Influence Of Home Life

Of the varimis social inllueiices by hicli we ai'e suiToumletl, and whicïi nnbine to form our charactera and irect our lives, there is nono so poent and perpetuad as iliat of the l'amiyhome. &1 others work irregnlarly, ' r at intervals, or at somt' special part f life; bnt tliis operates silently, i ■ailily and powerfully on every ; vidual from the eradle to the grave. n the earliest and most impressible ears of life it has no rival; in things arge and sinall, important and trivial, n looks, tones and gestures, in tl ie aily details of conduct.in the mental ttitiulé, in moral standards of duty, ts intliience is nnbounded. The youth, iio, on etnerging froni bis home atoa more individual life, fancies that ie is now free froni its influence, is reatly mistaken. It clings 80 cloaely ;q hiiñ that no efforts can ever shakfi ; off. no connter-influence can 1-LI w, ,, , , ,_■ ■.. .Ui IIIB abits of thought and action, in his irinciples, his tastes, his choices. into lie new home life, which probably waita hiin, he carries the tendenties f Uieold, and thus perpetuates them o future generations, while lie is liimelf again insensibly, but powerfully vorked upon by the new eleinents vhich surround hiin, and which coninue to sway him tlirough his enlire ife. Jt is strange that an influence at nee so powerful and enduring, so eep-rooted and so wide-spread, and one to which every individual is contantly ContributLng hisshare for good w for evil, should not oblain more erious eonsideration and syatematic ontrol than it generally does. Great care is taken to prepare youth of both ex es tor business and society, to intill knowledge that ahall fit them for gaining a livelihood, nd accomplishnents that shall render them attracive; but for the special diities and reponsibilities which await them as juardians of home life, there sscarecy any educational provisions made. Of Uie funetions of social life, none is more diflieuH, morecomplox, more vital ;o liuman welfare, and y et more generally overlooked in every system, even that of self-culture. Crude and ïasty conclnsions, momentary impulses, dictates of sudden feeling or passion too often rulu the human life, instead of well-reasoned out convictions, leíinite principies, and carefully ad? usted methods. Not that we would see home life robbed of one particleof its sweet and ever fresh niituralness, or squared by rule and law until it becomes a painf ui scène of artificial restraints. ïhe domestic fireside that is not animated by love and warmed by nolile and generous impulses is cold and cheerless indeed, and deserv'es not the name of home. No wise methods, no system however excellent, can atone for the absense of the l'ull, lic-li and tender affection which is the veïysoul "fiiiifaiiiilylidine. J5ut the hig!jsl Invi. thnf, wliiJ) dfiSiTP-S m1imi"j vil! things the best welfare of its object, cannot be content with simply loving and being loved. It must lead to thought, study, and plan, it must welcome arduous exertion and continuous self-sacrilice, it must sink itself and ics own needs, in the earnest effort wisely and intelligently to bless its object. There is ageneral feeling, especially among men, that home is rather a place for rest ;nd comfort than for ertioii and sacrince. Jt is notunnaturü that he wlio has Leen engaged in nitient toil of any kind through the lay, should turn with joy to :i peacef ui ind happy home, hoping to lind tbere solace and refreshment. But ii tbisbe ;he only or even the main idea of the domestic liearth, it will be inadequate ;o fulfill even its own requirements. The duties and responsibilities of' a iome well fulfilled are the essence of ill its happiness, and lie will look in tótf "ufyVo leHliee'botii'Vlïëiï ïïfó issary for the liappiness and welfare oNiis family. A curious sennon was once preached from tlie suggestive ext, "And David returned to blesshis ïousehold," enumerating the various motives and intents of the heads of families as they return from their f"aily business to their various homes, and contrasting them with those of the Psalmist. Stillmore does the well being of the family home depend on the character and aims of the wife and motlier. She who prefers the graüüe.aüon of her own tastes to the happiness or interests of household, can neither give nor receive the blessing of domestic joy. It matters not wliat those tastes may be- whether for dress or show, or luxury or ease, or fashion or exeitement of aiiy kind - if she does hold them in subservienee to the welfare of those under her roof, they will prove the ruin of the family home. If there is any spot on earth where love and truth should reign - where selflshness should be crushed, and kindly efforts for the interests of others Iiould be put forth with wisdm and discreción, it is in the family. Each meinber lus in his or her possession the keeprng I a vast amount of good. If it is dealt out with a generous and seli'-sacrilbing hand, it will multiply in tenfod blessings upon all ; ;i' it is withheld, it will dry up and w; Jier in the selfish grasp. Let parents and clüldici, brothers and sisters strive to becouu1 as familiar with the lu-;us and fcelings of one another as tluy no w are witli their countenraices; to appreciate the desires, aims and hopos that animate each other, so as to le abie to give intelligent) y the syinpatiy and aid and counsel that Bhall bind ..chto each in complete! and happy union. On nothing is the welfare of a nation more dependent than on the charaeter of ils family homes. In propotién as they are lightly esteemeci is tlie goyernment feeble or íy'ránnicaí, and the nation, as tliat of France, eontinually disorganiztng ; ainlcould wesëe au uttorly liomeless community, there we should also lind eitlier anarchy or despotism. It is incalculable to howgreat an extent a wise and affectionate family discipline, supercedes the nocessity f or the penalties of the law, gives good and honorable citizens to the community, and prepares men and women tor the varied and complex duties of life vrhich await them. - Public Ledger. The every-day cares and duties whicli men cali drudgery are the weights and counterpoises of the clock Of time, giving its pendulum a true ibrattoa, and its liands a regular motion, and wlien they cease to hang upon the wheels the penduhiin no longer swings, the hands no longer move, the clock stands stül.