The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1918-11-30

character that has developed along
!. the same lines as. his own.
The greatest safeguard in protect
ing the young folks from evil influence,
is to give them leave to bring their
friends to the home. A home where
their friends are welcome will in
fluence their choice to such an extent
that they will not make companion
of anyone whose acquaintance might
be undesirable by the home folks.
There is a wealth of joy and recrea-
ton for the young people if they can
visit home where the old folks are
pleasant and do not stint with con-
versation. Then, too, it is safe to
assert, that the friends of the chill
dren, be they boys or girls, if they
feel at home in your company they
are fit companions for your children.
Some parents. offer economic rea-
sons to excuse the unsociability OF
their homes, but let those speak who
do otherwise and we will see that this
is the least of their troubles. The
home need not be a grand residence
with rich furnishings to. supply COM
fort for the guests It is not the
massive rocker that will put him at
ease as does the welcome smile, the
cheerful conversation and the priv.
ilege of access to the back porch as
well as the living-room. If the truth
be known these economic" parents
are too selfish to sacrifice a little
personal comfort in being sociable to-
ward the, young folks. They, follow
their own routine from one week to
the other and anything that may in
terfere will ruffle their, temper. They
may attempt to appear placid in the
presence of a stranger but their in
ward feelings will not be ignored and
thus cast a chill over the whole place,
partly too, because those of the fam
lily circle know that the one who VEN
tured to bring in the visitor is doomed
to reproach as soon as the road is
cleared. i
And what is the result?
If chiId-love is deeply rooted he may
do all in his power to avoid parental
| displeasure. He will desist from ex-
tending any invitations to his home
to spare his folks the discomfort, .
his friends the humiliation, and him.
IseIf the embarrassment which prob
ably would ensue. And also he will de-
cline many invitations, being unable to
Ireturn hospitality, necessitating many
a lonely evening or Sunday afternoon
which otherwise might be spent in the
wholesome company of congeniai
friends However, this does not settle
the matter. The parents may feel
quite content with these conditions,
but when this boy or girl, who is not
blind to their error, by change of cir
cumstances will leave their roof with
duties leading into other channels. it
is doubtful whether any efforts on
their part can efface the injustice OF
| the past.
Or, if the child does not take his
duties so seriously, he too will avoid
invitations to his home, ''to avoid a
| row." and pride forbidding the aei
ceptance of invitations which cannot
be returned, he will make companions
of such who seek enjoyment outside of
the. home circle.
II If parents could see the numerous
temptations. assailing the young folks,
and the eagerness with which the
worIdlings await their innocent prey,
they. would strive harder to ward off
the peril 1t is not enough to preach
to the young folks, about avoiding
temptations or evil company. The
home must be a haven to which they
can fly, a place of comfort where
/ they can live, physically as we'll as
socially.
/ -Marp F. Ross. in The Christian FamND,