The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1883-01-04
The Ties of Relationship.

of the good effects of holiday times,
especially such as promote family
gatherings, is to impress the mind
with more vivid sense of the value
of relationship. Whether it be the
absent ones who have rushed joyful
ly back to the dear old home, or
those who have extended to them
the heartiest of welcomes, or even
the stranger who has looked upon
the joy of others with a sympathiz
ing heart, all have received a new
proof of the happiness which may
spring from the ties of relationship.
True, this happiness is not period
ical gush-only to be seen at holt
day seasons; it is steady and con
tinaal stream, which flows day by
day and year by year, for all who
win avail themselves of it. Yet these
special occasions bring out more
wildly the joys we sometimes let
slip for the want of thought, and
sometimes accept, as q matter of
course, without approaching. 1t is
indeed to be deplored that these
pleasures are not so universal or so
intense as they might be. There are
families who seem to grow apart in.
stead of growing together; brothers
and sisters who draw their happi-
ness from any source rather than
each other; parents who, through
selfishness, lose the affection of their
children, and children who reckless
~ slight aud throw away a parents
love. Then, too, more distant rela-
tionships are apt to be dropped out
of sight instead of receiving that
attention and culture which would
render them sources of mutual pleas
ure. Relations at q distance cease
to correspond or to visit, and so for
get one another, or If thrown to-
gether, small qnarrels and jealousies
are allowed to creep in andembitter
the intercourse.
We shall not undertake to present
the causes for this state of things;
the truth yet remains that we are
children, brothers or sisters, uncles
or aunts, and many of US assume the
additional responsibilities of hus-
band or wife, and parent. This state
of things is real one, present to us
and affecting us every moment of
our lives; we are in it, and in it we
must abide. Whatever we may do,
or not do, these ties with their sever
al duties win continue. They can
never be abrogated, annulled or set
aside. We may slight them, neg
lect them, despise them, If We will,
but we can never abolish them. We
may dislike the responsibility that
they bring, but we can neverescape
it. We may fail in performing the
duties they involve, but the duties
remain as urget as ever.
Some may think that by present
ing so forcibly this side of the ques-
ton we shall crush out the tender
and beautiful affections which are
the crown of all relationship. But
this is no more true than that by
watering and nourishing the roots of
plant we shall nip and spoil it's
delicate buds. What we wish to
enforce is, that as healthful growth
of the root is necessary to the full
fruition of the plant, SO the cheerful
acceptance of obligation and the
performance of it's consequent duties
is necessary to any permanent or
satisfactory happiness. Let this
truth sink deep into the heart and
pervade the life of an individual,
and he win never complain of the
lack of pleasurable affections in his
relationships. JOY win flow in upon
him from every such channel, and it
viii be a joy that neither change nor
separation viii disturb. But let him
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