New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1853-01-18
What the Old House said to the Heart Of
Youth

Around her the purple hills lifted their altars
up to heaven inviting all the earth-the SAD
and weary, the thoughtless and the heartless-
bring their griefs, their fol- and Indifference
to lie there, and when its smoke had faded, to
pass away, happier and better. Before her
slept the little lake, whose quiet face had so
many years reflected the changing skies and
smiling earth, whispering in her ear, to leave
the old and shattered house, beneath whose
caves she sat, the gray apple trees, gnarled and
many. SCARED, and all those time worn things
But few days since all was new that house a
MARVEL SO fresh and strong, and still so hand
some. And now comes loads of stout chairs and
tables, with here and there a stand of lighter
workmanship, or easy chair and then the happy
owners Young they were, and just beginning
new chapter of life. With what pride and
pleasure they looked about on these possessions:
each tree and waving weed, the rough, insight
ly fence, and even the ground they stood on had
| a charm-it was their own; there they were to
| live together. How different from any other
spot on earth where they had lived apart' And
| as days grew into weeks and months into years,
| and = lites endless toll and endeavor" opened
below them, the old homestead grew likewise,
with many an added tree, and beauty bringing
| flower.
This poor old orchard, now so bare, poured
down its generous gifts; and those melancholy
stumps then nourished most refreshing shade;
where, at sunset, this primal pair forgot the
cares of the present i'll plans for the future.
And now. where troops Of golden haired chill
dren filled the air with silver music, new roots
were added TO the old, larger barns and richer
stores sprung up, and the iather and motner SAT
in the door at evening and blessed the Heavenly
Father for his goodness. The happy years new
by not eloudlr IS years, but happy still, happy
in fnnny cares and many trials, borne IN love
by all, with true, unshrinking hearts
/ And alter standing in this door with Thoughts
ful eyes, or musing by these very chamber win
dows the daughter came; sometimes with sing
ing and laughter on her hfs, but often, as is the
way of outh, with unbreathed sighs, and earn
est glances towards the future And then this
little lake--the same as now reproved her
:. leave the future, and rejoice and labor in the
present" The sons, too. walked up and down
, these breezy slopes, gazed into the sky glorious
in the noon of night, and vowed to win name
a, fair Until there come knowledge, worth
more than al IL costs, 60 it Is higher TO De goou
thsn great"
And now the Kind and silent moon, peeping
through these old trees, saw slowly wandering
! over the checkered gr,tss. or stopping 70 eaten
= the murmur of the ever prtsent hills, the 1aif
: melitatiye daughter; but she was not alone; tns
> warm id al Of her youth was there; or when ns
was not, how easy to make him SO. Anew hgn'
:, shrne II her eN T., new NE sprung up IN he'
: aity tread.
5 lione were the vain miserable questionings o
:, tie future; enough is the bounding present
:, Here they sat, and looked into these very skies
aud thought and hoped, and mo ed, and loved
IN here, in this I'D house with many gath
= cred friends, each with his own joys, and griefs
= aud hopes vet unreahzed-the mother with
: sorrowiul joy--the father wi h grave Affection
y did SIC stand before the kind, haired oil
= minister, and with trusting heart, she gsv
" herself away--to be hers no longer, And .
the foot OF this gently soping hill. close to- n
l. childhood's home, up rose another tent for ~
N Battle OF Life.
is And there came the realization Of the futur
lp with its many dreams f other scenes, and oths
p far-off lands AMI mp and down this hill otte
of came the young wife with hor new experience
=, new griets-to listen to the old wife--ar
on learn TO love through all things. And he
II. in this cid house, where the morningii