful flowers around your dwellings,,
and above all, be kind and gentle to all the
" loved ones at home" If troubles and care
annoy you, keep your sadness for your private
chamber. Hide your grief away from your
families.
Be free and kindly familiar with your child
rem. Converse with them on subjects that will
interest and instruct them. Be forbearin e
with them, and, while rigid in requiring them
to do right, be patient with them when they
err, and chide them in the spirit of love and
Kindness rather than in the spirit of anger and
revenge, and thus you will make home at
trsctive, you will make it pleasant, you will
make it happy. The atmosphere of love and
religion which you have enGendered there will
wrap itself around tho little ones, and keep
them from error and misery, they will cease
to long for the company of the vicious, or
G gh for forbidden pleasures; aud when they
go forth into the world to fight the great Bat
tie of Life, they will be clothed with the i'm.
penetrable srmor which their happy home has
thrown around them, while its sweet at
trs ctions will shine about them like q beacon
light on q rock-bound coast, warning them of
the dangers which surround them, and light
ing them on to that happiest of Homes, where
all is Love, Goodness, and Bliss. And 30 yon
will be able to say, ~ Mrs' Hale s"eetIy sings
my son, thou will dream the world is fair,
And thy spirit will Sigh TO roam,
And thou must 60, bus neveP when there
the hight Of Home