The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1882-07-29
Homes

/ Homes, as they are called, are of all
kinds. Some are poor, bare, and un
comfortable of necessity, of which We
have nothing to say, only to pity those
VINO are compelled to occupy them
Others are rude and uninviting, through
neglect and thriftlessness, or because OF
intemperance and parsimony.
Our dwelling places are only homes,
in proper sense, when they are filled
with whatever Of comforts we can bring
into them, and when they are made to
minister, by all their influences, to the
wants of our higher natures. They are
little worlds of our own, where we rule
and enjoy, unrestrained and untram-
meled by lawful interference from
abroad. Our vines and fig trees grow
| ing around and over us, we sit in their
| shadows, with none to modest or make us
| afraid; and there have every leaf, every
clasping tendril, every growing and
| ripening berry of fruit assisting in the
culture of our intellects and souls. A
home that teaches us nothing by which
we are made better, is not q home-it is
only place. The old words, sspere-
grlnari dolni," express q condition of
physical residence and spiritual exile
that must always be fraught with acute
misery.
f There are many reasons why the
homes of citizens are not full of comfort.
In some places there is want of taste,
which precludes the possibility of their
taking an interest in any object aside
from its grossest uses. They see no
beauty in ornamentatioH, nor culture In
order and neatness. An old, dilapidated
house, with distorted gables, and shat
tered panes. is good enough for them,
only provided they can manage it to keep
out the rain and cold. They will live as
long if there be no flowers in the garden.
no trees in the yard, no paint on doors
and shutters, as if all was dainty with
neatness.
They live to make money. Their
homes are their offices, where they trans
act business for gain. Their sheep,
cattle, horses and swine, must be COM
fortably housed; but as for them and
their children, they can live in anything
In nothing do they indicate that they
have souls to culture, minds to refine,
affections to sweeten, and an image of
God to bring to view and brighten up by
the bountiful means He has placed at
their disposal.
In the Cumberland valley, of Pennsyl-
vania, it used to be said the barns were
invariably better than the houses, and
that hence the aristocracy of the neigh
borhood was among the horses and cattle.
The criticism was too severe, yet it con-
tained soms truth. To get q good barn
was, with a certain class of the farmers,
the main ambition. By this their thrift
was determined. This gave them agri-
cultural standing; whereas, fine house.
with its convenience and comforts, was
regarded as sign of effeminacy and
profigate luxury.
Now it ought to be the effort of men
and women to provide for themselves,
when they have means, such dwelling
places as will help culture them and their
children, and exert good influence on
the taste, manners, and morals of the
neighborhood. God has made home a
sacred place. He has erected affairs in it,
where the occupants are to worship, and
where He will come and accept their sac
riRce. He has invested it with the rarest
felicities, and made it more or less typi-
cal of the place of everlasting rest Upon
the home of the saint descends his
holiest benedictions, and around it stand
the angels of His providence with their
loads of benefts.- Christian Instructor.