The Moorefield Examiner

Real Family Ties.

The home season is again at hand and amid the restless pleasure seeking throng we occasionally find a family that still clings to the good old-fashioned habit of staying at home at nights. A few evenings ago we dropped into a real home and found all the family circle there. There was a plate of apples on the table and a blazing wood fire on the hearth. The head of the family actually had on a pair of slippers and a smoking jacket, and was puffing comfortably on an old briar pipe, as he read the weekly newspaper. Mother was darning socks, the oldest boy was getting his lesson, big sister was playing a worth-while composition on the piano, little sister was cutting out pictures from a fashion magazine, and the baby was asleep in its basket.

We paused for a moment as we stood on the threshold and wondered if we could be dreaming. Not in many, many months had we stumbled upon a scene like this. Was it possible that in this day of automobiles, moving picture shows, bridge parties and dances, there was still one family that spent an evening at home with no member missing? We felt that we might be intruding in this unusual atmosphere and sought to back out, but we soon found that old-fashioned hospitality still existed in this delightfully old-fashioned home.

We sat down and listened to the older sister's playing. We took the little sister on our knee and enjoyed with her the wonderful ladies in the book. We talked with the father and mother about the weather and the things that were of special interest in our community. Not an unkind word was said about any friend or neighbor, no mention was made of an unpleasant thing. The boy apologized for the need of pursuing his study and went on with his problems. Little sister's eyes grew heavy and she nodded on our knee. Then big sister gathered her up in her arms and took her off to bed. As the clock in the corner struck ten we took our leave, thinking the mother and father, old friends of many years, were the choicest people in town, for they had a home in which love still dwelt and the circle was cemented by that greatest of all blessings—real family ties. —Ex