Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1881-12-09
Home Surroundings Out OF Doors.

We wish to impress upon our readers
the idea that out door surroundings
have much to do with the education of
our children, and hence, with the good
or bad traits of character, which again
adds to or takes from the sum total of
what man is capable of enjoying The
love of the beautiful is planted in every
soul. II the things which minister to
its happiness are withheld, there is q
lack OF enjoyment, hollow untitled;
ten thousand points of nerve life un-
touched by the mesmeril currents of
hopes fulfilled, of joys consummated.
Tum ole-down fences, limbs torn from
fruit and ornamental trees by the sport
i've horns of cattle out of their places,
| d SOW and seven pigs mining for pota-
| toes in the garden; a dry, treeless,
grassless door-yard, jar on the esthetic
capabilities of a soul which years for OBJ
jects of beauty, of sympathy, that So
ciability which reciprocates the out
pourngs from the full fountain OF cog
nate souls. The natural clothing of the
earth in the merry month of June-the
green grass and plants and trees the
eye delights to look upon, and the
soothing influence reach on other
organs, and silent prayer is waited on
the waves of divine magnetism to their
divine author. Go to those door-yards
and other surroundings where the yard
is carpeted with lively green, where
| long-armcd shade trees shut out the
rays of the sun, where the gentle breeze
| soughs through the needle-shaped
leaves of the evergreens, where the
fountain yet sprinkles and cools, and
| fi,n ,.kla tnf,
nook, the representative of n nation once
glorious in the annals of the world.
There, amid the sylvan glories of this
artificial arrangement of trees, flowers,
fruits and fountains, sweet songsters
| bathe in the clear water and sing in
joyousness among the cool, leafy
branches overhead, rs If rendering
thanks to the provident hand of man
and the creative power that spake into
existence such glorious sources OF en-
ioyment. And will not children thus
fed the unequaled pabulum of nature in
childhood's rosy days imbibc the God
given principles taught through the,
smiling avenues of nature. aud inn
pinged upon the soul exactly adapted
I o appreciate the immeasurable bless
ings everywhere profusely scattered
for the nse and enjoyment of finite
manP 1t is here that the youthful soul
drinks from the golden goblet of nature
the ambrosia OF the gods and learns to
love and lean upon the loving Father of
the universe. 1t is here the heart is
melted in love to God, and sympathy
for his fellow man embraces all tongues,
nations and colors.
Thus do surroundings affect the soul
and teach il lessons that otherwise it
never would learn-te teach it the source
of enjoyment, the true relations of life
and the duties incumbent on all. 1t is
the green-clad yard with attractive
flowers; trees laden with fruit, and a
garden OF small fruits and thriving
vegetables that make the sons and
daughters cling to home and parents
and escnew the painted temptations so
artfully set before them by those dis
contented spirits whose naked yards,
a garden of weeds, dilapidated fences
and buildings are going to decay for
the lack of timely repairs. And there
stands at the kitchen door the old mare
stamping and switching flies, while a
dozen ducks are playing in a very dirty
pond of water near the well. Look at
the corn but poorly tended and nearly
swamped in weeds; and besides these
discouraging looks and prospects the
father and motherare sour and grabbed,
an of which makes the children discon-
tented and anxious to leave the parent
al roof. Is it any wonder under these
dark and repellent circumstances that
inexperienced youth break flom such
homes to brave the realities of a future
strewn with flowers, or set with dan
gerous thornsp Oftener than other
wise, when they leave home they
plunge into the whirling vortex of city
life, where thousand imps of Satan
tempt them. from the line OF duty, and
the violation of law racks the body
with pain; or, conscience, true to heI
duties, lashes the soul to the full ex-
tent OF the legal departure from duty
" eStern Rurai.