Windham County Democrat. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1836-1853, 1853-03-02
A Broken Home.
BY TX. MARVEL.


1t is Nelly's own fair hand, vet sadly botted-blot-
ted with her tears, and with yours.
cts all over, dear, dear Clarence! Oh how |
wish you were here 10 mourn with us ] can hardly
now believe that our poor mother is indeed dead
For week she had been failing every day; but
on Saturday thought her much better | told her
felt sure she would live to see you again.
4 shall never see him again, Nelly said She
bursting into tears
All, Clarence, where is your youthful pride and
strength now with only that lrail paperto annoy you
crushed in your grasp
''She sent for our father and taking his hand in
hers, she told him she dying. am glad you did
not see his grief | was kneeng beside her and she
put her hand upon my head and lex it there for
moment, while her lips moved as if she weeping.
Kiss me, Nelly said she, growing fainter, kiss
me again for Clarence
A little while after, she died"
For long time you remain with only that letter
and your thoughts for company. You pace up and
down your chamber; again you seat YOURSELF and lay
your head upon the table, eneebled by the very grief
which you cherish still. The whole day passes thus ;
you have the heart tell the story of your troub
les.
Ten days after, you are walking towards the old
homestead with such feelings as it called up be-
fore. In the days of boyhood there were trium-
plant thoughts of gladness and pride with which,
when grown to the stature of manhood, you would
come back TO that little town of your birth. As you
have bent with dreamy resolution the task of the
closler life, sweet thoughts have fOcked on you of
the proud step, and prudent heart, with which you
would day greet the old acquaintance of boyhood
you have RECALLED yourself on the aunty manner with
which you would meet the old Doctor Bidlow, and the
patronizing air with which you would address the
pretty, blue-eyed Madge.
1t is late in The afternoon when you come in sight
of the tall sycamores that shade your home you shud
der now lest you meet any you once knew. The
first grief youth seeks little sympathy of companions;
it lies with sensitive man. bound within the
est circle of the heart. They only who hold the key
to its nnermos recesses can speak consolation Years
will make change-as the summer grows iercely hot,
the bamness of the violet banks of spring is lost in the
odors of thousand nowers-the heart as it gains in
age, loses freshness and wins breadth.
Throw pebble into the brook, in its course, and
the agitation is terrible, and the rpples chase mady
their narrow banks throw in pebble when the brook
has become river, and you few circles widen
ing, until they lost in the gentle, every day muir
muir of its life
You draw your hat over your eyes, as you walk
toward that familiar door the yard is SILENT the night
falling goomy few katydids are crying in the
! trees. The mothers windows where at such sea
son this, it was your custom TO her watching
your play is shut, and the blinds closed it, The
honey-suckle which grew much, has flung its branch
careessy and the spiders have hung their foul nets
upon its tendrils.
And she who made that so dear TO your boyhood
so real to your after years, standing amid all the
flights of your youthful ambition, and your cares {fo
they seem pary now and your doubts, anXieties, ant
weaknesses of heart-lke the light of your hopes
burning there, under the shadow of the sycamore
a holy beacon by whose guidance you always came
TO a sweet haven, and to a refuge from all your tolls
is gone-gone forever
The father is here, indeed, beloved, respected, es
teemed but the boyish heart, whose old life is nov
reviving leans readily, more kindly, into thu
void where once beat the heart of mother
"Clarence :" "Nelly! -
There are no other words but you feel her tear
as the kiss of welcome is given. With your hant
joined in hers you walk down the space into the ole
familiar hall not with the jaunty college step, no
with any presumption on your dawning manhood oh
nothing of this
Quietly meekly feeling your own heart shattered
your mind as feeble boys and yourpurposes moth
ing, and worse than nothing--with proud feeling
you fling your around the form of that gentle sis
ter-the pride of protector-the feelng-''I viii
care for you now, dear Nelly!' that is all. Ant
even that, proud as it is, brings weakness.
! You sit down together the lounge, Nelly burie
her face in her hands, sobbing