The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-09-09
N0n-Appreeiated Guests,

NOn-Appreciate0 Guest9.
In nearly every family there is one
person who is in the family but not of
~ one who has been compelled through
kinshlp or other circumstances to seek
food and shelter from an alien roof. and
who gives the scant compensation of un-
welcome help in return There are
often sad mistakes made by these SUI
perfluous members who become familiar
with all the interests of the family, and
they need great Judgment and discre-
ton to guide them through Che laby-
rinths OF domestic life into the conserve
tism which is their only refuge, as these
people have no defined place. The OBJ
Jectless existence of such a person must
necessarily be a dreary one, added to
which is the constant knowledge of
being a dependent, of an unfortunate
tendency to say or do things that are
misunderstood, of an entire lack of
sympathy and confidence. 1t may be
readily seen that such q life can be en-
Uttered to an extent that will make it
almost unbearable, and the unwelcome
member who in a home would be loved
and honored, becomes an object of dis
like in the position of an intruder
1t is perhaps hard to define the law of
hospitality which shall make this one
individual harmonious feature, but it
is often of incalculable value to the
family to have this honored member,
and it can easily be seen that all the
tendencies of such a connection might
be Of the most softening and exciting
type. The superfluous member can
thus become the angelic guest. Is it
an old or invalid relative, not nearly
enough related to be beloved, but suf-
hclently near to ensure respectful treat
ment; then let every one in the family
lavish the kindness and goodness of true
Christianity on these lonely ones. Let
the charity which begins at home find an
object worthy of its work tits not good
ness to bestow benefits for an expected
return, but to feed, clothe and love the
dependant ones is true Christianity.
There is an exquisite description in
Snowbound of the Whittier family and
the two characters of greatest promi-
nence are these guest-members. We re-
call family in which for many years
lived an invalid who was so literally
cared for, that it became gradually
known to the neighbors that she had
abundant means which in the event of
her death would be given to the family
who had so kindly cared for her. What
was the pmazement of the good people
to learn after, she died that she had
nothing, and they went in their disap-
pointment and demonstrated with the
kind people who had done so quixotic a
deed and said to them: cit was not
your duty" M
NO was the quiet answer. sit was
our privilege"
There are no step-children in that
family" said one who was abiding to
one OF those mixed households where
all seemed to have an equal share in its
joys and interests.
This setting of the solitary in families
has a humanizing and beneficent inllu-
ence which we are sometimes slow to
acknowledge We are quick to see and
ridicule the warped and soured nature
of the old maid aunt, or despotic moth
er-in-law who is grated upon our fami-
ly tree, and we altogether fail to note
the angelic patience and goodness with
which they tend the sick-room or take a
thousand weary steps in our behalf
Here is chance to learn the lesson of
life in the highest realization of duty,
the love of homeless children Of penni-
less age, of faltering manhood, observed,
lot in books or in our neighbor home,
but to the stranger within our own gates
Detroit Post and Tribune.