The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1852-11-23
The Runaway's Return.

.uh saa ssios The Runaway's Return. aiisy
g6l WELL! hero am |, after my nights walk once
moro in the village where l was born. The
q sun is up now, and shining brightly. Things
appear tho same and yet different. How is ts
There was n big tree used to stand at the cor
nor: and where is Carver's cottage?
b'2= Three days ago, landed at Portsmouth. 1t
was on my birth day. For ten long years
have been sailing about on the sea, and wan
= dering about ON the land. How things come
n oyor me! lam man now; but fer all that
could sit down and cry like q child.
1t seems but yesterday since l run away
from home, 1t was the worst days work that
ever did. I got up in the morning at sun
rise, while my father and mother were asleep
Many and many timo had been unknd to
my dear mother; and undutifal to my father.
and the dny before he told mc how wrong it
was. He spoke kindly, and in sorrow but my
= pride would not bear it. / thought | would
eeavo home. What is il that makes mo trem-
Bile so now' 'NSil ffHa
a7a My father couchcd as I crept along by his
door, and thought heard my mother speak
to him; SO l stood moment with my bundle
i'm my hlnd, holding my breath. Ho cooghed
again L have seemed to hear that cough in ev-
cry quarter of the world.
Whom had locked the door my heart failed
nc; for my sister had kissed mo over night,
and told me she had something to tell mo in
htho morning. l knew what il was; she had
been knitting me pair of garters to give me
on my birth day. turned back, opened the
door of her little room. aad looked at her; but
my tears fell on the bed clothes, and was a.
fraid it would wake her. Halfblnded groped
down stairs.
'e Just as had gently closed tho door, tho
easement ratified above my head. I looked up
and there was my mother. She spoke to mo,
and when did not answer, she cried ont loud
to me. That cry has rung in my ears ever
since, aye, in my very dreams!
As hurried away, felt. / suppose us Cain
felt whom he had murdered his brother NV
! father, my mother and my sister ha! been kind
TO me, but had been Nnkind to them, and II,
leaving them thus, felt as if was numbering
them all. lo afc
Had been robber, could net have felt
more gully But what do lsay that forl
was robbing them of their pcac | was steal
ing that from them that the whole world could
not make up to them;-but on went. Oh
that could bring back that hour!
Tho hills look purple as they did when used
TO climb up them. The rooks are cawirg by
tho high elm trees by tho church. ] nder
whether they are the same rocks! There's a
shivering comes over me as get nearer home.
Home! feel there is no home for me.
Here is tho corner OF TIC hedgc, and the old
seat; but father Is not sitting there. There is
the patch of ground that my sister called her
garden, bit she is not walking in it, And yon-
der is the bed room window; my mothers not
looking out of it now. That cry! tina, cry.
see how it is. They are none of them
hero, or things would not Look as they do
Father would not lot the weeds grow in this
fashion, nor the ,halch fll! in and my mother
and my sister never stuffed that raw through
the broken pancs.
I'll rap at the door. any how How hollow
il soands Nobody strs All is as silent as
she grave. III peep in at the window. It's
an empty horse, that's clear. Ten long years
How could / expect It to be otherwise? can
hear hard work and hunger and thirst, but
can't bear this?
The eldorberrv Is in blossom ns il was when
ran away, and the woodbine is ms fresh as
ever, running mp to the window that my mother
opened to call after me conld call after her
nov loud enough to be heard a mile if | tho't |
she would bear me.
II is of NJ use stopping here. I'll cross tho
chnrchyard, and sec if the clerk lives where
he did; but he won't know me. Ny check
was like the rose when | went awav but the
sun has made il ofanothcr color. How narrow
tho path is between the gravesl il used to be
wider. at least thp'tso; no nsatter The old
sun-dal sec is sta': ding there yet.
Inc laSt tlmo was IN tnat churcn my faln- |
or was with me; ano tie text was 'My son,
hear the instructions OF thy father and forslke |
not the law Of thy mother prov. l. g. Oh |
whats curse do we bring upon us when we
despise Gods holy word
My uncle lies under the ycw tree there and
he had gravestonc, Here i: is. It's written
all over now, quito TO the b tom. "In mono
ry of Humphrey Haycroft. Bnt what is tho
name underr "Waltcr Haycroft!' Nv faith !
erl my father. "And Mary his wife. oh my |
motherl and are you both gone: Gods hand
is heavy on me! feel il in my heart and soul |
And there's another name vet, and its fresh
ly cut, ESTHER lIaycroft. their daughter. aged |
81 Ny father! my mother and my sisterl-- !
Why did not tho sea swallow mo up when |
was wrcckcdl ! deserved it. What is tho
world TO me now! feel, bitterly feel, tho |
sin of disobedience: the words come home to
me nowl ''The eye that mocketh at his father
and despiscth to obey his mother, the ravens
ofthe valley shall pick it out. al 4 young en-.
giles shall eat it, prov. XXX. I7) ~
But yet recollcct how my dear father and !
mother used topont us TO the Lamb of God
which taketh away the sins of tho world
"rherc is no refuge beside" said my mother:
"Christ is able and willing 10 save" l paid
but little attention 10 these words once: Oh,
may L never forget them now!
III - Ths New Member.
A year or two since Mr.. Owns ol- |
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