The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1853-09-16
THE RUNAWAY,s RETURN.

The sun is up now, and shining brightly
Things appear the same, and yet how di
erent. How is it! There was big tire
Carver's cottage!
Three days ago landed at Portsmouth
1t was on my birthday. For ten lon
years | had been sailing about on the Sc,
and wandering about on the land. Ho,
things come over me! | am man now
but for that could sit down and cry lik
a child.
1t seems but yesterday since ran ava,
from home. 1t was the worst days worl
that ever did. got up in the morning
while my father and mother were asleep
Many and many time had | been unkint
to my dear mother, and undutifu to nv father
and the day before he told me how wrong i
was. He spoke kindly and in sorrow, but
my pride would not bear it. | thought
would leave home. What is it that makes
me tremble so now!
My father coughed as crept along by hi:
door, and heard my mother speak to him
50 stood moment, with my little bundle in
my hand, holding my breath. He coughed
again. have seemed to hear that cough in
every part of the world.
When had unlocked the door, my heart
failed me; for my sister.had kissed me every
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. l turned back,
opened the door of 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
out loud to me. That cry has rung in my
ears ever since; aye, in my very dreams!
AS hurried away, l felt, suppose, as Cain
felt when he murdered his brother. My
father, my mother, and my sister had been
unkind to them; and leaving them thus, felt
as if was numbering them all.
Had been robber, could not have felt
more guilty. But what do sau that fo-,- /
,oas robert Twas robbing them of their
peace. l 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 elms by the church.
wonder if they are the same rooks!-There's
comes over Inc as | get nearer
home. Home! | feel that there's no home
for me.
Here is the corner Of the hedge, and the
old seat but my father is not in. There is
the patch of ground that my sister called her
garden, but she is not walking in it. And
wonder is the bedroom window; my mother
is 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; and my sister
never stuffed that straw through the broken
panes.
I'llrap at the door, anyhow. How hollow
It sounds. Nobody stirs. All is as silent
rs the grave. I'll peep in at the window.
It's an empty house, that's clear Ten long
years! How could I,expect it 10 be otherwise!
can bear hunger aud thirst, butt cannot
bear this!
The elderberry is in blossom, as it was
when ran away; and the woodbine is as
fresh as ever, running up to 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 no use stopping here. I'll cross the
and see if the clerk lives where
he did; but he wouldn't know me. My cheek
was like the rose, when went away; but
the sun has made it of another color This is
O new gate. How narrow the path is between
the graves! The old sun dial, / see it
standing there yet.
The last time was ir tina: church, my
father was with me. and ihe text was:-"My
son, hear the instructions of thy father, and
forsake not the law of thy mother" Oh,
what curse we bring upon us when we
despisc Gods Holy Word.
My uncle lies under the yew tree there,
and he had gravestone. Here it is. It's
written all over now, quite to the bottom:
'In memory VI Humphrey Haycroft' But
what is the name under! walter Haycroft.'
My father! my father! 'And Mary, his wife,
Oh, my mother! and you are both gone!
Gods hand is heavy upon me! | feel it in
my heart and soul!
And there's another name yet, aud it's
freshly cut. Esther Haycroft their daughter,
aged ga My father! my mother! and my
sister! Why did not the sea swallow me up
when was wrecked! deserved it. What
is the world to me now! feel, bitterly feel,
the sin of dsobedence. The eye that
mocketh at his father, aud despiseth to obey
his mother, the ravens OF the valley shall pick
it out, and the young eagles shall eat it,
But yet recollect how often my dear
father and mother used to point me out to the
Lamb of God, that taketh away the sins OF the
world. There isno refuge beside,' said my
mother; Christ is able and willing to Save.
paid but little attention. to those words
On! may | never forget them!
BALTIMORE, Sept. 2.
The Whig State Convention nominated
Coz. II. J. Bowie, for Governor.