The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1859-08-17
FL 0 M e

The acquisition of good home is one
| of the first objec;s Of lifo--a home where
the soul has exclusive rights-a home
where it may grow unlisturbed, sending
out its roots into fertile society, and lifting
up its branches into the sunlight of heav-
en- a home out from which tie soul may
GO on its errands and enterprises, and to
which it may return for its rewards-a
home which, aloug the conduits of mem
DRY, may bear pure nourishment to CHI l.
rem and children's children while it stands,
and even after it has fallen.
I recall home ike this, long since
left behind in the journey of life; and its
memory floats back over me with a show
er of emotions and thoughts toward
who's precious fall my heart opens itself
greedly like a thirsty flower. 1t is a
home among the mountains-humble
and homely-but priceless in its wealth OF
associations. Tho waterfall sings again
in my cars, as it used to sing through
the dreamy, mysterious nights. The rose
at the gate, the patch of tansy under the
window, the neighboring orchard, the old
elm, the grand machinery of storms and
showers, the little srnithy under tho hill
that fltned with strange light through
the dull winter evenings, the woodpile at
the door, the ghostly white birches on the
hill, ard the dim blue haze upon the re
firing lnountains-al these come back TO
me with an appeal which touches my
heart and moistens my eyes. | sit again
in the doorway at summer at nightfall
eating my bread and milk, looking upon
the darkening landscape, and listening to
the shouts of boys upon the hillside, call
ing or driving homeward the reluctant
herds. l watch again the devious way
of the dusky nighthawk along the twilight
skv, AMI listen to his msasured note, and
the breezy boom that accompanies his
headlong plunge toward the earth.
Ev the old barn, crazy in every tim
Der and gaping at every joint, has charms
for me. l try again the breathless leap
from the great beams into the bay. | sit
again on the threshold of the widely
doors-open to the soft south wind OF
spring aud watch the cattle whose faces
look half human to me, as they sun them
selves, aud peacefully ruminate, while,
drop by drop, the dissolving snow upon
the roof drills holes through the wasting
drifts beneath the caves, down into the
oozing offal of the yard. The first little
lambs of the season toddle by the side of
their dam, and utter their feeble bleatings,
while the flock nitble at the hay rick, or a
pair of rival wethers try the strength of
their skulls In an encounter, half in earn
est and half in play. Tie proud old
rooster crows upon his dunghill throne,
and s,me delighted member of his silly
family leaves her nest, and tells to her
mates and TO me that there is another
egg in the world. The old horse whin-
mes in his stall, and calls to me for food
| look up to the roof, and think of last
years swallows soon to return-and
here the tortions of the musical morocco,
as it wraps their young, and catch a
glimpse Of angular sky through the dia-
mond-shapod opening that gave them in
gress and egress. How, l know not, and
care not, but that old barn is . part Of
myself-it has entered into my life and
given me growth and wealth.
But | look into the house again where
the life abides that has appropriated these
things, aud finds among them its home.
The hour of evening has come, the lamps
are lighted, and good man in middle life
though very old he seems to me-takes
down the we'll woln Bible, AMI reads 2
chapter from the hallowed page. A sweet
woman sits at his side with my sleepy head
upon her knee, and brothers and sisters
are grouped reverently around. l do not
understand the words, but have beer
told that they are the words of God and
believe it. The long chapter ends, and
thea we all kneel down, aid the good mar
prays. fall asleep with my head in the
chair, and the next morning remember
nothing of the way in which went to bed
After breakfast, the Biblo is taken down
and the good man prays again, and AGAR
and again is the worship repeated through
many golden years. The pleasant con
verse Of the fireside, the simple songs o