The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1895-08-27
their arms while the squays chant.
some monotonous dirge.
Waynesyille, N. O., Aug. 6, 1895.
Making the Home Happy.
BIN JAMES RoRRRrs.

N. X. Observer.
The sweetest place on earth to
every man, woman and child should
be the place called home. The
heaven of the future begins on earth,
and the nearest we ever get to the
eternal home of celestial Joy should
be beneath the family roof. Every
member of the household has some
thing to do with making home what
it is, and Al homes are just what
we, the inmates of the house, make
them. What a tremendous respon-
sibility is here laid upon fathers and
mothers, upon brothers and sisters,
upon every individual of the house,
hold.
1t should ever be remembered that
the happiness of the home does not
depend on its outward nor on its in
ward adornment; nor is it dependent
on the mental culture or material
wealth which the family may repre-
sent. Some of the most delightful
homes are to be found among the
poorest of the poor; and some of the
most unhappy, miserable homes are
to be found among those in which
wealth abounds. Some of the SEEM
ingly poorest homes are among the
richest, while some of the apparent
ly richest homes are really the 10
est. The fact is, that wealth has
little or nothing to do with making
the happiness of III homes. The
character of the home-its happiness
or it's misery-depends upon the
spirit and temper of those who COM
pose the family circle. One little
mosquito may destroy the rest and
comfort of the whole night; and! SO
IL little rebell;ous spirit, constant
ly resisting or fretting against the
authority which is so essential to
every well regulated household, may
fill all hearts with foreboding shad-
ows or dark clouds which shut out
tire cheering sunlight of the ever
joyous spirit that gladdens and
makes happy the true home.
Happiness is not the natural state
of the home. The cursed blight of
sin is OH the home us ON eve. other
relation of mankind. Happiness in
the home is the product of divine
grace and human effort. 1t is a
plant that grows and thrives only as
it is carefully watched and labor
lously cultivated. One of its most
nveterate foes is selfishness. Fathers
are selfish in the pursuit of their
business, their studies, their various
forms of personal enjoyment. Moth
ers are selfish in the qualification of
their desire for pleasure and even in
the performance of work relating to
the church and to the cause of mis-.
slons. The children, Of course, are
intensely selfish. This is the out.
cropping of depraved human nature.
which every child must be taught
to check and suppress. Selfshness
must be crucifed, not only once, but
every day in those who constitut,
the truly happy home.
In order to elevate the home, to
make it happy and h~eaven-like
every dweller within the walls of the
sacred inclosure must put forth tn,
most thoughtful, watchful and per.
slstent effort parents and children
must decide that the home shall be
The most attractive and the mos
delightful place in all the world
and then by every energy and power
OF Their being, strive to make thai
decision effective. In the home spend
your leisure hours, speak your sweet,
est words, tell your most AMUSING
stories, scatter most bountifully your
most cheerful smiles. In every way,
ann to be and to do your best at
home for it's entertainment, amuse-
ment and elevation. Whatever YOU
are elsewhere, be ever most agreeable
at home.
Above all things else, invite and
welcome God by his ever blessed
spirit to preside over all the affairs
OF your home. Let God be recogni-
zed as the provider of all mercies
when you sit down to meals around
the family table, by at least a silent
pause in which you give thanks for
the gifts that are before you. AS
the day begins and ends, when the
morning dawns and the shades of
the night begin to gather about YOU,
let the Heavenly Father be honored
by the gathering of the whole house
hold around the throne of his grace
and around the family altar, Where
The Bible shall be read as the Word
OF God and where, in simple, honest
words of morning and evening pray
er, all shall be commended to the
watchful keeping of Him whose
hands hold the stars in their courses
and who guides the rise and fall of
empires, as well as the flight of q
sparrow, and counts the hairs of our
heads. Rev. DIR. James Hamilton
gives this recipe for the making of a
happy home, which is well worth
trying. "~Integrity must be the
architect, and tidiness the uphols-
terer. Unjust be warmed by affection
and lighted up with Gheerfullness I:
and industry must be the ventilator.
renewing the atmosphere and bring
ing in fresh salubrity every day
while over all, for a protecting can
ODy of oloru nntL; m n,