Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1915-09-09

hat 4 Red nome means
There is nopicture which touch
es the hearts OF men more closely
than the figure of the tired man
or woman goinghome at the end
of the day. The fierce heat OF
the sun has passed, the intense
high light OF midday has softened
into a restful glow, the strain OF
effort is over and the passion OF
work has given place to the peace
of deserted fields and streets. 1t
was a normal instinct which sent
the worker forth, eager and alert,
in the morning; tits the response
to a deep craving which sends
him home at nightfall. The re-
ward OF labor il the rest which it
achieves and the Joy OF rest'is the
sense that it has been earned.
The alienation OF day and
night is a symbol of the order OF
life in which work and rest sue.
ceed one another in a beautiful
and health-giving rhythm. The
worker goes out Of himself when
he takes up his tools; he returns
to himself when he lays them
down at the end of the day. He
pours out his vitality as the wa
ter pours out OF a hidden spring;
if he is a real worker and not q
mere drudge, be gives himself in
the toll of bis hand and his brain,
and when night falls his weari.
ness is not mere fatigue of body,
it is depletion of vitality. Before
he can give himself again he must
find himself; and when one goes
home he finds himself.
To q vast multitude OF men the
thought OF going home makes
the heaviest burdens bearable,
the most crushing responsible
ties a spur to effort, the most
complete surrender of ease and
pleasure not q sacrifice, but a
price gladly paid for a happiness
fwhiehisbey yo1d price. The strain
of the day is forgotten at the
door which opens into the peace
of perfect understanding, the
pressure Of hours and tasks is re.
laxed by the sound of a voice
which is musical with love and
faith and peace. In such a home
coming there is not only the su-
preme reward for the work OF the
day that is ended; there is also
the renewal of the strength and
courage for the day that is to
bring new strife and toll.
The Joy Of going home is notin
the ease and comfort that ara
waiting there. 1t is in the peace
that flows from love, the stiffness
that follows in the tuhult ol
storm, the clear atmosphere in
which the dust of the highway i
laid and the worker sees agair
the ends for which he is striving
in the quietness Of such a homs
the toll of life is not only sweet
ened but it's spiritual meaning
shines clear again after the con
fusion of details has vanished
Under the heat and burden Of th,
day the strongest man sometimes
wonders if life means anything
but prolonged strain OF muscle
and brain; in the stiffness of hom'
it's blurred ends, it's ultimate
achievements, shine like the star
above the highway when the dus
has been laid.
The home is not primarily
place for work, but for life; worl
, lies below and beyond it, but th
, companionship which transform
a house into a home is q sharinl
OF the rewards OF work; freedom
3 respose, refreshment, visions
8 There are houses full OF conven
fences and luxuries in which N
one is at home; the men and VIC
,, men who live in them are home
less. To such men and women
Y as to the men and women t
j. whom'inarriage is q mere secis
q contract and the family q mel
social arrangement, there is n