The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-07-29
Homes.

Homes, as they are called, are of all
kinds. Some are poor, bare and uncom-
Portable of necessity, of which we have
nothing to say only to pity those who
are compelled to occupy them. Others
are rude and uninviting, through neg
lect and thriftlessness, or because of in
temperance 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 home-it is
only place. The old words, 'pereqrin-
ari donli," express condition of physi-
cal residence and spiritual exile that must
always be fraught with acute misery.
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 ornamentation, 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 is no flowers in the gar
den, 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 transact bust
ness for gain. Their sheep, cattle, horses
and swine must be comfortably 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 cat
tie. The criticism was too severe, vet it
contained some truth. To get good
barn was, with a certain class OF the
farmers, the main ambition. By this
their thrift was determined. This gave
them agricultural standing; whereas, a
fine house, with its convenience and
comforts, was regarded as sign of
effeminacy and prohigate 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 sacrifice. He has invested it with
the rarest felicities, and made it more or
less typical of the place of everlasting
rest. Upon the home of the saint de-
seconds His hottest benedictions, and
around it stand the angels of His provi-
dence with their loads of benefits
Christian Instructor.