The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1882-09-02
OUR HOMES.


expression of ourselves. The ruling
spirit Of the household iniuSeS into its
atmosphere her-.or hiS--own individTai-
ity. Il may have been entirely Furnished
and arranged by the hands Of the uphoi-
ste er. vet the tone of the house is III"
tone of the lie within it.
The adorEing may be of the most eX-
pensiye, the arrangement the most per
feet, still, if not vivitied by the bright
and cheerful spirit of loving human
hearts, it is cold and dead. 1t is singular
to what an extent this invisible spirit of
the real lives of the dwciiers will per-
meate the entire air of the house.
There are homes upon whose doorstepS
/ we linger. heSitating to enter, because of
the depression and chill we shall ineyita-
bly, receive; we go in with soft. reluctant
step: we speak with bated breath; we sit
upright and uncomfortable on the costly
chairs. and gaze upon the beauties about
us with stolid indifference, for they seem
lifeiess and unreal. We choose our words
carefully and cautiously, and seem to
lose, as We sit, our one little germ of joy,
and find creeping in its place an unknown
feeling Of GREATNESS, and. perhaps, bit
te.n>s@. How We throw back our shoul.
derS, and iHhale long Ercatl.s of relief, as
We emerge again into the open ali.
There are otLeg homes to which we al
ways turn gladly, to which our thoughts
revert in joy and sorrow: they may he
plain and unpretentiouS. lacking every
thing but the necessities OF life, Yet they
are filled with beauty because OF the
spirit which giseth He. l'ruIo zoe very
threshold we are coGniZant Of the de-
iighttrl " atmosphere. welcoming, low
ing. purifying. Strengthening. We find
the best part of our natures niinistcred
unto whenever we enter their sacred pre-
cincts.
Such homes are made by those who,
lille bearing their own burdens brave
Is still have room ami heart and love for
others, VIZ" while living their own lives.
have warmth aid tenderness AID - m
pathy for others: whose haud uG,ivach-
ing. clasp GUS with comfort: wEnse
voices speak words that cheer and
strengthen; whose love, being ali eman-
liuh from the divine love. and from 1t rc.
ceivin- constant renewal, ii,ii nos: hos,
l:yr& are So pure and earnest and true.
.,.- ~, ri,
in their influence.
We should make our homes As tasteful
and beautiful as we are able for taste
fuIness and beauty have their uses. and
teach their lessons, as do also harmony
and order and neatuesS. Yet we should
learn 70 .-Jl&iAer these but the means to-
ward an end-never snuuid they u. per-
mirted to become ;hc end itself Il
should not he forgotten that the home
lie is the nucleus round which all life has
its startling growth. nor that the infiu-
ence Of the home is not for ore genera
tiol aione, but in succeeding generations
also is its influence ieit.
Those who create homes In which
healthy, happy children shall grow into
pure al true men and oncn. need 10
higher c'"wn, no greater glory. Homes
"a wui".: their inmates resort to get ihg!r
meals, ihri, Glutiin.s, and then jDdEjn4s |
HIe IA :"s. .a.:.un1. tut nra. "':jH the |
saialr>; resemblance ~ uult - ..;3nlt !
>h"uid be. 1t SHOULD be Il pt;,ce u think |
om. to love and long ion, it shna!ii be q
haven "f lest that h;.., an unta!l,ng ". H. |
>rliu4 o: pleasure.
L ,.il member contributes lis ,.,t,e - |
"ags! tha ,s!a&Ia9 ~ hn!nr, hnE liz, :
principal presiding sp:iiJ Is tnc vie and |
mother; She it i, that i>--or sh0ulu be
its heart and lie aud centre. She viii |
interest her husband. 50 as to he lis COM |
pauion. one ia heart and lie with him, !
she will study, So as - he able IL intel !
est her children in ti',ir siuGits: She viii |
vita theG. JOY auth tl.enp being IT once |
con patton nd lradtr. il" ',r ,.l'u cu,ae:
whatever :. i!aIeu;,. ~ pam, y. >"rIuU |
OF J">, "nnien 10 t,.a s;o:.,e &lnip. each t
NH be helped IL gIadncss ana sustained |
IN pain BY the kno" ledge that the mother
knows, and, oh blessed assurance, that |
>!!R understands and cares. that there j.
no tl,rs .Aab crn ~ hey nud her Patience |
and loyeIines>.
The mother can say the iittc word |
that shall! lead away from collision or dis.
tacI sha:! gently lirln the steps away
Ion the dangerous passes before another |
has discovered their ;,:o&iinlty. lier luv-
iuS forc-thouglit plans. pleasures, duties,
aInnsenefts aud ;icl,gHts: mingies pas
time and Instruction, encouragement ant
warning.
To form a home thar shalt tIUs bnr,-
Ell on the perfection OF hon.2 living, Ie-
GnIies thought. study. tact, culture
every good thing that can lie found and
brought to bear upon il, and, ABOVE all.
unselAsh, devoted love. 1t is not little
thing to create home, and the results
are incalculable. IL require thought,
study. ssli<devotion. time--a lifetime.
Yet in what way could 4 life be spent
more satisfactorily, more use:nlly, more
nobly? When the homes are reorganiz-
ed, society will be Reconstructed; when
the fountains are cleared and purified.
the rills aud rivers running therelrom
throughout the world will be purified.
The surcst way to remedy the evils in
the world is to elevate the home life.
thought and home-teaahing- begin at
the root of ali society and all govern
ment.- Cottage Wca5H.
COURTESY AT HOME.
Louise Chandler MoultOn, sensible,
woman as she is, never penned senti-
/