The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-09-23
@ur 0lio.


Our Homes.
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 individuality. 1t may
have been entirely furnished and arranged
by the hands of the upholsterer, yet the
stone" of the house is the tone of the life
within it.
The adjoining may be of the most ex-
pensive, the arrangement the most perfect,
still, if net vivifed by the bright and cheer
full 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
dwellers will permeate the entire air of the
house.
There are homes upon whose doorsteps
we inger, hesitating to enter, because OF
the depression and chill we shall inevitably
receive; we 90 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 ifeless and un-
real. We choose our words carefully ano
cautiously, and seem to lose, as we sit, oul
one little germ of joy, and find creeping IN
its place an unknown feeling Of dreariness
and, perhaps, bitterness. How we throw
back our shoulders, and inhale long breathf
of relief, as we emerge again into the open
air.
There are other homes to which we al
ways turn gladly, to which our thoughts
revert in JOY and sorrow; they may be plair
and unpretentious, lacking everything but
the necessities of life, yet they are filled
with beauty because of the spirit which
giveth life. From the very threshold We
are cognizant of the delightful ''atmos
phere,'' welcoming, loving, purifying
strengthening; we find the best part of oul
natures ministered unto whenever we entel
their sacred precincts.
Such homes are made by those who
while bearing their own burdens bravely
still have room and heart and love for 9th
ers; who. while living their own lives, hav'
warmth and tenderness and sympathy TO
others; whose hand outreaching, clasps our
with comfort; whose voices speak word
that cheer and strengthen; whose love, be
ing an emanation from the divine love, ant
from it receiving constant renewal, fail not
whose lives are so pure and earnest ant
true that they radiate to all who come with
in their influences.
We should make our homes as tasteful
and beautiful as we are able, for tasteful
ness and beauty have their uses, and teacl
their lessons, as do also harmony and orde
and neatness. Yet we should learn to con
slider these but the means toward an end
never should they be permitted to becom
the end itself. 1t should not be forgottel
that the homelife is the nucleus roun
which all life has its starting growth, no
that the influence of the home is not for on
generation alone, but in succeeding gener
ations also is its influence felt.
Those who create homes in which heal
thy, happy children shall grow into pur
and true men and women, need no highe
crown, no greater glory. Homes to whic
their inmates resort to get their meals
their clothing, and their lodgings are al
too common, and bear only the faintest re
semblance to what home should be. ]
should be a place to think on, to love an
long for, it should be haven of rest tina
has an unfailing "well-spring of pleasure.
Each member contributes his share
ward the making of a home, but the prir
cipal presiding spirit is the wife and moth
er; she it is that is-or should be-its heal
and life and centre. She will interest he
husband, so as to be his companion, one i
heart and life with him, she will study, s
as to be able to interest her children i
their studies; she will laugh with then
sorrow with them, joy with them, being 6
once companion and leader, friend an
guide; whatever of pleasure or pain, of Sol
row or joy, comes to the home group, eac
will be helped in gladness and sustained i
pain by the knowledge that the mothe
knows, and, oh, blessed assurance ! that sh
understands and cares, that there is n
thing that can 60 beyond her patience an
loveliness
The mother can say the little word ths
shall lead away from collision or dispute
her loving discernment and wise tact sha
gently turn the steps away from the dan
gerous passes before another has discovere
their proximity. Her loving fore-thougf
plans, pleasure, duties, amusements an
delights; mingles pastime and instruction
encouragement and warning.
To form home that, shall thus borde
on the perfection of home-living, require
thought, study, tact, culture goo
thing that can be found and brought
bear upon it, and, above all, through al
more than all, love-pure, unselfsh, d'
voted love. 1t is not little thing to cr'
ate home, and the results are incalculabl
1t requires thought, study, self-devotiol
time-a lifetime Yet in what way coul
life be spent more satisfactorily, MOI
usefully, more nobly? When the home
are reorganized, society will be reconstruc
ed; when the fountains are cleared an
purified, the rills and rivers running ther
from throughout the world will be purifec
The surest way to remedy the evils in th
world is to elevate the home life, though
and home-teaching-to begin at the ro'
of all society and all government.-Co
tage Hearth.
mo EoratolI tho Weather