Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-10-29
Home Attractions,

But many of us have undoubtedlv
an impulse to go out into the wide
world, and to leave our dear homes
Abraham, the founder Of the Jewish
race. is an example Of the force of this
impulse. Now l recollect the othey
day seeing venerable old farmer ont
in the Catskills. He is living in the
house that his grandfather built over
a hundred years ago. l asked him
whether he had heard OF such and snch
an occurrence. But he knew of moth.
ing; his whole existence had been
passed un6er his ancestors roof, ami he
had never stirred more than a m,ie
away. This very mans brother dear
friend of mine was the very opposite
in charactr: he left his home at an
earaly age framed out West; worked
will, swung himself into high posi-
ion, grew rapidly wealthy, and is now
the proprietor of large lands and the
father of twelve children. See the con.
trast, you will say; but no, the contrast
is not so great. This mans life ia not
naturally different from that of his
brother. it is simply the old life en-.
larged. Where he would haze one
friend at the OLD home he has made
ten friends at the new one; where he
would have made one dollar there he
has made ten dollars here.
Bnt despite the success which accom-
panics orr wanderings, we seldom con-
tinue them without suffering. Mem
cries spring up of the iast, and we
find Croton water never will taste the
same as the limpid water of the brook
in our village home. AMI that the trees
OF Central park will never throw the
same shade rs those of the meadows of
our native place. | am Il great be.
lever in this attachment to that which
is old and to which We are accustomed.
The community at large is more bene-
fitted by it than Que wuuld he irclined
to think. Down town, for instance,
tho patent of nobility among the bus
mess houses is the date OF their tab.
lishment. The older the firm, the
the larger the sign bearnipg the date
of its foundation aad the greater the
reputation. This applies with even
greater force to the Christian church,
that fine old institution which has
braved the storms and turmoils Of
centuries.
But to return TO the subject of my
sermon. recollect asking federal
soldier some time ago whether he did
not feel like running away from his
first battle. BE sure | did" was the
reply; "but AZ | couldn't run home,
and there was no other place cared to
run to, remained in my ranks and
fought with the rest" That boy told
the whole story of the influence home
has on that man. That mother would
never have received him in her arms,
that sweetheart would never have bles-
blessed him with her kisses, and those
comrades would never have welcomed
him baca, had he showed the white
feather. Thus it is with us all. The
church, the home, the neighborhc Cd
these are the pivots OF our existence,
and wanders where we will, we are sure
to yearn for them one day or another.
; This love of the home is the surest con-
nection with the life to come.
The very first person l want to see
when l 60 to heaven is that little
daughter, with her sweet blue eyes
and her beautiful blonde locks, that
was taken away from myself and my
wife in 1858. l believe. as l believe
am standing here, that the greatest
Joy Of life hereafter is that it will be
home over again home better. brighter
and more blissful than we have here
on earth. Robert Collyer.