As soon as you begin to bear your share in the expenses of home, you will
naturally look to have your word in the arrangements thereof. From the
time that you begin to earn your own living, until the time that you make
a home for yourself, there will be certain home duties which you have no
right to neglect.
First of all, you must be ready to bear your fair share in the expenses
of the home. When first you go to work, you will probably be expected to
bring home all your money, and have a certain sum given to you for pocket
money. As you grow older, you will agree to pay a certain sum for your
board and lodging, and keep the rest for yourself. Let your payments be
such as will do a little more than actually cover the expense of what you
have. Give a thought to the general comfort of the home, and in time of
need when perhaps your father's work is slack, be ready to increase your
help, even though it may decrease your own personal comfort.
Secondly, you must acknowledge the authority of the head of the house,
and respect his wishes as to home arrangements, time for being in at
night, &c.
Thirdly. Recognise your responsibilities to your brothers and sisters.
If you are the eldest son you are bound to be the example, and if need be
the protector of the others, and whether elder or not you have still your
duties and responsibilities. A good brother is a great help to a sister,
and her brother's good opinion will be something which she will be very
sorry to forfeit through any fault of hers. For your sisters' sake
specially you are bound to be careful that your companions whom you may
bring home with you should not be such as would not be fit company for
them. Your duties to your parents I have already mentioned, and the
older you grow the more thoroughly you should carry them out, so that, as
you grow out of mere boyhood, you may become more and more the companion
and friend of your father, and more and more the comfort and support of
your mother. It is a great thing in time of trouble to have one son to
whom they can look without fear of his help failing them. It is far too
common to see young fellows, so soon as they can earn enough to support
themselves, leaving home and going into lodgings because they are freer
and more comfortable, and leaving their parents to struggle on with the
youngsters. It is a selfish and ungrateful course, and therefore sure to
be without a blessing from God. I am talking now of those whose work
keeps them near home, and who only leave their home to escape its duties,
or as they would miscall them, its burdens. Many, of course, must leave
home. If work calls you elsewhere it is another matter. It would be a
very good thing in many instances if young fellows would have the pluck
to emigrate and make their way in a new country. Englishmen are getting
too fond of stopping at home where the labour markets are overstocked.
Emigration is one of the best openings for a young fellow if he makes up
his mind to work, and does not expect a fortune to fall into his lap
because he has gone to a new country to seek it.