The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1844-01-05
From the Present.
TIKE REMEMBERED HOME.
~ LYDIA NARIA CHILD.

TME REMEMBERED HOME.
nv LYDIA MARIA CHILD.
Our birth Is but sleep and forgetting:
The Soul that rises with US, our liie's Star,
Hath had else were its setting,
Aud cometh from afar
Nor in entire forgetfulness,
And not in utter nakedness,
But trailing clouds of glory do we come
From God who is our home.
WORDSWORTH.
A child lay sleeping by the seashore.
The tide was coming in so fast, that the
foam of the great waves already dashed
near the feet of the sleeping one. A
white gull came riding ,hither on the top
of a huge wave. lie flew high>up III the
air, and screamed as he flew.
WLereal the sleeper awoke, and look
cd around him. The place was wild and
lonely +; but the red, round sun was rising
up out Of the ocean, and as the sea-
nymphs danced up to meet him, the
points Of their diamond crowns glt,ered
among the green pillows.
'Where am 2 said the child. lie
rubbed his eyes, looked all around with
wonder. slow came | here he said
This is not my home!
Suddenly, he heard soft, sweet voices,
they came from above his head, and the
caves of the rocks echoed them.
Then he remembered that he was q
Kings son, and had once lived in glori-
Gus palace. How had he wandered
thence Had gipsies stolen him, as he
slep! in his golden cradle! Those
soft, sweet voices sounded like old times.
Il heard them in my fathers house., said
he; 'oh, | wish they would sing TO me
again
Ia the simplicity Of his little heart, he
thought some one among the rocks sung
in reply to the voices in the air. He
crept into a cave, and asked, Where is
my home Ye that sing here so sweeIly
the songs Of my fathers house, Can ye
tell me where is my home 2
The waves dashed loud against the
rocks, but there was no other sound on
", as he ceased to speak, echo, with hol-
low tones, answered, 'home.'
where is my home!' he cried with
passionate eagerucss; and echo again
answered, 'home.'
- Afraid of the loneliness, and Of the
knocking sounds. the child crept out of
the cave, and came into the morning sun
shine.
lie walked on and on, and II seemed to
him as if the smooth, hard beach would
have no end. The great waves, as they
came tumbing and roaring to his feet,
seemed TO speak into his heart. with a
deep loud voice, home home !
Then the tears rolled down his cheeks;
for he felt as if he were wandering alone
in a strange place.
As he went along, crying bitterly he
met lame old woman, who said to him
sharply, well John, where have you
been A fine piece Of work is this, for
you to walk in your sleep, and SO be
whimpering by the sea-shore at break Of
day must tie you to the bedstead and
then all the walking you mus! do in your
Dreams .+lt'
Cd Tile boy looked timidly at her, as she
took him by the hand; and he wondered
within himself if she were the gipsey
that had stolen him.. Then he remember.
ed the meodious voice, and the echoes
in the cave, and how the greatthundering
waves seemed to speak into his heart.
esu'Why don't you talk = said the old wo,
man; Il should think you would be glad
to 60 home 0U ta.isa uta -l'
= 'The boy answered, 1t sometimes
scenes to me as if once lived in beau
tilul palace, and as if the hut where we
are going were not ny home
THAT comes of walking in your sleep,
said the old woman 'hese are dreams
Come home, and 60 to work, for dream
ing will get you no breakfast
So the Title boy went to her hut; ant
when lie had MIXED the COW, and draw
she water, and spill. wood for the oven
She made ready for him a, nice breakfast
She was very good to him according tt
her way and when he had done hi
work, she was always willing he shoul,
fun in the fields to play with other child
Zen. i''''e'" ''e' ''''''