The home journal. [volume] (Winchester, Tenn.) 1857-1857, 1857-02-27

long, long years, to the pleasant old
south meadow, all enclosed with second
growth Of Chestnut, Poplar and Tulip
trees, overgrown with the grape.vino's
towering shade, and bowed my head
and trimming eyes, and in thought was
living again the years that were gone. !
thought OF Cousin Charles and Emma,
and all the pure, innocent delights Of
their fond companionship, and almost un.
consciously | syllabled their names, and
at the words the ono stood before me, in
her clean, brown linen pina(ore, with the
neat, gingham sun.bonnet in her hand,
waiting, as she used TO do, TO hear what
was going to say to her, her blue eyes
looking eagerly into mine, and her sunny
curls straying down her neck and face
while the other, with deep earnest gaze
and strongly.knit, manly little figure, was
beside her, willing to accede to any re.
quest in his power to grant. Why
should not memory, thus powerfully aid.
ed by association, so wildly recall them?
In the olden times we were together eve.
rywhere--in the orchard, the meadow, the
garden, at the brook side, in the barn,
nutting, black .berrying, gathering winter.
green's and checker. berries,--where one
was, the others were not far distant.
But where are they now? A tear hath
fallen on the page. How could l help it?
| may call, but who shall answer? |
may extend the hand of welcome, but
Oh not to them. may look with the
glance Of affection into loving eyes, but
never again into theirs. Sunny curls
may Irvine over necks and brows Of daz.
cling wilderness, and may love TO look,
but the curls with which my fingers ,oyed,
the brows and necks over which they stray.
ed, are persisted from my sight. | look
for them no more on earth, save on fond
Memory's faithful page the picture gal.
lery Of the heart. There, are their lin.
eaments most faithfully copied and fond.
ly may | gaze at pleasure upon the loved
and loving ones the dark earth hid from
me, underneath her freshly. brodered robe
when the bursting buds and blossoms
draped the orchard bouehs, wove a pref.
ty border to the green mantle of the
freshly springing meadow, and underneath
the shadowing arms Of the wide old for.
est, strove to hide the bare brown soil
and the dead leaves OF the preceding
year with many chaste and lanciful con.
ceit.
Charley dropped in his boyhood. ere
his youthful heart had witnessed the at.
tainment Of one Of its ardent aspirations,
just as he had raised his foot for the first
step forward on li(e's threshold; and we
mourned him, O how tenderly-O how
sincerely. His pale face had an angels
look as we placed the fresh SPRING. flow
ers beside the glossy hair and pallid cheek
and on the pulseless bosom over which
the snowy fingers were clasped in meek
submisslon,-those fingers and those
hands so often employed in acts Of love
for US. His work was done and he laid
him down to rest. Twas better so, vet
how could we but mourn the beloved
companion Of our childhood ?
LIES but weary toilsomc pilgrimage,
| warp of t,al, with temptations WOOL
| tlottod book-a soiled, and tear.worn page
| tangled maze, where order stands aloof
His youthful fest turned from the trOublous way,
| While cafbuds burst and flowers were blossomlng.
LIES preface read-thc volume cast away,
Looked up to Heaven and plunied seraph's wing.
But Emma. A few more Springs came
and went, and she too, the beautiful bride
Of only few short months, dropped,
paled and died, and the only remaining
strand of the three.fold cord, grieved
| alone.
Alas, that death hath power to blight
| The ARREST forms OF earthly mould,
\ To quench the bright eyes loving light,
| And make the heart grow cold
| How sad 10 see the closing eye,
The ainng pulse to feel,
| To list the scarcely uttered sigh,
And mark the last change steal
Over some dear ones palid face.
| And settle slowly there,
| And leave its last, abiding trace,
On cheek, and brow. and hair.
Who hath not felt the agony,
The grief beyond control,
Some dearly valued friend 10 see
form without soul7
To call. ard hear wering word,
From lips neer mute beoiel
To prasp a hand, BY friendship alfred.