Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1855-11-14
Written for the Spirit of the Age.
Home. Sweet Home

Respectfully inscribed to the Social Circle.
When far away in a strangers land, sur
rounded by those from whom | can court no
social intercourse when the significant coun-
tenance of friendship or q yearning smile OF
affection never inspire my poor isolated heart
with cheer; when life is amalgamated with
bitter cares, and no sweet influence of the
family circle brood DER my fast sinking
spirits, in the hour Of meditation then, oh
then let the soothing tones of home, sweet
home" roll across the troubled soul,-they
lull to sweetest slumbers the throbbings of
an anxious bosom, aud the mellow cadence
of their expiring echo falls more healing
than the Balm Of Gilead upon the smarting
wounds of existence.
The hardy sailor, as he glides "o'er the
briny Deep" upon which his fairy barque
rests with active buoyancy and bears him
trium2hantly whithersoever the governor
listeth," is not insensible to gleanings of ear
ly attachments, to the home of childhood's
sprightly dawn, that perhaps has been mock
ed by adversely or overwhelmed by the tide
of tickle fortune. He muses. and fond re-
collections dancing DER his mind, you see
him fix his vacant gaze, not on material OBJ
jects, but he is linking out the cherished
chain of memory that makes its course away
yonder, deeper and still deeper in the dim dis
tance of the past, till the old homestead ar
rests its progress. And as the voice of his
good old mother comes trilling up the chain,
tits registered afresh in his soul and moth
ing is more enhancing with delight serene
than to drought that magic medium
with those, who once clasped him to their
bosom and claimed him theirs by the uncleft
ties of blood and family affection; but cannot
now, because they have gone to try the re
alities of a world of which we have no geo
graphy. He rouses from his meditations
and making a sweeping glance across thu
world of waters, fancy sketches eternity a
round him and the imagery of home full
orbed in the zenith Of it's glory bursting upol
his thoughts, he wonders and wonders if h
will ever realize its original blessedness.-
Home, sweet home! it can work wonders
even in the heart of an old Jack Tar.
Amid the strife of battling armies, wher
Death and Carnage move wildly to and frt
and in their promiscuous revels strike dlgn
ty and valor to their appointed level, thel
comes to the fainting ear of the blood-writI
, ing fallen, a still small voice that the ii
| fernal howP' of bursting bombs and boomin
: cannon cannot hush, --itspeaks, and the dyin
!. man raising his eyes and soul in imploring a
e titude towards heaven, his last breath breatl
es Home, sweet home ;"-but ala. pot
o mortal, it can have no more joys for him!
d The unfortunate oonsort of the poor ine5l
ate, with painful regret retrosuects the da,
of innocent childhood, girlish glee, maidt
dreams-when a fond mother loved her al
an indulgent father provided for all her n
c~essities when she could rest beneath t
parental vine and fgtree and none dare M
lest or make her afraid; but all those dream
have faded, the merry laugh has changed
cheerful tone, the benevolent hand is par;
lied in death, the heart that throbbed
=, sympathy with hers pulsates no more. !
one cares for her now,-she is the wife Of
cold drunkard." Cold insult by the g
:. world to her humble position mocks her ia
- and beneroleRce is a stranger at her door.
a. But then, true woman as she is, there
.w more bitter tears to be shed over that W;
y ward, incorrigible husband. She wiU Ii
On, kiss the rod that smites her, and sh1
w his infamy in an early grave. Home, sw
r homei There were received the first Jesse
= of love; there first fell from earnest lips
kindly instructions of devoted parents tn
Nv was bestowed the parting blessing, as
beautiful bride went forth to battle with
- in earnest. Sadly perverted have beco
those sacred endowments !! The first less
of love have been propagated and expen,
~ on an unworthy object thehopeful aspir
to the Office. of mistress and matron presi
"st in a howell; the parting blessing has pro
a curse, and the beauty that charmed
~votaries is esconced in wrinkles and tears
The afectionate chidings of anxious pare
are put to shame by the rude ministrati
of a madman's justice; the inspiration
.ns their voice loses its JUNCTION amid the bl
or of menance hurled about her defence
head. Oh! the horrors that hang arc
that hopeless home! What a blessed res
from grief-worn anxiety to scan bright, |
ly scenes of the past, and dwell with tr
- port on the picture that life has halo
~, with the dearest associations it wakes "
na in sweet, consoling influences that pail
'"a the asperities of reality and whisper
Heaven a Home" Care-worn and W,
hours can never rob the afflicted soul of
'.a unfailing consolation; though the storr
elements beat bitterly about the wre'
habitation, sending its chill darts thrc
ina" glaring apertures to grapple with ply
debility, and social discord broods with
a grievances over the hearthstone, in that
ny hour the disconsolate woman signs an,
thrill, sweet as angels music, catches th,
splriug strain:
"Home, sweet home! my long sought home
Y My Homes in Heaven above"
Ves n Homo for tbaa parsooptod