San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-05-05
SCHOOLS AND SCHOOLS

Ceu dS inc particular bhohA0 AOi
this mornings discourse. There is
no other word in the language
that fingers so lovingly on the
tongue as this word "home"; no
word so execrated, the difference
resting solely in the character OF
that home. To the child whose
home memories are happy ones,
the WORD is as sweet as incense, as
holy as heaven, as pure as the
breath of infancy. 1t suggests
peace, rest, love, tender care, all
loving ministries. 1t recalls to
mind always and allwheres the
refuge OF the life and heart in
those early years before the bur-
den was laid on both. 1t speaks Of
the strong heart of Father; Of the
loving tender breast Of Mother; OF
Brother and Sister, and all home
joys and pleasures and associations
that make that one spot the shrine
of the past. This is what homeis
to those who have happy men,
cries of this nest Of their child
hood, who carry these memories as
their:safeguard out into the world
of harder, harsher life.
To the child whose home men,
cries are unhappy, the word is a
misnomer, a mockery, a desecra-
ton. 1t reminds all too forcibly
of the discomfort. passion, conten-
ton, discord, angry voices and hot
tempers that made of that home
place nest of snarling unrestful-
ness. 1t calls up the picture OF an
angry Father, of a fault-finding
Mother, of quarrelsome Brothers
and Sisters. A plague spot from
which spreads the venom of envy,
jealousy, hate and all unlovingness.
1t throws a gloom on the spirit OF
after years as it is recalled, for it
was never entered gladly and left
reluctantly. 1t was the very last
place sought and the first one
avoided in childhood, and in ripper
years it is the last one thought Of
with any respect or tenderness or
longing or regret that it is no more
"home." Such a home is hell, for
hell is a place Of darkness and if
the light that should be in oh ome"
is darkness, how great is the dark
ness? Let those who have felt it
shudder and tell its blackness.
How many OF the homes into
which this sermon finds its way
this Sunday morning are "heaven"
homes; how many shell" homes?
They are just as much of either as
you make them. The tones of your
voice are teaching your babes in
their cradles before they under
stand the meaning of a single
word you utter. They are learning
self control, kindness, tenderness,
decision, truthfulness, gracious
ness Of speech, manner and action
every day and every hour Of their
wakefulness and watchfulness OF
they are learning to fear the ap,
proach OF Mother and dread the
sound of Fathers footsteps, they
> are catching the temper and dis
content and unkindness in your
voice and manner, and you are
marking these impressions on the
sensitive soul plate of the little
: one, to go down deeper and remain
there longer than any other i'm
r pressions that will ever be made
there.
;, That little life placed In you
= arms and given to your care
q Mother, will owe to you in the frs
o years of its young existence NOR
than it will owe to all other influ
ences comb ined in all its afterwar,
Z. Of life. It's happiness or misery
!. as surely wrapped up in the spiri
: and habitual temper and dispC
4 sition that you show, as its littl
" body is wrapped up in the so
|, garments that you have fashione
r for it. Taking it for granted tina
you truly love your little one an
would give yourself for it, as yo
10 have in part, ought not you
. think as much of the fashion Of il
u mind and temper as of its lit
u wardrobe? Is it not as essenti;
D. that it be wrapped in soft wore
9 and tender loving smiles and un