Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1852-12-16

es carelessly, and the spiders have hung in
foul mats upon its tendrils.
And she, who made that so dear TO your
boyhood, so real 10 your after years, stand
ing amid all the flights Of your youthful
seem pal,ry now,) and your doubts, ankle
ties, and weakness Of heart-like the light
of your hopes-burning ever there, under
the shadow Of the sycamore, holy bacon,
by whose guidance you always came TO a
sweet haven, and TO refuge from all your
tolls, is gone-gone forever!
The father is there indeed, beloved, re-
specled, esteemed; bu, the boyish heart,
whose old life is now reviving, leans more
readily, more kindly, into that void where
once bea, the heart Of mother.
"Clarence -
"NeIlym
There are no other words but you feel
her tears, as the kiss Of welcome is given.
With your hands joined in hers you walk
down The hall, into the old, familiar hall j;
not with The jaun.y college step, not with
any presumption on your dawning man
hood oh, no, nothing of this !.
Quietly, meekly, feeling your whole heart
shattered, your mind feeble as boys and
your purpose nothing and worse than no.
thing-wilh only one proud feeling, you
fling your arm around The form of that gen.
lie sisler-the pride of q pro;ector-;he feel
ing-"I will care for you now, dear Nelly -
that is all. And even that proud as il is,
bFigh, weakness.
You sit down together on the lounge,
Nelly buries her face in her hands sobbing.
"Dear Nelly" and your arms clsps her
more fondly.
There is a cricke. in the corner cf the
room, chirping very loudly it seems if no.
thing else were living-only 4 ely, Clarence
and The noisy cricket Your eyes fall on
the chair where she used TO sit; it is drawn
up with the same care es ever, beside the
fire.
81 am so glad TO see you. Clarence Mel
y says, recovering herself and there is a
sweet sad smile now. And sitting there be-
side you, she tells you of all of The day, and
Of the hour, and how she looked, and of her
las, prayer, and how happy she was.
"And did she leave message for me,
Nelly ~
MOT lo Q, forGet lis ClarA""A = h..'- ''---
''Thsnk you, Nelly; but was there moth
ing else -
sYes, Clarence to meet her one day 20
You only press her hand.
Presently your father comes in. He greets
you with far more than his usual cordiali-
,y. He kept your hand a long time, look
ing in your face as he were reading traces
IL I 4 4.
him before.
The father is one Of those calm, impas-
sive men who show little upon the surface
end whose feelings you have always thought.
But now, there is tremulousness in his
tones that you never remember observing
before. He seems conscious Of il himself
and lorbears talking. He goes to his old
seat, and after gazing a, you little while
with the same sleadfastness as al first, leans
forward, and buries his face in his hands.
From that very moment, you feel a sym
pathy and love for him that you have never
known till then. And in after years when
suffering or trial come over you, and when
your thoughts fly, as to refuge to that shat
tered home you will recall that STOPPING
image of the father, with his head bowed
and from time TO time tremble convusively y
with grief, and feel lha. here remains yet by
the household fires, kindred love, and OF
! kindred sorrow
Nelly steals away from you gently, and
stepping across the room, lays her hund
upon his shoulder with touch that says
as plain as words could say live are
here father"
And he rouses himself, passes his arm
ar ound her, looks in her face fondly, draws
her to him and prints kiss On her fore
head.
"Nelly We must love each other now
more than ever''
| Nelly's lips lremble, but she cannot an.
swer; tear or two streaming down bel
cheek.
You approach them, and your father takes
your hand again with firm grasp, looks a
you though,fully. drops his eyes upon the
fire, and for a momen. there is pause
"We are quite lone now my boy -
| -ll is broken home?