St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1886-02-04
DUTY OF SONS IN THE HOME.
BY REV. C. L. GooDELL, D. D.

YOUTH He does not say it is always
pleasant to wear the yoke in youth,
but it is always good. The man who
gets on in the world must learn to do
much that he does not like to do. He
must do it because it is best.
1t is important that young mao
come into willing work and right ways
early, for boy shows the man, as the
merning shows the day. There is but
one question in a true home, concern
ing any child there What is for the
child's good ? The family is home
society, existing for the common bene-
fit. In the household, the place of
each one is appointed by God; some
to guide, some to serve, but all alike
to follow Christ and he servants of
him.
The home must have its regular
methods for all things. These are the
laws of the household. They are need
ed, as the state needs a constitution to
give it order and stability; as the hui
man body needs skeleton to hold it
up. A home without wise regulations
is like IL school without master. "Or-
der is heavens first law" A world of
good comes through it. Life has no
thing better to give to the boys than
good home. 1t is the crown of all
Gods gifts. 1t must he cherished by
all the house held us sacred thing.
Do you want pleasant, happy
home To have it such, somebody
must work for it. See that you strive
every day to make it rich and sweet.
The home will not last long. Use it
we'll while YOU have it. See that you
nrn6t NV II and nlant no seed of hitta1
memory in it, There have been sons
who have, while standing by their
mothers grave in after years, remem
would have given anything could they
recall her to life once more, and find
forgiveness at her feet, for the wrong
done; but alas ! too late.
Duty and responsibility belong to
every stage of life to the boy as well
as the man. If lad throws off his
yoke in his youth, he will be likely to
in his manhood. He will continue to
do as he has got the habit of doing.
You will not he boys long, so live that
when you come to be men YOU will be
fitted to take the place of men /; to do
the work and exert the influence of
men, resisting temptation, and accom-
plishing good in your day. What is
becoming in boy, is weak and foolish
in a man. st. Paul says: "When
became man, | put away childish
things.n He never would have become
st. Paul if he had not.
Noisy boots and loud laughter and
rOlIicking and frolicking fun, will new
er hurt home. Many homes need
more Of this, but disobedience to the
thority, and said, "Obey your parents
it, The apple of discOrd breaks the
charm of home, and dispels the joy of
life.
The duty of sons in the model home
comprises several things which must
not he neglected. Obedience to the
rules of the home, and cordial submits
sion to authOrity-this is all impOr
tant. Obedience is peace and right
eOusness. Disobedience is anarchy.
There can be no peace in a home as
long as one son is habitually disobedi
ent.
To trample on the regulations form
ed for the mutual good of the family
circle, brings trouble on the entire
house. From disObedience, how the
parents cup of life has been embitter-
ed, and their gray hairs brought down
in sorrow to the grave. If there is not
respect for authority in the house,
there will he Indebtedness in each
heart, as the cinder must be put out of
the eye, or it will put the eye out.
Many home is in ruins from the
untamed savagery of a single son.
Every kindness is lost on him. He
will not heed any advice nor yield to
any persuasion. He storms on, head
strong and unyielding, amid the blight
ed hopes and affections of all the low
ing hearts of home. God comfort the
sufferings of such parents God bring
into sweet and loving obedience such
sons
Taking hold of duty. Every boy
has been aided by others before him in
countless ways, all his years. Before
his birth kind hands prepared raiment
for him. A home that he did no
thing to construct, welcomed him into
it. SchOOl-hOuses and colleges, with
all their endowments, opened their
doors to him. Churches were built for
him. Libraries and art galleries, and
all the wealth of society, and institu-
tiOns of government, pour their treas
ure upon him. Parents, instructors,
Bible school teachers, ministers, and a
multitude of helpful people have labor
ed for him. A world of thoughtful,
prayerful aid has been brought daily
to his door, He is what he is in life,
because of these noble provisions of
Christian people. Bit for years he
has thought nothing of it, cared moth
ing for it, thanked nobody. Rather,
he has often kicked against all this;
tried to get rid of it all, and berated
those who have toiled and sacrificed to
have him walk in hese ways.
Now, if he ever comes to anything
in the world, as his fathers before him
have, he must, while a boy, begin to
take hold of these things, and use them
heartily and honestly, and for his own
good. He has received, from his first
breath, and given nothing. He must
begin to give and do in his youth.
The sons that have followed impulse
must undertake to follow duty, and
bear the yoke. Others will not always
do these things for them; they cannot.
The sons must begin to do them for
There must be self-re-
straint, self government, right feeling
and sound Judgment. There must be
moral balance, and no longer drift
ing on the tide without aim. The
whole being must come to move to-
gether, for good.
You say you have seen sons break
these rules and disregard all restraints
and come out admirable men. Yes,
but never until they had ceased to live |
in this lawIess, careless. selfish way,
and begun in dead earnest to do these
duties, and put themselves under the
influences | have spoken of. Such men
10 not nonco To mourn that they had |