Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-08-27
Fifty Years Married

Dear Household: have been wanting TO
write for a long time. hut lacked the energy.
When Holly Leaf asked 'how many Of us
regretted marrying" ! wanted to answer right
away: Not I.
have been married more than fifty years
and free as I ever was. When a gil
I tbeyed my parents and helped with any
work about the place. and cared for younger
children; My parents we're Christians; more 1Ss
Sabbath was the lords day, not ours. II we
could not 60 to church and Sunday school we
and our parents would hear recite them.
Mother would read for ms, and no Sunday
seemed too long. We loved 10 60 to church
and Sunday school when we could and our
60, went and after services were over
We went home-no visiting, stopping with
cannot go to church I want 10 stay at home
and read by Bible and other good books
My parents have been in their graves many
years, but their influence Stili lives. SO, ike
Abel. they still speak.
Tho dear old home long ago passed into IN"
hands Of others, and ] am truly glad mar
ried and now have a home Of my own; not
such lovely surroundings as Holly Leaf lie
scribed. but II II home, and whenever ! go
or wherever ! go. am always glad to get
back homo. People are kind. ! have Tear
ones that might take me In II had no home,
but II could never feel the same ms this. where
We as a young couple, settled more than fifty
years ago. These large oaks, covered with long
gray moss, were only large shrubs We and
they have grown old together. Some or the
flowers we planted in our youthful days are
hnre yet. have hecn as free all my days
! when 9 girl in my fathers house.
John said, 1T will always be my pleasure 10
please you" And that has been our motto.
much affection as he ever did. and to me he
is dearer than ever.
Yes. Il is Inconsistent. but believe Holly Leaf
does love her husband and babies. and she Is
not lazy. II she was she would never do all
that work. ] think she does too much. Like
Martha, she is numbered about much serving
and careful and troubled about many things.
Martha spoke a few hasty words, too, but the
blessed Master did not beratc her. He loved
her and His reproof was mild. That good
husband may be a little thoughtless: perhaps
he is not rs helpful around the house as he
might be. Some fathers take good share In
caring for the babies, but the devoted wifs
would cover any fault she might see in him
II she ever 1t.
swers prayer, and He Is so good and kind to
not always to give us what we ask t3r.
because He sees II is not best for US. 1t would
fail to make us happy.
Morning Glory gave us a good letter this
week: tAid things that ! wanted to say. /
am alad she wrote II. You have all you need
satisfy. II YOU are Christian, get nearer
to Jesus. II you are not, Jesus is calling You:
is What makes the heart ache. He hath torn,
and He will heal us; He hath smitten, and
He viii bind MS up. The Holy Spirit, the
Comforter can, take away all aches from your
heart. and to live in loving companionship with
Him one cannot be miserable.
l know you have your hands full. l nope
the babies will soon help you with the WORK
BE patient and fOrbearing and they will love
10 help. ! know they more trouble than
help for a while, but thcn they near you
and you know Whist they doing. IL sent
off to get them out Of your way, perhaps they
are in some one else's way, or they may run
into danger-dangcr TO body and soul.
Time comes enough when the children
have 70 get out among others, but II their
first impressions good they may help some
other child TO shun evil and do good Try
to make the baby lives happy; such it'll"
things make children happy, unless they
are spoiled. Then they can become dlscOn-
tented that nothing make them happy.
Some children naturally good have sweet
dispositions. easily led In the right way or
checked from evil other children naturally
bnd, and they cannot help getting into mis-
chief They need our help; watch them kindly
and stop them before they begin. Don't ne
hard on them; don't say hard things: they
will be dark spots in memory for you and the
child. BIBLE STUDENT.