Year: 1869

We made it.


A home. Not palace full Of uuused
rooms, strange echoes, deserted chambers,
hollow sounds, mus'y smells, and horrible
patterned carpets, but a neat, cozy home
where We live every day, happy in what we
have, enyous of no one, caring for our real
wants and giving no hospitality to imaginary
ones.


A few years since we began without a
dollar. One night our palms rested in each
other, our lips met as never before, we
promised earnestly and faithfully. have kept
vows deeply craven on our hearts.
! Then we started cut on the voyage of
united life. The great sea sang murmuring
at our feet. It's distance was fecked with
| tinny sails. There were iceberks and green
isles in the distance. but none near the velve.
shores! ! Is it thus to tempt people? So or
not so, those who look beyond the reach of
momentary vision can see open sailing, that
icebergs can be missed, and the green isles
far out yonder be reached


But not except those who sail the craft be
Of one mind Let both steer for the same
port and channel. it will be reached But,
alas too many sail on, wrapped only in the
present; squandering of the future, and soon
put back for another craft or hoat on the
surf that throws, and dashes. and spatters
itself in mockery over the rock ribbed shore,
not harder than the composite of error on
which many frail bark is stranded.


There is much in mating There is much
more iu not overlooking the craft There is
much in not taking too many passengers
with you. And there is much in working
the ship together, and very much in not
giving to others the decacies which never
outast the voyage except used only by those
who put them up for their own use.


Bat no more of the sea, we must not float


So far from the shore,


So far from our home,


So tar from our love,


So far from our duty,


So far from our happiness,


So far from ourselves


II


How did we win this home


Little by little. Thanking God for yester.
day, for to-day, for tomorrow, for hope
and for pluck. 1t did seem bard to begin
from nothing years ago, but we thus began.
y,
in hope to visit very many of the distant
isles. So we saved. What was earned by
the plow, the spade, the scythe, the ak, the
labor Of hands, was saved, not to be boarded,
but to be spent


The money earned in the shop by the forge
fire did not float off in steam like the water
put on burning coal, it did no. thin off into
sbavings, fit only to kiudle Desires it did not
drop into the pile of cloth scraps, leather
bits and waxed ends; we did not leave it
fastened to the cup of dissipation, nor invest
in it weeds to grow up and check our man
hood.


1t was saved for the 90 cd it might do;
was paid to those who built our home, and
those who, in thousand other places, were
working to make this and that OF the usefuI
and beautiful to be purchased, paid for and
enjoyed by all who would or will make home
attractive.


Is it not wonderful how workingmen help
each Others And how little we do for these
beautiful things for us These carpets, chairs,
tables, pictures, glass and frames. The house
we live in, the stove we cook upon, the bed
we sleep ou, the food we eat, the clothes we
wear, the dishes we use the medicines we
take, the piano we listen to, tho jewery our
loved wears, the books and papers we read,
the pen we use, the ink we are wasting. the
watch which tells US of the hour, the curtains
which exclude the glance of eyes outside as
we sit writing, stopping only to pet, and kiss
and love the dearest one on earth, who says
she cannot help loving us.


Why if all the men and women, boys and
girls who had worked on the articles 10 our
home should call to-pight! who would, who
could care for our guests They would be
here by the thousands Verify, the idea,
the truth Of our own litteness, as we bave
to think Of how little account we are to
others, and how many others work for US, is
enough to drown the soul 10 its own shrink
age