Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1833-08-01

more sensibly thnn the tempest-tost mar
iner. The father dwelt in tenderness on
his distant family; the brother recalled
the unbidden assduities OF sisters love;
and the son, as he leaned against the
mast, his features set in the sedatenessI
of sober reflection, feh his heart soften
ed by the recollection Of n mothers care
But few remarks were made. All felt
that the silence which resigned above,
beneath and around, should not be dis
turbed. Each one had retired to the
recesses of his own hcart,-a sanctuary
too sacred to be violated.
Such was the state Of feeling, when a
clear, mclodious voice, slowly poured
forth the first line of that exquisite song
Home, s,eeet home" AS the words,
enid pleasures and palaces" swelled
upon tho air, n single exclamation oi
pleasure escaped the hearers, and they
again relapsed into silence. We had Of
ten heard the song, but never had 1t come
SO thrilling as then. Had it been sung
by even an ordinary performer, its effects
would have been great; but breathed as
it was, with iervor and feeling have
never known excelled; in a voice, full,
manly, and touching, it could not but
produce wonderful impression. AS the
singer proceeded, the circle was aug
mentcd. The sturdy seaman seated him
self with calm gravity, and by the SIDE
of the youthful midshipman, listened with
enthraled attention. The man whose
locks were whitencd, equally with the
boy whose features were unmarked by
the burrows Of time and care, seemed to
drink in the beautiful words as a healing
draught.
| Oh, how magical is music at such an
hour! 1t comes to the heait like flood
of sunshine, dispelIng its gathered mists,
and causing high aspirations to spring
into strength and beauty. The whole
man is elevated above the narrowness OF
earth, and he seeks in thought to com
mune with the intelligence Of a higher
! world, and with that Being,
| "Who plants his footsteps in the sea-,
| Aud rides upon the Storm"
| Thus were the feelings Of the listening
group, when the performer, at the close
Of the first verse, eloquently burst forth
! with the words, "There's 10 place like
home!" An emotion was visible in all
| There was IA slight tremor in his voice,
showing that he felt the influence of the
line; and when he concluded it, his pause
was longer than usual, and deep sigh
escaped him.
Il When he re-comme need, fan exile
from home'--the agitation in those n
round, was merged in attention to the
song, but his increased. His face was
slightly averted, and the rays of the
| moon as they fell upon, and glistened in
| the tear that rested on his cheek, gave
| additional effect to the expression almost
of agony, stamped upon his features.--
Flo was, indeed as I Eknew, an exile from
| ,home--though from what cause never
could discover--and the smothered grief
of years was now loosed and flowed in
restrained power over him.
|. He continued. As the song drew to
a close, his emotion increased, with that
of every one who listened. AT length,
as tne line, "There's no place like home"
--rose on the stiffness of the hour, the
last time, a rush of feeling was evident,
which, in many, showed itself in tears!
The man, who from childhood had brav-
ed the foaming brine, and had stood with
out fear on the brink Of eternity; and he,
who, an outcast from the society Of the
virtuous and the good, knew no "home p
alike with the being of turbid passion:
and unhallowed deeds, gave tribute t.
him who had so well-timed, and 80 feel
ingly executed, one of the most grateful
songs that ever greets seaman's ear
Oh! it was good TO look OH men l hat
considered hardened in iniquity, thus
throwing open the hoodga'cs of long
spent affections, that they might once
more gladden. and purify the soul!
could not think such men entirely lost;
could not look on human nature in fair
er and more pleasing aspect.
l No one spoke; and after few mo-
ments, in which all else was banished by
the one dear thought of the distant home
we had exchanged for our "home upor
the deep" each one sought his pillow
and ! do not doubt, purer and bette
man.