Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1851-06-26

4
the promptings oil my better nature
] allowed them TO debate the matters
until at last to get rid Of the disa
greeable subject, bounded away al
ter my hoop, forgetting for the pres
ent, penitence and old papers. Amid
my plays and sports and childish
troubles | forgot for time the whole
transaction except when / went tC
the old chest, and as years rolled
away and ! grew up TO boyhood anC
and at last to manhood. | quite for
got the thelt ip the garret and tht
abstraction Of the old papers. A
last my loved and venerable grand
parents, had gathered together anC
blessed the little ones and all Of oul
household and slept with their faith
ers. had grown up TO be man
had spent my allotted time at school
and had gone out from the parental
fold TO battle alone in the world for
its honors, its wealth and a name.
But ever with me was that same
veneration for old volumes and an
cient papers, as in my earlier boy
hood: and II anything it had strength
ened since | had hid away those old
scrolls, now long since entirely for
gotten. The love Of fame, the strug
gle after wealth, the change OF scenes
in other lands and beneath other
skies than those that bent over my
native home, all conspired to efface
from my mind the recollection Of my
infant deeds. But there is holy
sentiment in the human heart, native
to the soil of birthspot, that clings
with undying hold 10 the memories
Of home. The streams where we
bathe6, the fields, the hills, the plains
over which our youthful feet once
roamed, all live in the tablets OF
memory, the sunniest spot OF our
existence. But TO return. After
years Of absence | had returned
home on a visit 10 my parents, when
one day having been seized with a
sort of ennui, common 20 those who
are used 10 the daily routine Of a
settled business, to kill time and wor-
ry away a few hours of an afternoon,
| went up to the old garret which
remained about as it was when | was
there last; the pile Of old boots in
one corner, oil garments in another.
worn out house utensils here and the
old basket almost exactly where it
was when | so triumphanlly rifed it
of IFS contents and carried them
away. There, too, was my little
old chest close up under the little at
tic window by the chimney, unal-
tered and undisturbed. | Instantly
opened it, took out the old rags,
when lol down in one corner under
the till, snugly slowed away just as
| had left them twenty years agone,
were the plundered remnants OF my
youthful excursion to the same place
in search Of ball-yarn or old stock
ings.
Taking them up carefully as |
would an angel babe, made my way
back to the parlor, where sat my mo-
ther sewing away at pair of panta-
looms, and without ceremony, and
somewhat to her surprise, | tumbled
them all upon the floor at her feet.
So formidable pile Of old and dusty
papers, scattered over the rag carpet
by her side, was enough TO surprise
her, but ] quickly reassured her by
laughing at her look Of inquiry and
alarm; and relating their history as
far as ! knew anything Of them, !
drew up a low chair and sat down
10 examine their contents. As | fin
ished my story Of the theft and Sc
cretion Of this old plunde and pick
ed up one bundle and began TO unite
the little red tape, my mother said
that these were probably some of my
grandlaiher's old papers, treating
upon political topics, and had been
prepared with great care for the
press, but he had abandoned the idea
Of having them published, and had
put them away among the old refuse
papers and books. That they were
written during the early days Of the
Republic, at a time of great political
excitement. but which had never
gone beyond the clu5-room where
they had been read to the club oi
which my grandfather had in his
younger days been a member. This
cool story Of their origin and pur-
port broke the charm which had be-
fore. surmounted them and dissipated
the romance and interest they had
possessed; but as was something oI
politician myself, felt curiosity
TO know the sentiments and ideas oil
one Of the old fathers of our coun-
try. Besides, grandfather had fought
side by side with Washington and
La 'ayette, was personal friend Of
them both, knew Jefferson and Mad
ison, was a stern old Democrat in
every sense OF the word. | might