The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1855-02-07
For the Spirit OF Democracy
y ADEEAM.
BY .. NJ. T.


Do you ever dream Of vanished forms
,,that oncs glided along your pathway. and
are now no more! Or are you ever in
deep. wild reveries. wondering if the fa-
ossrits ones oi your early time have passed
sawsy, or that If they are still mingling in
4 the throng Of busy life, that you are by
them forgotten. The cause Of these in
aqsiriss is the recollection Of pleasant
adream--that dream intermingled with the
dsarsst memories OF my life--the grove,
the school.house, and the little woodland,
seemed a. natural and beautiful as they
ladid Of yore. thought that dull winter
was oyers and that the ..happy month Of
May" had come again, the sweet flowers
were looking up, and on every bush and
bough the songsters were at work. making
-ths world glad with their cheerful and
happy songs. was again at my early
hone-it was Sabbath morning, and the
snn. though high up in his course. was
ypar,ially secluded by whitish legion of
sUioudss factuating in the frmament-the
Church bells rang long and loud. and all
things around me appeared as bright and
beautiful as they did in the by-gone time.
Incidents Of the past were NOW present.
sAnd everything appeared in reality as
1shsy had when first beheld ihem-there
.Nss The broad, green commons where
had whiled away hour after hour, often
bsholding the change of day into night
rand below was the little wood where |
had repeated again and again my school
boy defamation. and then did hear its
dying echo sounding in the distance ;
hsAd there, too, was the shady spring at
yfhs bottom oi the wood. and the old gourd
sup still floating on its surface. Oh! how
i pondered along, as gazed on these ia
uiliar scenes-how strangely I thought
Of my reckless wanderings, and wonder
ed that had tarried SO long from this
home that | SO dearly loved. But alas
knew too we'll the cause. AS | roved
through the shady wood, II sought in vain
sfor the tall old swing, with its arms Sc
long and strong, where often had sailed
through the cool summers breeze-the
two trees were there that supported 1t
but the old swing was gone. Then. how
Thought Of the by gone, and wspt to think
that those happy moments. when | strollee
along in school-boy glee, would return nc
more. ssa
While alone, in my meditations, think
.inn Of things and of times that had passed
by as moaning wind never to return
I vas surprised TO find that the hours wer'
passing SO swiftly away. and that it wa
.aowtoo late for the morning. service. a
ahs Church bells had rang SO long before
Time Aew swiilly by while thus engaged
and many long, tedious hours were burie'
ju ihe deep immensely without my know
ing @
f9 u vas noon, and all were preparing 70
Chursh-the bells chimed-and now coul
be seen the old and the young windiD
their way to the house of God. Neve
did feel more like church-going than
did sas that moment-how my heart swell
"a within me, az beheld the eyed me
that had nnrsed me, and the youthful one
that had been my school-mates, and ha
often splayed with me. still finding thei
way 10 that old brick cAuroh-the plao
whore | fret heard sermon, and frs
learned to love. II was there that no,
should GEL walked along happily ant
ssoa vas there. They we're singing