The Baltimore County union., 1882-12-30
OUR HOMES.

From hs Cottage Hearth.
Our homes are always more or less the
expression of ourselves. The ruling
spirit of the household infuses into its
atmosphere her-or his-own individu-
ality. II may have been entirely fur
nished and arranged by the hands Of
the upholsterer, yet the "tone" Of the
house is the tone Of the life within il.
The adorning may be Of the most ex-
pensive, the arrangement the most per-
feet, still, il not vivified by the bright
and cheerful spirit of loving human
hearts, it is cold and dead. 1t is singu-
lar TO what an extent this invisible spirit
Of the real lives Of the dwellers will per-
meate the entire air of the house.
There are homes upon whose door
steps we linger, hcsitating to enter, be-
cause OF the depression and chill we
shall inevitably receive; we 60 in with
soft, reluctant step; We speak with bated
breath We sit upright and uncomfort-
able on the costly chairs, and gaze upon
the beauties about US with stolid indiffer-
ence, for they seem lifcless and unreal.
We choose our words carefully and eau.
tiously, and seem to lose, as we sit, our
one little germ OF joy, and find creeping
in its place an unknown feeling Of dreari.
ness, and, perhaps, bitterness. How we
throw back our shoulders, and inhalc
long brcaths OF relief, as we emerge
again into the open air.
There are other homes to which VIC
always turn gladly, to which our thoughts
revert in JOY and sorrow they may be
plain and unpretentious, lacking every
thing but the necessities Of life, yet they
are filled with beauty because Of the
spirit which give,h life. From the very
threshold we are cognizant Of the de-
lightful atmosphere, welcoming, low
ing, purifying, strengthening we find
the best part Of our natures minisfered
unto whenever We enter their sacred pre-.
cincts.
Such homes are made by those who,
while bearing their own burdens brave.
ly, still have room and heart and love
for others; who, while living their own
lives, have warmth and tenderness and
sympathy for others whose hand out
reaching, clasps ours with comfort
whose voices speak words that cheer and
strengthen whose love, being an emi.
nation from the divine love, and from
it receiving constant renewal, fail not
whose lives arc so pure and earnest and
true that they radiate to all who como
within their influences.
We should make our homes as taste.
ful and beautiful as we are able, for
tastefulncss and beauty have their uses,
and teach their lessons, as do also har.
mony and order and ncatness. Yet we
should learn to consider these but the
means toward an cnd-never should
they be permitted to become the end il.
self. IL should not be forgotten that
the homelifc is the nucleus round which
all life has its starting growth. nor that
the influence Of the home is not for one
generation alone, but in succeeding gen.
erations also is its influence felt.
Those who create homes in which
healthy, happy children shall grow into
pure and true men and women, need no
higher crown, no greater glory. Homes
to which their inmates resort to get their
meals, their clothing, and their lodg.
ings are all too common, and bear only
the faintcst resemblance to what home
should be. II should be place to think
on, to love and long for, Il should be
haven Of rest that has an unfailing "well-
spring Of pleasure.
Each member contributes his share TO.
ward the making Of a home, but the
principal presiding spirit is the wife and
mother; she ii is that is-or should be
its heart and life and centre. She
will interest her husband, so as TO be
his companion, one in heart and life
with him, she will study, so as to be
able to interest her children in their
studies; she will laugh with them, sor-
row with them, joy with them, being at
once companion and leader, friend and
guide whatever Of pleasure or pain, of
sorrow or joy, comes to the home group,
each viii be helped in gladness and sus.
tained in pain by the knowledge that