The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-12-05
Home Influences

What depth of meaning in the very
words home influences. And yet, are all
parents, mothers especially, striving their
best to make home the bright, sunny spot
! they might! Using those sweet, gentle in
fluences true women may and can to make
their homes attractive!
We fear not. In a majority OF cases the
world and its absorbing pleasures receiving
and returning ais; attending parties, or
preparing for theml-these, and other ap-
. parentiy innocent ways Of passing time
among the wealthy engross the whole mind,
while their homes. elegant though they may
! be, are So rarely made bright and genial
by the sweet motherly presence that
! they create to the young O repellant
atmosphere. The baby and little ones are
left in the nursery to he amused by the
nurse while those a little older sometimes
wander aimlessly about between nursery and
parlor, library, and their own rooms, seeking
for some amusement or companionShip be-
sides their own. Thesons who are thus left
Independently to come anil 60 as they please,
soon learn to seek the club and other places
of resort to pass social evening.
Can we wonder that from this first step in
the wrong direction, away from home in the
evening, others quickly follow! A glass of
wine for good fellowship, or game OF cards
to pass time are INDUCED in. Then come late
hours and a craving for stimulants: desire
" u OlC luSh aV "llliuS llUuiC
thing a. cards, faro, etc, and the steps
downwards, after this, are oitentimes start
ingly rapid.
But among all the evils which assail the
young seeking pleasure away from home in
temperance is the greatest, and leads through
weakened and debauched mind to almost
any step Of degradation. in rich and poor
alike. To stem this evil we should steadily
and perSistentlv work until the great foe to
mankind is laid low, or its power for evil
lessened. And where can this be more ef-
fectually done than around the hearth-stone
of home? All that mothers would all realize
that it is the sweet, gentle, home-jnhuences
which may save their sons from perdition.
Even though tie temptations OF the world
may, in after years, draw your loved ones
into its sinful vortex, word, mere look of
interest and pity from stranger, will some
times vividly recall tue past-mother. home,
and love, and they are saved. Let not your
sons then 60 forth without any Of these sweet,
hallowed associations. But now, in their
babyhood their early youth, do all you can
to instill right principles into their plastic
minds. And let not these principles be en-
forced as maxins for their worldly good, or
in stern, harsh teachings, line upon line and
precept upon pracrpt; for instead Of thus
winning the obedience Of your children you
may disgust or weary them by oft.repeated
trite sayings-repel and drive them from you
and from their hCmes to find pleasure else
where.
No, indeed rather let your teachings be
gently and lovingly impaired. Make home
bright and CHEEKY set before them a good
example yourself and then hold forth to them
high standard to aim at, that it may en-
noble their lives and make Of them true men
and worthy citizens; best of ell, pure-minded,
earnest Christians. Then may we hope to
seq better class Of men among US; men bet
ter fitted for our public Offices and places of
trust. Then, too, a greater thrust will be
given to the drinking. saloons and gambling
halls, OF hells as they are sometimes more
strongly named. And surely some of these
dens of iniYuity may we'll be compared to
Tophet-a place FOR lost souls.
And Sc we woulI again beg mothers to
make home bright and attractive to their
children. Don't leave the little ones too
much to their nurses or governesses; be with
them as much as possible yourselves while
young and capable Of forming strong i'm
press ons of home and mother love. 1t may
requ re self denial on your part in giving up
some social pleasures, but in after years you
will be more than repaid by the sweet COM
panionship of your sons and daughters who,
according to Scripture, will rise up and call
Vol blessed -IemDerunce Adpocutp