The hydraulic press. (North San Juan, Nev. Co., Cal.) 1858-18??, 1858-09-25
ORIGINAL.
AN OLD-TIME PARTING.
BY CRUCIBLE.

There IS no tennessee where l
am going"
Thus spoke the old mother as her
6rst-born was leaving the ark to 60
forth alone upon the ocean of life.
Twas an old-time parting-a par.
ting indeed; for homes were sacred
then; the old roof-tree was loved
more dear. for he who trained its
branches to- nestle close to the south>
ern wall, sleeps meath its shadows;
and the grassy lawn sloping away to
the east steals fairer crystals from tn ,
night than others do, for it was his
hand that redeemed it from the wild
and made Eden envious.
An old~time parting Long ago,
when the West bespoke a wilderness
indeed; when its "outer walls" were
bathed by the deep flowing Hudson,
and the "other side" of a truth be-
longed to sunset land; yet, from out
the wilderness voice had been heard
telling of sparkling rills and crystal
streams leaping through emerald set
tings of fair fields and fertile vallies
A sGenessee' had been found-stories
of its surprising loneliness reached
the East-the circling mists gathered
more closely around Mt. Monadnock
to learn of a fairer land than theirs,
and old Holyoke assumed sterner
look as he heard of other Kings than
Philip. Soon, however, was heard
the elastic step of eager youth hast
ening thither, and how they went and
how they parted, tits almost worth the
telling.
1t was long before Fulton had lit
"soul of fire within ribs of oak"
long ere a "thread of thunder" was
woye through the wool Of primeval
forests, making the sounding aisles
of the dim woods" shout back the
hoarse voice of the painting engine,
till startled nature herself almost re-
fused the echo. Yes-'twas long ere
this; for in those days of primitive
life when one did not blush to love and
own his home, the postman's weekly
visit was the only link connecting
with the world; and as the transitions
from place to place were necessarily
slow, so was purpose Of mind and
thought equally gradual, and they
were along time there in the old home
making up their minds to let John 60
forth to the promised land, for the old
hive had never "swarmed'' before,
and they feared to have it now !; yet
he must 60, for others had gathered
harvests there, and a year or two
would ripen his; and so the day of
his going was set. twas the first
day in the week but one, for in those
days there were Sa65atAs in the land,
and that Sabbath was a holy day, for
tomorrow John was going. He was
to go at sunrise, and how very early
was the dawning! The family were
early astir, and seemed unusually
busy-perhaps the heart was very
busy, and the hands need keep it
company-and SO they did; for over
and over again had they packed the
simple wardrobe, and still it was not
done. Nellie had found a button off,
and mother must sew it on; but the
old mothers eyes were dim, and she
could not thread the needle; she put
on her spectacles, but something was
the matter with them, and she wiped
them; something was the matter with
her eyes, and she wept. But the
task is completed, breakfast is over,
and with his knapsack fastened to his
shoulders, John is ready to start. He
has crossed the threshold thresh-
old has feet helped make smooth, and
where long years ago he used to sit
and gaze with childish wonder upon
the rainbow he thought the angels
had painted on the clouds. The gate.
way is reached-the garden gate
where he used to swing-and there
he fingers. 0, for railway now to
hasten the parting with scream!-
'Twould indeed be a blessing, even
though the faint goodbye" were
crushed in two by its iron wheels!
"Write, won't your says sister,
softly; and mother-the old mother
with one withered hand placed low
ingly upon the shoulder Of her first
born while the other toys with his
moist locks, says-s'let me look at
you once more John, before you 60,
for shall be gone when you come
back, but you'll know where to find
Il ... e., 4l,ora 10 ~, GGana,saa, xx,Lou,