St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1885-01-29
The Influence of Home Memories

The Influence of Home Memories.
Among the mightiest influences of
our homes are their memories. They
bring happiness OF bitterness, accord
ing as they are sweet and tender, or
painful and evil.
There is no need of argument to
prove the influence of home memories
ina the formation of character. When
ones childhood home has been true,
its memories never can be etfaced. Its
teachings may long remain unheeded,
and life may become a sad waste. Sin
may sweep over the soul like de-
vouring flame, leaving only blackened
ruins; but the memory of the old home
lives on, like solitary star burning
in the gloom of night. Even in revels
mind like vanished dream, and often
it wooes the wanderer back. 1t was
the memory of home that touched the
prodifial son.
There ought to be IA powerful mo-
tive in this truth to lead us to watch
the character of the memories we make
in our homes. One person has left
this testimony "Many a night, as |
remember lying quietly in the little
upper chamber, before sleep came on,
there would be Il gentle footstep on
q. a To-
open and in a moment the well known
form, softly gliding through the dark
ness, would appear at my bedside.
First there would be few pleasant
inquiries of affection, which gradually
deepened into words of counsel.
Then, kneeling, her head close to
mine, her most earnest hopes and de
sires would flow forth in prayer. Her
tears bespoke the earnestness of her
desire. | seem to feel them yet where
sometimes they fell on my face. The
prayers often PASSED out of Thought
i'll slumber, and came not to mind
again for years, but they were not
lost. willingly believe they were an
invisible bond with heaven that Sc
Cretly preserved me while | moved
carelessly amid numberless tempta-
tions, and walked the brink of crime
Is it not worth while for every mother
to try to weave such memories into
the early years of her children's lives
There is another particular class OF
home memories which have potent
/ influence Washington Irving wrote:
''Ah go to the grave of buried love
and mediate. There settle the ac-
count with thy conscience of every
past endearment unregarded of that
departed being, who never, never can
he smOOthed by contrition. If thou
art a child, and hast ever added sOr-
row to the soul or furrow to the sill
vered brow of an atfectiGnate parent
/ if thou art IL husband, and hast ever
caused the fond bosom that ventured
| its whole happiness in thy arms. to
! doubt - moment of thy kiudne SIS OIL
/ thy truth If thou art friend, and
! hast ever Injured by thought, word Oh
deed, the spirit that generously con
( fidcd in thee /; it thou art II lover, aud
/ hast ever given one uumerited pang
I TO the tue heart that now lies cold
/ beneath thy feet-then be sure thai
every unkind look, every ungeneroG,
word, every ungentie action, will
come thronging back upOu thy memo
~ and knock doiefully at thy soul; be
sure that thou wilt lie down Borrowing
and repenting the grave and utteI
( the unheard grnsln, and pour the un-
awaiting tear bitter because unhearJ
and unavailing."
/ If We could only keepin mind All the
( while bow the memory of unkindness
! to homes loved ones will pain oul
hearts when one Is taken and the
other left, it would ice strong motive
to constant gentleness and affection.
ateness. We never can tell when We
are having our last meal, or last talL
together. and parting III the door witt
! those We love The best, never to meet
again. Suppose We part with sharp
singing words, or even IN coldness
and that we never meet that loved on,
again, will not the memory he a life
> long paug of regret