The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-10-03
HOme-Then and Now.

Most of US remember having family
prayers at a. M, and in cold weather
fastening our buttons coming down
stairs-for wenever dreamed of veX-
ing father and mother by being late
and then the youngest said grace, and
we sat down to a cheerful, wholesome
family meal. We have changed all
that. Now the mother suffers from
NERVES" (the result of anXieties born
of excepting up appearances, and has
her breakfast in bed. One daughter
appears late and cross, and in silence
pours out her fathers coffee. The rest
drop in as they think fit-no prayers,
no grace, and only speak to complain
that the eggs are cold, or that, in too
abundant provision, '"There is nothing
fit to eat" A father said to me the
other day : II have no home now !;
my children have turned my house
into hotel"
We middle-aged remember long,
happy evenings of reading aloud and
sewing round the fireside, of music, OF
intelligent conversation, of simple
games followed by a frugal supper,
family worship-true worship-and "a
kind good night to ALL" Now we are
in society, or imagine we are, and dine
late, and all have our separate engage
ments. We hate sewing, we hate read
ing alOud-how can three or four peo-
pie possibly like the same book :?
(Some of US, by the way, read books
we should be ashamed to hear read
aloud.) What is the good Of music
"only to the family ?" And to think
of grown-up people (oversixteen) play
ing games As to prayers, what's the
good of evening prayers We CAM
possibly be in in time, and if wecould,
we are tired, and, we add plausibly, it
does not please God for us to be bored.
"Intelligent conversation" is an un-
known quantity to the present gene
ration, and we are not particular about
saying good night we are too preoccu-
pied to trouble much about the family.
All this means disintegration, ruin OF
home.
In the old days, when girl thought
of marriage, she pictured herself the
center of a home, the light of her hus'
bands life, ordering well his house,
careful of his money, teaching his lit
tie children to fold their hands to the
Father in heaven. Now girl thinks
of marriage as the simplest way of Sc
curing an establishment, expensive
dress, dinners, an audience to perform
to. She is "at home" (save the markD
only once fortnight, and tostrangers.
She votes children nuisance, and dis.
misses them as far as possible from her
thoughts and from her presence; her
husband, she says, doesn't count"
and the "Father in heaven" is an obso-
lete phrase.
The young man used to think of his
possible wife as of something very
sacred, for whose sweet sake he kept
himself from foul thoughts and base
actions. He looked forwardto to his own
home, a bright haven of peace and
rest, where would be unfailing love
and sympathy, a constant incentive to
lead noble life, and living inspira-
tion by his side. Now be seeks mon
ey and connections; his wife must be
smart" she does not care for getting
up in the morning, nor for sermons,
nor for ideals when he comes in tired
from business, she is probably out
shopping or paying calls; che does not
watch him down the street in the
morning, nor does she mend his socks,
but she looks well in society; she is
lot saint, but neither does she ex-
pect him to be one. $780," he says,
with suppressed sigh, "there is al
ways compensation" But is this
home ?-N. Y. Advocate.