haunt the old spots of which i never tired i haunted them as my memory had often done and lingered among them as my younger thoughts had lingered when i was far away the grave beneath the tree where both my parents lay � on which i had looked out when it was my father s only with such curious feelings of compassion and by which i had stood so desolate when it was opened to receive my pretty mother and her the grave which s own faithful care had ever since kept neat and made a garden of i walked near by the hour it lay a little off the church yard path in a quiet corner not so far removed but i could read the names upon the stone as i walked to and fro startled by the sound of the church bell when it struck the hour for it was like a departed voice to me my reflections at these times were always associated with the figure i was to make in life and the distinguished things i was to do my echoing footsteps went to no other tune but were as constant to that as if i had come home to build my castles in the air at a living mother s side the personal history and experience there were great changes in my old home the ragged nests so long deserted by the were gone and the trees were and out of their remembered shapes the garden had run wild and half the windows of the house were shut up it was occupied but only by a poor lunatic gentleman and the people who took care of him he was always sitting at my little window looking out into the church yard and i wondered whether his rambling thoughts ever went upon any of the fancies that used to occupy mine on the rosy mornings when i peeped out of that same little window in my night clothes and saw the sheep quietly feeding in the light of the rising sun our old neighbours mr and mrs were gone to south america and the rain had made its way through the roof of their empty house and stained the outer walls mr was married again to a tall high wife and they had a little baby with a heavy head that it couldn t hold up and two weak staring eyes with which it seemed to be always wondering why it had ever been born it was with a singular of sadness and pleasure that i used to linger about my native place until the winter sun me that it was time to start on my returning walk but when the place was left behind and especially when and i were happily seated over our dinner by a blazing fire it was delicious to think of having been there so it was though in a softened degree when i went to my neat room at night and turning over the leaves of the book which was always there upon a little table remembered with a grateful heart how i was in having such a friend as such a friend as and such a substitute for what i had lost as my excellent and generous aunt my nearest way to in coming back from these long walks was by a it landed me on the flat between the town and the sea which i could make straight across and so save myself a considerable circuit by the high road mr s house being on that waste place and not a hundred yards out of my track i always looked in as i went by was pretty sure to be there expecting me and we went on together through the frosty air and gathering fog towards the twinkling lights of the town one dark evening when i was later than usual � for i had that day been making my parting visit to as we were now about to return home � i found him alone in mr s house sitting thoughtfully before the fire he was so intent upon his own reflections that he was quite unconscious of my approach this indeed he might easily have been if he had been less absorbed for footsteps fell noiselessly on the sandy ground outside but even my entrance failed to rouse him i was standing close to him looking at him and still with a heavy brow he was lost in his meditations he gave such a start when i put my hand upon his shoulder that he made me start too you come upon me he said almost angrily like a ghost i was obliged to announce myself somehow i replied have i called you down from the stars no he answered no of david up from anywhere then said i taking my seat near him i was looking at the pictures in the fire he returned but you are them for me said i as he stirred it quickly with a piece of burning wood striking out of it a train of red hot sparks that went up the little chimney and roaring out into the air you would not have seen them he returned i this time neither day nor night how late you are where have you been i have been taking leave of my usual walk said i and i have been sitting here said glancing round the room thinking that all the people we found so glad on the night of our coming down might � to judge from the present wasted air of the place � be dispersed or dead or come to i don t know what harm david i wish to god i had had a judicious father these last twenty years my dear what is the matter i wish with all my soul i had been better guided he exclaimed i wish with all my soul i could 