Labor Conducive to Health
95
and upon expense to obtain the care and treatment that they could
not receive at home. All this scolding in the parlor is injurious to the
institution and displeasing to God.
It is true that you have had heavy burdens to bear, but in many
cases you have blamed the patients and helpers when the trouble was
in your own family. They require your constant help, but do not help
you in return; there is no one in your home to stay up your hands or
give you encouragement. Had you no burden outside the Institute you
could bear up much better and not lose strength and fortitude. It is
your duty to care for your family, but it is not at all necessary for them
to be as helpless as they are and so great a weight upon you. They
could assist you if they would.
It is your duty also to preserve your health; and if your family cares
are so great that the work in which you are engaged is overtaxing you,
and you are unable to devote the time and attention to the patients
and the Institute which is actually their due, then you should resign
your position and seek to place yourself where you can do justice to
your family, yourself, and to the responsibilities you assume. The
position you now occupy is an important one. It requires a clear
intellect, strength of brain, nerve, and muscle. Earnest devotion to
the work is necessary for its success, and nothing short of this will
make the institution prosperous. To be a living thing, it must have live,
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disinterested workers to conduct it.
Sister I, you have not been the help to your husband that you should
have been. Your attention has been devoted more to yourself. You
have not realized the necessity of arousing your dormant energies to
encourage and strengthen your husband in his labors, or to bless your
children with the right influence. Had you set yourself diligently about
the duties God has enjoined upon you, had you helped to bear the
burdens of your companion and united with him to properly discipline
your children, the order of things in your family would have been
changed.
But you have yielded to feelings of gloom and sadness, and this
has brought upon your dwelling a cloud instead of sunshine. You have
not encouraged hope and cheerfulness, and your influence has been
depressing upon those whom you should have aided by kindly words
and deeds. All this is the result of selfishness. You have required the
attention and sympathy of your husband and children, and yet have