Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1853-02-22
The Ieunaway,s Return.

,a 4, The Runaway's 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 i,l There was big tree used 10
stand al that corner; and where is Carver's
cottage? 7aj n ua- le"
Three days ago landed at Portsmouth.
1t was on my birthday. For ten long years
| have been sailing aoout on the sea, and
wandering about on the land How things
come oyer me! am a man now; but Tor
nj! that, | could sit down and cry like q
cniid. a
e. |! seems but as yesterday since | ran
away from home. 1t was the wors, days
work ,ha. ever dill. got up in the morn.
ing at sunrise, while my mother and father
were asleep. Many and many a time had
been unkind to my dear mother, and un.
du,lul 10 my father, and the day before he
had told me how wrong was. He spoke
kindly and in sorrow, but my pride would
moi. bear ii. Thought would leave home
Wha, is il that makes me remble SO now2
My father coughed as crepl along by
his door, and thought | heard my mother
speak 10 him; SOL stood moment with my
bundle in my nOnd, holding my breath. He
coughed again. have seemed 10 hear thai.
cough in-every quarter of The world.
When had unlocked The door, my heart
failed me; for my sister had kissed me over
night, and Told me she had something 10 tell
mo in the morning. knew what il was;
she had been knitting me pair Of garIers
10 give me on my birthday. turned back,
opened The door of her little room, and
looked al her; but my tears fell oh HE bed
clothes, and was afraid II would wake her.
Half blinded, sroped down slairs.
Just as had gently closed the. door, The
easement rallled above my head. Irlooked
up, and there was my mother. She spoke
to me, and when did moi answer, she cried
loud 10 me. That cry has rang in my cars
ever since, ny, in my very dreams!
As | hurried away, | felt, | suppose, as
Cain did when he had murdered his brother
My father, my mother, and my sister hac
been kid TO me, but had been unkind tc
them, and in leaving them thus, | felt as i
| were numbering them all. ... b..
Had been robber, | could not have fel
more guilty. But what do | say thai for
was robbing them Of their peace. | wa'
stealing that from them that The whole worl(
could mol make up 10 Them; but on went
Oh! that could bring back that hour!
The hills look as purple as they did wheI
used 10 cIimo up them. The rocks art
cuwing among the high elm.trecs by lh'
, church. | wonder whether they are lh'
same rocks! There's shivering comes
over me as get nearer home. Home!
, feel there is no home for me.
f Here is The c0rher Of The hedge, aud III
old seal; but father is not si,ling lkee,-
There is HE palcR Of ground that ny siste
} called her garden, but she is not walking i
it. And yonder is the bedroom window; m.
; mother is no! looking out Of il nov. Tha
cry! that cry!
8 see how it is. There are none Of Their
. here, or things would not look as they dc
q Father would not lei The weeds grow in hi
fashion, nor the lhalch fall in. and my moth
t er and my sister never stuffed that stray
Q through The broken panes. .-.,...,..
S ri rup at the door anyhow. How no
r low itsounds Nobody sits. All is as s.
r len. as a grave. ri peep in at the window
: RS an empty house, that's clear. TIE
h long years How could expec. tto !
II o,hetWise can bean hard Work, an
e hunger snd thirst, but can't bear this
II The elderberry is in blossom as il VT
G when ran away and the woodbine Is {
h fresh as ever, running up 10 the windo
1t thu. my mother opened 10 call after me.
IS could call after her now. loud enough 10
/. heard mile, il | thought she would he
IL me. ....
W lis of no use stopping herel I'll Gro
re- The churchyard, and see if The clerk liv
= where he did, but he won't know me. N
is cheek was like The rose when went owa
a but the sun has made it Of another colo
n. How narrow the path is between the gras
al II used to be wider, at leas, thought so!
ne matter. The old sun dial, see, is standi
IL there yet. '
" The last limo was in thu, church, n
I'D luther was with me, and The text was, IN
e. son, hear the instruction Of thy father. a
r. forsake not The law Of thy mother," Pre-
lis. Oil what d curse we do bring up
i'm us when we despise 'sI1oly Word
". Ny uncle lies under the yew.ree, the
ad and he had gravestone. Here IL is.
ed written all over now, quite 10 the bolIo
"In The memory OF Humphrey llaycrof
Ter But&hat is the name under! ''WalIcr'Ht
its crohln My fatherl'my father!s "And Mr
no, his wife, Oh!my moIherl And you /,
yht both gonel Gods hand is heavy on n
ST. do feel itinmy heart and soul! % 90
And there's another name yet, and
Of freshly cut; Esther EIuycrofiriheir dnuI
.'I .rr leAt N"tas 'l'~ S''f A'.'