Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1853-01-25
-.-..- a - : : =. -
What the Cid House said to the
...t Heart OF Youth.
From tho Weekly Evening Pos,.l

h' '"u a'io weary, the though
less and the heartlcss--to bring the
grIcis, their folly and Indifference 20 Ii
there, and when its smoke had faded, I
pass away, happier and better. Bcrol
her slept the little lake, whose qui,
lace had SO many years reflected tn
changing skies and smiling earth, viii:
pcr'nS in her ear, to leave the old an
shattered house, beneath whose cave
she sat, the gray applc.trecs, gnarled an
many-scarred, and all those time wor
things.
But few days since all was new: thu
house marvel, so fresh and strong
and still so hondsome. And now cam
loads of stout chairs and tables, will
here and there a stand of lighter work
manship, or easy chair; and then thu
happy owners. Young they were, ant
Just beginning a new chapter of life
With what pride and pleasure they look
ed about on these possessions: each ire,
and waving weed, the rough, unsgh,l,
lence, and even the ground they stoot
on had charm-it was their own; there
'hcy were to live together. How differ
ent from any other spot on earth where
they had lived apart? And as DAYS grew
into weeks and months into years, and
l"liie's endless toll and cndeavor" omen.
ed below them, the old homestead grew
likewise, with many all added tree, and
beauty.brinsing flower.
This poor old orchard so bare, pour.
ed down its generous gifts; and those
melancholy stumps then nourished mos,
refreshing shade; where, at sunset, this
primal pair forgot the cares of the pres.
ent in plans for future. And now, where
troops of golden haired children filled
the air with silver music, new roofs were
added to the old, larger barns and rich
er stores sprung up, and the father and
the mother sat in the door at evening
and blessed the Heavenly father for his
goodness. The happy years few by,
not cloudless years, but happy still,
happy in many cares and many trials,
borne in love by all, with true, unshriuk.
ing hearts. s.. .. .....
And after standing in this door with
thoughtful eyes, or musing by these very
chamber windows, the daughter came:
sometimes with singing and laughter on
her lips, but often, as is the way of
youth, with unbreathel sghs, and ear.
nest glances toward the future. And
then this little lake; the same as now
reprovcl her-"lcave the future, and re.
joicc and labor in the present." The
sons, TOO, walked up and aown these
breezy slopes, gazed into the sky, glori.
Gus in the noon Of fnight, AMI vowed to
win a name as fair. Until there come
knowledge, worth more than all it
costs, cit is higher to be good than
great" .. .....
And now the kind and silent moon
pecping through these old trees, saw
slowly wandering over the checkcred
grass, or stopping to catch the murmur
of the ever present hills, the fair, mcdi
tative daughter; but she was not alone;
The warm ideal Of her youth was there:
or when he was not, how easy to make
him so. A new light shone in her eyes,
a new life sprung up in her airy tread.
Gone were the vain miserable ques.
ioninss of the future: enough is the
bounding present. Here they sat, and
looked into these very skies, and tho't,
IN hoped, and loved. ,t
And here, in this old house, with ma.
,y gathered friends, each with his own
oys, and griels, and hopes yet unrealiz.
d-thc mother with sorrowlul 10y
he father with grave afection-did she
tand before the kind, gray haired old
ninister, and with trusting heart, she
ave herself away-to be hers no Ion.
er. And at the foot Of this gently slop.
ng hill, close to the childkood's home,
p rose another tent for the Battle of|
life. os,- fse4l ~ e,a /
And there came the realization of ,
le future-with its many dreams Of .
theE scenes, and other far.of' lands.
nd up and down this hill often came
lie young with her new experiences-1
ew griels-to listen to the old wife
nd learn to ''love through all things" :
nd here in this old house--where the n
orning dawned SO brightly-came the ii
,ening. Old-full Of days--hapPy in
leh other to the last--wi,h the soft
asp Of little hands, and firm grasp q .
true sons and daughters-theso lover. Il
lrents closed their eyes moment, and "
oke- where there is no more night $,
hen these brown old rooms felt the ri