Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-03-15
How TO Make Home Happy.

One thing is sure-if we are to make
home attractive, there must be unity be-
tween man and wife. If the children do
not like to stay at home there is something
wrong and the quicker it is found out the
better IL they get into the habit of stay
ing away from home it is hard TO break. /
was once the guest of Christian man,
whose children were almost all turning out
badly. One night, after meeting, con-
versation took place about them; and with
tears trickling down his cheeks he said, NY
four eldest sons have turned out badly, and
l am afraid that the others are following
their example" / said, Let us look into
this thing. Tell me about your family.
How many nights do you go to church ?"
"On Sunday night. / am an officer in the
church, and | am there on Sunday night"
"What about Monday p "Oh, / am a
deacon, and am at the church on Monday
night" "What about Tuesday night 2"
al am connected with the city government,
and | have to attend committee meetings of
the council" Wednesday night is prayer
meeting, and you go to church ?" Yes"
"That is how you are occupied four nights.
| What do you do the other three 2" 81 be-
long to the Masons | hold a high office in
the lodge, and have to be there" "That
hold high social position, you are often
out at dinner parties and committees. You
go out perhaps one night each week to din
ners and committees" at will average all
that" "Then," said, "there is one more
night, that is Saturday night; what do you
do then p "Oh, am superintendent Of
the Sabbath-school, and | lock myself in
my room and prepare the lesson for my
Bible class on the following day." "You
don't let your children into your room then
do you p "No; certainly not" ether
your children have to get off early in tn,
morning, and they are away from famil.
prayer ?" Eyes; some get off early, ant
others rise late, and they are not present a
morning worship" "And you have to ge
away as early as possible to business
Eyes; as soon as l get through WORSHIP
| am off" "What time do you take din
ner 2" "At six o'clock" "You see you
children at six. But you are not alway
prompt | suppose half-past six, is i
not 7" "Yes, that is about the average
"And your meetings begin about hall
past seven; so that you have but littl
time with your children. What have yor
done for them 2" Aud at that very time
he was trying to be mayor of the city. H.
dropped his head and said that he had not
ohouSnJ Ol IL III tndJ HBut DeloTo. lnert
are many just like that. They are giving
their time to public affairs, to the uttel
neglect of their children and their homes
Some men forget that they were ever chill
dren. They never enjoy any sports with
the young people. The servants take car,
of the children entirely; and if the famil,
come to ruin, who is to blame l hav
/ preached to many convicts in my time; AM
, ninety-nine out of every hundred are me
who have been without salutary home infu
) ence. No influence will hold to man a
, through life like a pleasant home, with
a sunny father and a sunny mother. Anothe
! thought is, that we should talk more to Go
|, about our children, and less at the childrel
4. themselves. Let us find time to romp an
, and have a good time with them. Th
; least public man can do is to devote on
. night each week to his children. In this,
think, the wives will bear me out if tn
0 husbands don't, for l see them looking q
' each other. But am talking of somethin
Y | don't know much about l would like t
e have the women get together and talk thi
1 important matter over.-Moody.