The Monitor-register. [volume] (Woodstown, Salem Co., N.J.) 1892-1972, 1896-02-28

that engrosses her husband. Crowned
with success in the first, he has steadily
increased his possessions until now he is
indeed becoming wealthy.
But where are the boys, the boys that
should be the main source of his affec-
tions Deprived of their right for which
they have faithfully worked, indecently
clothed, they no longer look for help from
the head of the household. One after
the other they depart from their parents
until the youngest only is left. Now the
mothers overlooking heart will bear it no
longer. She makes another appeal to
John to give her one comfort at least In
being true father to their only remain.
ing son. Will he do it? Can the
passion for worldly possession through
all these years be suddenly reversed, and
will something else enter his Utmost
heart and change him before it is too
lateP No! That dominant passion Is
too firmly founded to be washed away in
moment. The wealth he has acquired
is all in all to his hardened nature. And
80 the last remaining son departs from
the household. With wailing cry Of
despair, the mother clipgs upon his neck,
while the binding tears choke the words
she vainly strives to utter. The youngest
son is gone, ana the cry of anguish that
goes out from that mothers bleeding
heart, where the very life threads have
been broken, is a death-knell to- her
future happiness. Oh blind father, you
who have caused such terrible anguish,
why was your stern heart up willing 10
relent before it was too latel
Does this picture give us a glimpse of
the ideal farm life at which we are aim
ing? Is this the kind of life we would
wish to have lived about us? Let us
hope not. The farm of this man may
indeed have been an ideal one, but with
the working of it should have gone that
which is the main essential toward happi.
ness. An ideal farm and ideal farm life,
are two entirely distinct things, which
may or may not go together.
Let us briefly follow another picture
where two young people start upon the
journey of life together. They have
taken up their abode upon an old farm Of
the husbands grandparents, not sa we'll
stocked to be sure, but good enough for
a beginning. They are thrifty, and their
first years upon the farm bring ample
money for their welfare. But in the long
winter evenings, does the father sit apart,
too busy to be cheerful Mol He nurses
his babe, and tells wonderful stories to
his children, leading them delightfully."-
in to those early realms of literature &C
beneficial to youthful minds. The
mother near by with her pile of stockings
and mending looks lovingly on, feeling
as though nothing is wanting to maxi
her cup Of happiness full to the brim.
But what of the farm through thes
years. Is it getting paid fors Slowly
indeed and the buildings seem to wan
repairing. But what IL they do need
new coat of paint so long as the none.
is taken for some nobler purpose TIL,
rewards of that fathers toll are used as
means Of promoting his family to tina
higher life, which in itself is a grand
reward.
A few years more pass over this house
hold; years devoted to the cultivation Of
the mind and heart as well as of the farm
The father sees with visible pride his
family growing up about him, and as he
is the head of the flock, he tries to con
duct himself in manner toward them
that will inspire in them feelings oil
respect and love. The mother too uses
her weapons of love to quell any disturb
ance in the household. For even in the
best of homes, the weather is not always
sunshine. So they go, the parents both
eager to be patterns worthy to be followed
by their children.
Now the oldest son is grown, and
important is the day when he departs for
his first year at college. While there his
thoughts are ever of home and the family.
How gladly he spends his visits at home,
and how eagerly he looks forward to the
time when he shall be able to relieve the
cares of his father. What If a new barn
is needed, will not the old one do until
the children are educated? For what ia
the erecting of that which can be
destroyed by the storms and the tempests,
compared with that which can be built
up in the mind, as monument of much
longer duration. This kind father
realizes full well that there is Power
above and beyond toward which he must
steadily aim. He knows that that
Power can make us all enjoy life, if we
will but accept its simple teachings. AT
last that college-bIed son returns once
more to mipgle as one of the family
possessed now of all of the vigor of man.
hood, ready to bear the burdens of the
father upon his strong young shoulders.
The good mother, too, is strengthened
and cheered by her strong young
daughter. There is something in that
household that no riches can buy. 1t ii
the result of loving influence upon the
minds of the children from infancy.
There Is religion in that father and
mother in actions as well as in words.
They possess the happy secret that
teachers of infants must themselves
strive for that perfection which they
desire their children to reach. In love
their is power mightier than the sword,
grander than the rule of princes; next
only to the power of God himself.
Is not this the true essence of ideal life
on the farm as elsewhere To work for
the good of others; to cultivate the heart
with as great an effort as the field; to
SOW the seeds of kindness and love, and
then the harvest will surely be abundant.
This is life that is at the command of
all, no idle vision, but one that can be
lived by the rich as we'll as the poor.
To work in the vineyards of kindness,
And labor with patience and love.
IT'LL called by the Master in Heaven,
To dwell in His kingdom above.
Health and strength carry us through
dangers and make us safe in the presence
of peril. A perfectly strong man with
rich, pure blood, has nothing to fear from
| germs. He may breathe 10 the bacili OF
consumption with impunity. If there is
a weak spot where the germs NAV find an