American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-12-20
THE ExILE's DREAMS OF HOME
ny ANNA MARIA wrLpY.

Ifthis proud henrt'of mino would be ~ iJa.
s. AS when life, love and hope were young;
If still existence, wear and tear, fagu ~
That we so murmur TO endure, aU. rsA
As h cav onmy heart would bear
Where roamed our childhood blest & pure!
For, Oh, in moments know n too of
For one that hath but imaged woos, '''
Ileave the soothing tones and eoft a'f'"f.F
That here would lull me 20 repose %
To wander through the yiewless space = 7n
Where memory paints them to my view,
With kindling brow and beaming face sAN
That all my childish sorrows knew.
And have dreamed--llow often dreamed
That, if above my checkored way, 1ss''.
Their kindly eyes had always cleaned,
" My seul had purer been to-day; bI"p.
For manyu wayward step my feet .g'
Have taken on lite's thorny road et.
Had ltllcy but whispered once unmcet, Tn
No tempting voice could onward goad.
E'en now beneath the household tree,
Thro' which look ed my first to heaven,
Where, kncGling at a parents knee, a.sg F..
Were brea,h'd our childish prayers at even;
MothlnKs the thoughts that upward wond
Their way all trembling and afraid t.
Would sooner far that heaven ascend r
IL whispered 'Keath its blessed shade.
And though but Fancy, have thought,
When turning to some well-known spot,
Where hand in hand 10 oft we've sought
The blue.bell and iorg ct-mc-not;
That where are seen the distant hills,
And valleys round our home that wind,
(oh, blackest thought with griefthat flls)
We left our chldhood's heart behind.
For soon that heart so free from guile,
So trusting once, grew strange and cold,
Distrusting every glance and smile,
Believed MS very truths Of old
And soon, like others, every word
Was moulded from our lips that came
And thoughts once uttered, as thoy stirred,
subseryient grew 60 Flattcry's claim.
Alas, my soul another creed II43 a E
Was taught among n careless crowd
From all but Virtues sembance freed, e.
So ialsohood better il ght shroud;
Where all within, without, were schoolcd
Balso hopes and feelings to inspire,
And Shame's own burning blush was CO oled
at words which once had reused 10 ire.
Yet sometimes meath tho quiet stars
That seem TO look my spirit trough,
Escaping from the bolts and bars
That bind me TO such scrvile few,
I've been once IL ore tho artless thing
That played before our Fathers door
With bird and beo on shining wing
To sunbcams slanting on the floor.
And yethow sad it would be, sweet, 'r...
To wander where our 20 nth was blest
And there but stranger ones to greet .H
Where all lived once we loved the best
Where we had pictured II we'd known
OF gladncss in these moments gay q.
No voice that thrilled US with its tone
The wanderers welcome home to say.
To see tho mildew and the stains
Of years upon tho humble walls,
r Tho gables beat with winds and rains,
Where but the brooding swallow calls,
ana ana where had dropped the woodbino spray,
30 closo the litt'e easement round,
10 hhu 'ho omb'em OF dec ay XXI. "a.
The ivy with its tendrils wound.
: 10 marx the rank weeds on the walks,
nc thisties choking sP the lane, af
The he. MOCK th'ck upon It's staiksj
SO close against inc window pane, aa
The hawthorne hcdgSs then TO see, ..E
(fou know our laihor Kept so u'm) .i
Rise higher than the chesnut lree
That once looked down IN scoTn on 'pcm'
10 see the rivers rapid food,
Its current grown more fierce and strong
onm'ndiu'' as beside wo stood,
ihatwo had absent been so long.
inc ooat'houee bu'it upon its banks,
Inc or'oge una'tered near tho mill,
hnd whoro we waued IN the cranks
with 'hose s"ch aaron graves that ill.