The independent. (Harrisonburg, La.) 1853-18??, 1854-03-29
[For the Independent.
HOME.

How sad, yet how inspiring to the mind,
the heart, and the imagination is this word !:
to the sailor when afar out upon the wide
roaring pillows of the mighty deep, when the
valiant ship is lightly skimming DER the
briny main, and its sails unfolded to the gen.
tie breeze; when by the light Of the pale
faced moon he PAGES the deck all alone at
the silent and dead hour of midnight, lost in
the "reminiscences Of the past, in calling to
mind those whom he once loved so dearly,
and was connected to by the sincerest ties of
human affections, his own loved home is
brought to bear with those reflections in
which his imagination is so deeply engaged !;
the beloved partner of his life, his own dear
babes, he sees their faces reflected by the dim
light of the moon. He imagines them to be
seated around the domestic fre-side hearth
sporting in their infant games, his better-half
sitting in pensive posture, perhaps with her
face covered with her hands, deeply engaged
in thinking Of him who is the supporter of
[ her frail life, while far Of on the deep, deep
sea, and who, perhaps, will be lost in the
storm or shipwreck, to sink to watery and
untimely grave, and to return never more to
the arms Of his lovely and beautiful wife, or
to his happy and much beloved home. If
he should ever feel his heart to waver in des-
pair, or become hardened to those absent
connections from long absence, one single
moment of deep and pensive reflection, will
rouse up his dependency of heart, and droop-
ing spirits of affection. The idea Of once
more returning home to greet those waiting
for our long coming, gives to the mind and
the heart new life.
"There is no place like home" When
we are away from it how many scenes of
pleasure, and hours of happiness, that have
fled as the minutes flee, do we recur to p
We can picture the old and romantic building
standing in the yard, can hear the cabling
Of the noisy inmates Of the farm-yard, and
hear the ripping of the bright waters of the
little meandering stream, just beyond the
foot of the green sloping hillside, where, on
summers afternoon, when the fiery rays Of
a July sun are slowly descending beneath
the blue horizon into the hush and silence Of
night, having run his fiery course for fifteen
long and sultry hours over the bright and
smiling countenance ofnature, with one alone,
perhaps the long-loved one, and the idol Of
our young hearts, we betake ourselves to the
little brook, to engage in the sYcophantic
strains of love talk, or enjoy a few hours in
gathering wild flowers to make boquets 81
wreaths to Irvine around the sunny brows Of
our swsdaeartx These, and many nthsr
. scenes and pleasures do we call to absent
] mind and neal;1a xhila absent from home
IT'S the mariners support-to give to his
troubled breast in the hour of distress
ray of hope and cheerfulness; the school
boys topic to discuss with his fellow-class-
mates during the hours Of recreation; the
travellers only care when he tends his way
homeward after long absence. Situated as
we may be, in the midst of gay and lively
circle, where wit and humor, pathos and
poetry, cheerfulness and laughter are in
their greatest glory, the thought Of home will,
unawares, steal upon us whether in the class
ic groves of Scotland, or in the rich vineyards
of France. "Oh, home sweet home!'
/ A CATAHoUL1Ax FROM HONE.
! B &