The Port Gibson reveille. (Port Gibson, Miss.) 185?-1857, 1853-04-13
MISCELLANEOUS.
The Runaways Return.

Well. here am /, after my nights walk,
once more in the village where | was born.
The sun is up now, and shining brightly
Things appear the same, and yet different.
How is it There was a big tree used to
stand at the corner, and where is Carver 5
coltage2
Three days ago | landed at Portsmouth
Il was on my birthday. For ten long years
have been sailing about on the SEA, and wan
dcring about on land How things come over
me am man now, but for all that, | could
sit down and cry ike child
1t seems but as yesterday since | ran away
from home. 1t was the worst days work that
I ever did. got up in the morning at sun
rise, while my father and mother we're asleep
Many and many a time had been unkiud to
my dear mother, and uudutiful to my father,
and the day before he had told me how wrong
| was lie spoke kindly and in sorrow, but
my pride would not bcarit Thought would
leave home What is it that makes me trem-
bic 20 now
My father coughed as | crept by his door,
and | thought that heard my mother speak
to him; so | stood a moment with my little
bundle in my hand, holding my breath lie
coughed again. | have seemed to hear that
cough in every part Of the world.
When | had unlocked the door nv heart
failed me for my sister had kissed me over
night, and told me she had something to tell
me in the morning. knew what it was;
she had been knitting me pair Of garters to
give me on my birthday. / turned back
opened the door to her little room, and looked
at her; but my tears fell on the bed-clothes.
and was afraid it would wake her. Half
blinded, groped down stairs.
just as | had gently closed the door, the
easement ratified above my head. looked
up, and there was my mother She spoke to
me, and when did not answer, she cried loud
to me. That cry has rung in my ears ever
since, aye, in my very dreams.
As hurried away felt suppose, as Cain
felt when he had murdered his brother My
father, my mother, and my sister had been
kind to me ; had been unkind to them, and
in leaving them thus, felt as if was mur.
dering them all
Had been a robber | could not have felt
more guilty. But what do | say that for? l
Tas robber | was robbing them Of their
peace. was stealing that from them that
the whole world could not make up to them
yet on | went Oh that | could bring back
that hour!
The hills look as purple as they did when
| used to climb up them. The rocks are
cawing among the high elms by the church
| wonder whether they are the same rocks!
There's a shiycring comes over me when l
get nearer home feel that there's no home
for me.
Here is the corner Of the hedge, and the
old scat but father is not sitting there. There
Is the patch Of ground that my sister called
her garden but she is not walking in il. And
yonder isIhe bedroom window; my mothers
not looking out Of it now. That cry that cry
/ see how it is. There are none Of them
here, or things would not look as they do.
Father would not let the weeds grow in this
fashion, nor the thatch fall in; aud my moth
er and my sister never stuffed that straw
through The broken panes.
Ill rap at the door, any how. How hollow
It sounds Nobody stirs. All is as silent as
the grave. III peep in at the window. It's
an empty house, that's clear Ten long years.
How could | expect it to be otherwise ? |
can bear hard work. and hunger and thirst.
but can't bear this
The elderbsrry is in blossom, as it vas
when l ran away; and the woodbine is as
fresh as ever, running up the window that my
mother opened to call after me. could call
after her now, loud enough to be heard
mile, if thought she could hear me.
It's ofno use stopping here. IN cross the
church-yard. and see if the clerk lives where
he did; but be wouldn't know mo. My
cheek was like the rose when | went away.
but the sun has made it Of another color.
This is a new gate. How narrow the path is
between the graves. The old sun-dial, | see
it Standing there yet