Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-09-15
The Old Hearth-Stone.

The Old Hearth-Stone.
PA will be home this evening" said a lit
tie maiden to her younger brothers and sis
tiers, as she jumped and skipped upon the
green grass, before the door of neat cottage,
now the home Of a happy family.
eyes yes!' CALCULATED simultaneously the
laughing, jumping group Of little ones. and
I'll be so glad, GLADLY, glad" "AndheH bring
me a new dress said one, andmea new hat
said another, and SO on to the last, all filled
with delight at PAS" return and the assur-
ance that he would not come home empty.
"Pa" had been absent for some months on
a business excursion, which he had found
amply remunerative, and now thathis engage
ment was over, had advertised his interesting
family that he expected to sup at his cottage
home that evening.
Long and tedious had been the days and
weeks Of his absence, both to himself and
family. Every day the mother and children
were counting over and over, when he would
return, and he as often would turn his minds
eye w~istfully to the group he had left around
his ''old hearth-stone."
What a change had come over this happy
? family In early life he had taken to his bo-
, som a lovely wife. Industry and thrift had
secured a competency, and the neat little cot
d tage, furnished and adorned, had become the
i q1iet, sweet home of afarnilv, blessed with
: the benignant smile Of Heaven. Four sweet
| children had been given them, and the path
II Of the future promised naught but plenty and
/ felicity.
o In an evil hour he learned to love the cup.
y His own 'hearth-stone'' around which gath
t cred at eve his loving wife and children, was
soon bartered for the gambling saloon and IL
o quor-stall. Night after night was spent in
IS the intoxicating game and glass. Affection
y and care for his interesting family, gave place
. to sourness and neglect, and soon the indus
of %trious, frugal and atfectionate husband and
as father, became the ~ill-tempered, lazy and de-
4, u based sot.
Now, the hour of his return homeward was
dreaded by its wretched inmates. The creak-
10 ing Of the gate and the heavy tramp on the
20 Threshold, once the signal Of joy to a happy
ne family, was now the precursor of a storm of
at wrath and distress. Fido, the little pet dog,
eS who used to jump and caper at his return,
- now growled at the sound of the latch, and
~ ran whimpering and alarmed to a place of
ICE shelter. The affectionate wife who ever met
&C. him with a smile, now groaned and trembled
.us at his approach. The little children, except
an the eldest, if awake, fled from his presence as
he from avid beast, while the eldest sat or stood
by her mothers side, as if the poor innocent,
could ward off the blows of a besotted father,
laid heavily upon her unoffending MA"
Several years rolled on; worse and worse
AR he grew. Servant after servant was sole
1as and other property, until nothing was left
but the little cottage and a few articles O
osr furniture. Friends had labored with him
His affectionate wife loved him still and pray
an ed for him. At length the clouds broke
asC away. He came to himself. AT this crisis
inv; -" he united with the Sons" became a sober
ear man, ana III a SNORT time, beng the subject o
and a gracious visitation, joined the Church Q
God. Peace, plenty and happiness returned
lIs1 to his dwelling. That little cottage, becam
Gus his earthly Paradise, and his "old hearth
has stone" the sweetest, happiest place, this sid
IDS heaven.
On the evening first mentioned, "Pa" re
lair turned home after some months absence
nal, the nearer he drew homeward his step wa
do quicker and bis heart more tender As til
ect. smoke from his cottage home curled up, h
ons, espied it in the distance, and tears droppe
from his eyes. Quick as the latch of the CAT
the was raised, the children were around an
i've, climbing upon him. Fido jumped and dar
are ced forjoy. Wife stood in the porch to gree
rug him. AS he imprinted a kiss upon the chez
by of his wife and each child, tears gushed frol
the his eyes. They were tears of Joy, wru.
from a full heart. As he passed inet3ni
door with wife and children still cD<mg t
18th him, he was heard 10 say. .'Takef the worl
beside, but give me my own W1dearest vi
Hearth-Stone.'"
In
Ran B= Having stilfon hand some of the Jan
OBJ Feb, March, April, May and June Nos. {
oy the North Carolina Planter, we have conell
: Of ded still 10 offer them as premiums to person
ali who send on for the Age up to 1st Novemb'
e or next. For So we will send two copies of Il
nave Age for a year and two copies Of the Plant
for 1858 entire.