Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1855-07-12
THE HOMELESS WANDERER.
BY META GREY.

BY META GREY.
How many pleasant, and how many sad
recollections come thronging back upon mem
ory at the thoughts of home That there is
no place like home, may be well said; and he
that has no home is more to be pitied than the
poverty-stricken mendicant, who, though re-
pulsed and secuted by the thoughtless throng,
can quietly steal back to his home, let it be
ever so humble, and, surrounded by those who
are bound by ties of love TO share his lot,
feel comparatively happy.
A wanderer, [ left the Eden of my heart
with smiles upon my lip and Joy in my song,
to travel upon the wide earth and see strange
faces in strange lands. Never having left
/ home, ! knew not what it was to be away from
one, and it was not till the last spire of the
city sank behind the green trees, that feel
ing of loneliness came over me, and | felt
that was indeed leaving home. But new
scenes and new faces for a time occupied my
thoughts; nor did l fully realize what it was
until stood upon the deck of the noble steam
er that was to bear me far over the oceans
wide breast to the birthplace OF the pilgrim
fathers. | stood almost breathless and watch
ed the land, as the vessel, in all her pride,
glided out of her moorings like the majestic
tread of some imperious beauty. who was con-
scious of her power First the boats became
smaller, and the houses, as they receded,
seemed to sink lower and lower, until finally
the vast and mighty city sank deep in the
watery bed. l was friendIess upon the broad
expanse of ocean, and separated from home
and friends BY wide gulf of fathomless wat
ers, perhaps forever. Alone l sat, wrapped
in deep thought, regardless of the hurry and
confusion around me. My body was there,
but the ever restless spirit on the tides of
yearning love, was waited to the dear home |
was so far from, which in all its beauty rose
before me. 1t was the hour of 1he noon-tide
meal, and around the frugal board had gath
cred the treasures of home, dearer to me than
Golconda's shining gold. Two vacant seats
proclaimed that the family chain had been
riven, and two of its links were missing-one
had for awhile cast its lot among strangers,
the other had gone to the bourne whence no
traveller returns it was my beloved sire;
the destroying angel had breathed his poison
Gus breath upon him and robbed US of our
greatest blessing. 1t was sad night when
with fearful eyes and aching hearts we stood
around his bed and watched the film of death
close over his dear eyes, while his breath
grew shorter and shorter, until his purified
spirit was borne on angel wings to the God
who gave it. All nature seemed TO weep, for
the rain poured in torrents from the starless
heavens, and tears, like running waters,
flowed from sorrowing hearts: but why mourn
his loss he had gone from this world with
its myriad of cares, to be at rest. There was
no hand like his ever ready to assist the poor
and needy, no heart like his to sympathize
with and console those in distress. He has
gone. Death loves shining mark, and be-
fore the autumn of life had come with its sere
and yellow leaf, the tree was cut down, and
its frail branches left TO weather the driving
storms of life alone. Yet never will he be
forgotten as long as memory holds her sway.
The places at the table were sacred, and :s I
gazed from one to the other, l found that all
were changed but the little brother He was
the same; and often had his fond affection for
the widowed mother, robbed many lonely
hours of half their desolation.
| turn from one dear picture to another. In
a sweet little cot, shut out from the world by
dense clump of aged trees, grows blushing
rose that blooms for NE alone-left upon its
native soil until return to plant it in my
heart, as its rarest treasure. Her vows of
love and constancy sound still upon my ear as
the whispering of angels. see the tear drop
in her thoughtful eye, and her dimpled hand
still presses mine. This shining curl she gave
me as talisman, that when it should fade and
die, she would be untrue.
was awakened from my reverie by a kind
hearted sailor, who, though wanderer him
self, could appreciate the feelings of others
who had for the first time bid farewell to kin
dred ties, and launched his frail mortality up
on the treacherous ocean. When | became
fully conscious of where I was, my native
land appeared as but speck upon the edge of
the waters, and we, liable at any moment, to
find watery grave, with no one to mark our
resting place, a feeling of awe came over me
(as looked first north, then south, east and
west) for the Great Creator of such boundless
extent of waters. Who that ever for one mo-
ment doubted there was God, could gaze up
on such scene and still remain skeptical. l
felt no dread or fear after that for He that
made US is omnipotent, and will protect those
who place their trust in Him, let them be up
on the mighty deep or burning sands This
consolation calmed all my fears, for long
since, through the influence of spiritual in
struction at the family altar, learned that,
to be truly happy, you must be Christian
and he who has ever leaned upon the Chris
tian's faith, knows that it is prop that will
stand when cities and towns will have fallen
into decay, and the crowned potentates crum-
bled into dust, and mingled with their mother
earth; and as long as earth revolves upon its
axis, and the tides ebb and flow. Christianity