National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-01-08
THREE EPOCHS OF HOME LIFE.
For The National Republican.

INC Ad!tOltu4 fttphOttCuH'
What well-spring of joy to the duality of the
household is the first baby! 1t completes the trim
itv ofther lives the Spirit is to the Father and
Son even so is the first fruit of welded love to the
husband and wife. 1t is the sancti6er. -:
When the little stranger comes the house is
hushed the shades are drawn, the lights are turned
low. the footballs of those who move about are
tempered with silence, and even the breathings OF
the watchers are made softer by the advent.
The father bends anxiously above the partner of
his Joys and the look oflove that formerly beamed
from his eyes becomes one of fixed alteration. He
razes in awe upon the newborn pilgrim; inspects
with shy curiOusness its tiny pink fingers, its
ruby lips its eyes; mayhap he even ventures to
k4ss nr touch its yelvety cheek and If he does so
tbe awkward caresS from his clumsy yet manly
DaIm or bearded lips evokes a smile upon the face
ofthe Young wife-who now, through great suffer
ing has won and nobly wears the brightest pureSt,
hottest crown of WOmanhOod.
And the mother-noE that the struggle and an
p7Iish ofdying are over-when she finds that with
her return from the great presence she has brought
onntber life besides her own to add to the joys of
Iiyiag-ah, with what tenderness, with what
deem, pure, holy light shining from her eyes does
s5s look down upon the infant slumbcring upon
her bos0m And with what affcction-how rever--
emily docs she gaze upward into the face OF the
father of her babe. The undying devotion of
lifetime is centred in one brief glance, and the
inpermot recesses of her soul are revealed to him
who of all men she most hOnors and loves the best.
Years may come and go, time may scatter the
seeis of forgetHlneSS along their way IN life but
never nersr will either ofthe two fail to remember
the dsv when God sealedtheir union with human
heart
And in the dark deyS, which sooner or
later must of a necessity sometime come
for a season. to dim the light of every
bearth-stone, their own among the num-
her there will rise up to them sweet, heart-com-
forting disappointing to their souls that first
great event recorded In the history of home-the
coming of the first baby.
Babv's advent into married life constitutes the
first great epoch as set down in the book ofthe
family Thenceforth time is rcckoned according
TO the calendar oflove.
Mother visited US the year baby was born"
saws the Young wife She came when baby was
three weeks old, and that was on the 23d of May
Just one year ago.
Ifany one doubt she clinches her assertion with:
ooh knew ! am right, for we made Charlie
visit when baby was three months old; that was
the last week in August and mother went with
Us"
People very soon learn not to differ as to dates
with the Young mother In fact, in the generality OF
rases after one or two attempts they would as soon
think of disputing the correctness of the almanac
OR even the accuracy Of time itself
And the proud father, he, too, fixes the dates of
many events after the same fashion. But men are
30 stupid when babies are concerned He does not
always reckon accurately; nevertheless, he says:
"Let me see why, We have really been in our new
house over two years; you remember we moved
when baby was six months old"
"Six months and fouT days adds the mother.
And she is right. All, who can fathOm the secret
power which thus enables maternity 10 measure
of so readily even the smallest fragments of
time and measure them correctly? By what sub
lie rule of the arithmetic of love can the mother so
mind and give the true result down to the very I
IecOnds even and that, it seems to the uninit-
Ited, ii.Stantaneously?
Yes baby is the pivot upon which the family |
revolyes. And baby is power in the household |
young tyrant, yet one to whom all readily |
Iubmit.
But though baby is an impcrious ruler, no mon
arch is more lavish in the distribution of such
favors and blessings as royalty can give. Baby
lights up and beauties thewhole house; furnishes
with riches which kings covet and all people ad
mre; banisheS strife; oftentimes preserves the fam
lily from disruption by drawing back to each other
Two hearts that had begun, before The young prince
game to set up his authority over them, TO drift |
Ipart.
Yes, baby is the cement which hold the frag- |
ments of many homes together.
Time rolls on, and baby, nourished by love and !
the mother care, grows and fourisheS, the rarest |
and airest flower in all the world to at least two
Of the people who dwell therein.
By and by another and another is added, until |
home blossoms with bright, sweet exotics. sent |
Ehither to cheer and comfort the hearts of those |
who laid its foundation, built its walls and kin |
died the grateful fire upon its ilearth-stone.