The Clergyman's Wife and Other Sketches/Golden Links of Kindred
Golden Links of Kindred.
Blessed is the home that holds in its midst one central magnet, about which thronging hearts, reddened by the same blood, move with never-failing attraction! When golden links of kindred, circling that human load-stone, are strong, and bright, and many, who can measure the wealth of love that lies within their holy compass? With every shining fetter added to the precious round, new joys spring into existence; new interests bind us to sacred memories of the past, or sweet associations of the present; new affections bend us earthward, towards those who come to make earth dearer, or lift us heavenward, with those who ascend to the skies.
The commonest events of life, events of every day occurrence to all humanity, send an electric thrill of pain or pleasure through that far-reaching chain of kinship, and, stirring sympathetic pulses, draw the bond of union closer.
A little child opens its sinless eyes upon the day, behold, another link put forth for tender lips to kiss into brightness, for loving arms to welcome, for swelling hearts to give room, for voiceless benedictions to cover!
A youth, or maiden, stretches out a hand, with heart within, and lo! another link is clasped by a wedding ring, upon the kin-bound chain, and nuptial gifts, and festive gatherings, and fond congratulations greet its admission!
The angel of Death descends, and singles out the purest link, and softly bears it to a home invisible. Tears of agony must flow, and grief-wrung hearts must ache; but tears that fall from many eyes, weeping together, lose their bitterness; and heavy hearts that lean on on one another find their load of sorrow lightened.
Other, less mournful, partings come; some of the close-knit band must make their homes on foreign shores; but ocean cables are less strong and true than bonds of union that no seas can sever; and rapture grows out of the very pangs of absence, when wanderers return, with tiny links hanging, like diamond pendants, from their own.
Birth, marriage, death, parting, meeting; these are but trite and every-day events, yet through the golden links of kindred they send a current of emotion that stirs many hearts, and makes epochs in many lives! O, keep the links pure and bright, however wide the chain, and burdens of sorrow will be lessened, because shared, and sources of joy will swell in number because they reach as far as blood extends!