| Home Making |
Chapter 7 |
Page 5 |
A distinguished Danish artist had chiseled in the city of Rome some of his rarest works in marble. When he had finished them they were sent home. The workmen as they unpacked them carelessly scattered on the ground the straw which had been wrapped about the statues. In the straw were multitudes of little seeds, and the next summer countless flowers from the gardens of Rome were blooming all about the artist’s northern home. He had not intended to drop these tiny seeds of loveliness; he was intent only on his great work, thinking only of the magnificent results in marble that he was bringing home which would be admired for ages. But while carrying out his grand purpose he was also unconsciously scattering about his home other tender and beautiful influences. In like manner the busiest men, intent on the grandest purposes, are ever scattering about them countless seeds which will spring up either in tender loveliness to bless their homes or in a harvest of evil to leave blight and sorrow. It may be that in the end the unconscious, unintended influences will far surpass in their permanent results on life and character those for which they planned with such pains and wrought with such glowing hope.
Few things are more important in a home than its conversation, and yet there are few things to which less thought is given. The power to communicate good which lies in the tongue is simply incalculable. It can impart knowledge, utter words that will shine like lamps in darkened hearts, speak kindly sentences that will comfort sorrow or cheer despondency, breathe out thoughts that will arouse and quicken heedless souls, even whisper the secret of life giving energy to spirits that are dead.
“Only a word, but ‘twas spoke in love,
With a whispered prayer to the Lord above;
And the angels in heaven rejoice once more,
For a new born soul entered in by the door.”
Page 5
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