The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-07-26
LOVING KINDNESS
IN THE HOME.

habit of senseless and meaning
,o.e fondling, so common among
,.o,ng girls and frequent among wom-
=, who are scarcely more than ac-
o,aintances, is, says a writer in the
-, York Evening Post, detriment
- delicate refinement, both of manner
10 feeling. A sense of exclusiveness
=. raouired to render a caress worth
,,,,inr sympathy, love, compassion,
COMPREHENSION, selection, as of one to
whom you draw near for rest and help,
,+er into the touch which soothes
and blesses.
The clasp of a child's arms thrown
,,oluntarily and spontaneously about
vopr neck, the touch of its innocent
and tender lips upon your cheek, are
ike inducements to believe in that
better self which the friction and dis
couragement of life and the world in
cline us to fear has been lost. There is
an anpeal in these to keep body and
eoul clean and spotless before God, in
ordar to be worthy of this unsought,
1,ndeserVed preference, this exquisite
tandarness which has, for Interior mo-
tive only, the desire to express love.
Mothers who mistakenly waste the
very essence of their life's vitality in
areument and invective in their strife
Win intemperance and every evil thing
which lure their sons away from them
and from happines, might often find
a gracious careSs, which spoke at once
of forgiveness and of hope, worth a
thousand recriminating words. In ev-
cry boys heart, as he feels his own
selfdegradation, there abides a fear
that what he has loved is dropping
away from him. The sign of adher-
ence. of unity, of enduring fidelity,
which is made by his mothers hand
passing over his aching forehead, and
the appealing touch of her lips upon
his hot cheek, are pledges to him that
he has not lost her love and that she
yet trusts in his restoration.
The world would be happier place
If busy men understood what restful
comfort comes to their wives and
mothers from a tender touch and an
apparent wish to be near them in the
resting times of their toilsome days.
Even the most thoughtless habitual
mark of affection which appertains to
the morning, when imam goeth forth
10 his labor" and to the evening,
when he returns, helps the heart that
is tired and has to rest too much on
its own resources for its welfare and
refreshment But the good man who
on his return carelessly looks about for
the easy chair and the pleasant place,
little knows what strength he might
convey to the weary hand which would
be so soothed by his caress. If he
could by a m0mentary touch imply:
You, and being near you, are the real
sources of my refreShment: these
helpful because your love has put them
in my reach,'' it would work wonders.
In our great griefs what a blessed
part caresses, rightly bestowed, are
appointed to take. There are natures
which cry out: Let me alone in my
sorrow. but deep down in the dark
chambers of their misery this only
means that what is proffered does not
come from the right hand. There is al
ways some one whose touch can bless!
Happy that one, and well for giver
and recipient if the power and prlVl-
lege are known and exercised.
At such crises in our lives, little
children are so blessed in their inf1u-
ence and mission They do not seek
TO pry into your heart; they do not
look you out of countenance, study
ing the secret behind your eyes; they
do not wonder what is breaking
your heart. Instinct tells them TO
comfort YOU as their mothers heal the
bruises they carry to them for relief.
They kiss the spot and make it well.
Growing children, especially boys,
are made shy by seeing tokens OF dis
tress, and sad face is a thing to run
away from. 1t is a contribution to
the solace of the world when they can
be taught to try at least what they
can do to help the pain. If they can
learn that curious questioning is tor
ture and that their words must be few
and loving, and discover that clasp
of a vigorous young arm and an effort
to show affectionate sympathy is oft
en- a real balm to a mother, sister, or
even a brother; they are better pre-
pared to hold intact the homes they
shall one day build.
The fathers of our households are
often left very desolate through doubt
of what to do for a man who is silent,
reserved, cold in manner, and seems to
keep his children aloof. Especially if
in any way they have, through stress
and WEAKNESS. fallen out of the fam
lily activities. I doubt if a wife can
do a more helpful thing for her hus-
band or his children, than to teach
them-the chldren-to carry their
small trials to him for sympathy.
their small perplexities to him for
counsel.
If you can establish perfect freedom
as to everyday matters in children's
minds, they will not fear to break into
Inc reserve caused by gloomy thoughts,
but accustom themselves to win his
attention by familiar caresses which.
unless he is exceptionally morose, will
exercise the demons which have con-
quered him. A good boys vigorous
hand on his shoulder. hearty word of
regret that he seems tired. are sweet
IN mans ears; the sense that he is
remembered and cared for by that gay
young heart, comforts. And almost
any gentle little girl who climbs upon
her fathers knee and lays her curly
mead upon his shoulder is welcome
mere Don't bother your father" is
not always the wisest advice to his
children, provided they go to him for
ms sake and not for their own.
worn, nervous man or woman, very
quickly detects the motive of approach,
ana If a wish to soothe does not take
on foolish pertinacity or descend into
sush,' it pleases a man to realize
him
1t seems ridiculous to carry a mat
Yer Which ought to be wholly sponta-
neous and born of loving impulse, into
me nome school. Its value lies in its
PERSONAL sincerity and unbidden de-
Oh,