The Harmonious Home

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D.C. · Apr 18, 1912

The Harmonious Home

HOME may be a sacred refuge, or it may be a mere place of call for breakfast and dinner, and a shelter during the sleeping hours when there is nothing abroad to keep men awake. It may be destitute of attractions—a tolerated spot, instead of a coveted haven. If this be the case, the fault is with those who by their own conduct make it uninviting. Home may be a mere prison, well furnished or otherwise, for the women of the household, while the men look abroad for their interests and diversions. When husbands and wives are runagates, who need be surprised that the children prefer “all outdoors” to all that they can find indoors?

Whenever parents find that their offspring are beginning to prefer any other place to home, let them ask themselves these questions, and they may discover the secret of their children’s unfortunate preferences: Does the father strive to make home bright and happy? or is he silent, moody, and unsociable? Are his children furnished with a proper supply of books, papers, magazines, and such other means of amusement and improvement as their natures require? Does the mother make friends and confidants of her daughters? or does she merely dole out to them food and clothing? Do the parents, in short, sympathize in the joys and griefs, the hopes and fears, of their children? or do they ignore all that is most essential to the happiness and genial culture of childhood?—Great Thoughts.