Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1882-11-16

Ah& spirit oI f&19 uQU&H zHinNne
into It's atmosphere her 81 Own
individuality. Il may haF II IN.
| tirely furnished and arxnp = the
hands Of the upholaIsre the
tone Of the house is ths nf the
life within II.
i The aderning may ba most
expensive. the arrangement N most
perfect. still. If not visi'' the
bright aud cheerful snifi vinn
human hearts. il Il csl dead.
| IT IS sinealar to what s. this
inTisihle 80 ae AllN \. ~. I'D
dwellers will peringaie The entire air
Of the house.
There are homes upon whose door
steps we linger. hesitatine to enter.
because Of the depression and chill we
shall inevitably receive, We 80 in with
soft, reluctant steps; we speak with
bated breath; we sit upright and un-
comfortable on the costly chairs. and
gaze upon the beauties about Us with
stoiid indifference. for they seem life
less 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 dreariness, and,
| perhaps, bitterness. How we throw
back onr shoulders, and inhale long
breaths of relief, rs we emerge again
into the open airl
There are other homes to which we
always turn gladly. to which our
thoughts revert in Joy and sorrow:
they may be plain and unpretentious,
lacking everything but the necessities
OF life, yet they are filed with beau
/ ty because OF the spirit which giveth
lite. From the very threshold We
are cognizant of the delightful sat
lnosphere, welcoming, loving. puri-
tying, strengthening: we find the best
part of our natures ministered unto
whenever We enter their sacred pre-
cincts.
Such homes are made BY those who,
while bearing their own burdens
bravely, still have room and heart
and love for others. who. while living
their own lives, have warmth and ten
derness and sympathy for Others;
whose hand outstretching. clasps ours
with comfort; whose voices speak
words that cheer and strengthen;
whose love, being an emanation from
tbs divine love, mnd from it RECEIVING
constant renewal, fail not; whosk lives
are so pure and earnest aud trIA that
they radiate to ali who come within
their influence.
We should make our homes as taste
ful and beautiful as We are able. for
tastefulness and beauty have their
uses, and teach their lessons. AS do
also harmony and order and neatness.
Yet we should learn to consider these
but the means toward an end-never
should they be permitted to become
the end itself. 1t should not be for
gotten that the homelife is the nu-
cleus round which all life-has its start
ing growth, nor that the influence Of
the home is not for one generation
alone, but IN succeeding generations
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 elo-
ry. Homes towhich their inmates re-
sort to get their meals, their clothing.
and their lodgings, are all too COM
mon, and bear only the faintest re-
semblance TO what a home should be.
1t sheuld be place to think on,
70 love and long Tor; it should be
haven OF rest that has an unfailing
"well-spring of pleasure"
Each member contributes his share
toward the making of a home. but
the principal presiding spirit is the |
wife and mother; she il is that is-
or should be-its heart and life and
centre. She win interest her hus-
band. so rs to be has companion, one
in heart and life with him. she will |
study, 50 as to be able to interest her
children in their studies she will |
laugh with them, sorrow with them,
Joy With them. being at once compan-
ion and leader, friend and guide: |
whatever of pleasure or pain, Of sor- |
row or JOY, comes to the home group.
each will be helped in gladness and !
sustained in pain by the knowledge
that the mother knows. and oh, blessed |
assurance ! that she understands and
cares. that there j. no thing that can !
60 beyond her patience and loveli-
ness.
The mother can say the little word
that shall lead away from collision or
dispute; her loving discernment and
wise tact shall gently turn the steps
away from the dangerous passes be-
fore another has discovered their
proximity Her loving forethoneht
plans pleasure. duties, amusement and
delights; ningles pastime and instruc-
tlon. encouragement and warning
To form q home that shall thus bor-
der on the perfection az hcme-livinp.
requires thought. study, tact. culture
every good thing that can ba found
and brought to bear upon Il, aud, /
above all through all, more than eli.
love-pure. unsel6sh, devoted love.
II ia-not q little thing to create :
home. and tie results are incalcula-
bic. IL requires thought. STUDY. self
devotion. time-a life time. Yet il
what way could q life Be spent more
satisfactorily. more usefully. more no
bly, When the homes are reorpau-
lied. society viii be reconstructed:
when the fountains are cleared and