Meigs County telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy [Ohio]) 1848-1859, 1859-12-27
Mis1elta M.
"A Good Home.

The acquisition of good home is one
of the first objects of lfe-a home where
the soul has exclusive nghts-a home
where it may grow undistur5ed, sending
out its roots into fertile society," and lift
ing up its branches into the sunlight of
heavcn-a home out from which the soul
may go it's errands and enterprises, and 10
which 1t may return for it's rewards-a
home which, along the conduits of mem
ory, may bear pure nourishment to chill
d.en and children's children while Ut
stands, and even after ii has fallen.
l recall home like this long since left
behind in the journey Of life; and it's mem
ory fnatS back over me mlJlrl shower of
emotions and thoughts, toward whose
precious fall my heart opens itself greed,
lily, like thirsty flower. 1t is a home
among the ountains-humble and lonely
but priceless in its wealth of associa-
TONS. The waterfall sings again in my
ears. as it used to sing through the
dreamy, mysterious nights. The rose at
the gate, the patch of tansy under the
window, the neiyhboring orchard, the old
elm, the grand machinery OF storms and
showers, the little smilhy under the hill,
that famed with strange light through the
dull winter evenings. the wood pile at the
door, the ghos'ly white birches on the
hill. and the dim blue Eaze upon the re-
firing mountains-al these come back to
me with an appeal which touches my
heart and mois'ens my eyes. sit again
in the doorway at summer nightfalI, eat
ing my bread and milk, l,oking off upon
the darkening landscape, and listening to
the shouts of boys upon the hillside,
calling or driving homeward the reluctant
herds | watch again the devious way of
The dnsky night-hawk along the twilight
sky and listen to his measured note, and
the breezy boom that accompanies his
heaLlong plunge toward the earth.
Even the old barn, crazy in every tim
Der and gaping at every joint, has charms
for me. ltry again the breathless leap
from the great beams into the hay. sit
again on the threshold of the widely
opened doors-open to the soft south wind
of spring-and watch the cattle whose
faces look half human to me, as they sun
themselves, and 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 otfal of the yard. The
first little lambs Of the season toddle by
,he-side of1heir dams, and utter their fee
BILE bleatings, while tie flock nibble attht
hay rick, or pair Of rival weathers Try
the strength of their skulls in an encoun
ter, half in earnest and half in play. The
proud old rooster crows upon his dung
hill throne, and some delighted membe
of his silly family leaves her nest. ant
tells to her mates and to me that there il
another egg in the world. The old hors
whinnies i'll his stall and calls to me fc
food. l look up to the roof and think O
the last years swallows-soon to return
again-and hear the tortions of their mu
sical sirocco, as it wraps their young, an,
catch glimpse OF angular sky throug
the diamond shaped opening that gay
ingress and egress How, know not an
care not, but that old barn is part of my
self-it has entered into my life, and givel
me growth and wealth. @
But l look into the house again, wher
The life abides which has appropriate
these things, and finds among them it
home. The hour OF evening has come
the lamps are lighted. aud good man i
middle hfe-though very old he seems
me takes down the well-worn Bible. an
reads chapter from its balowed pages
A sweet woman sits at his side with m
sleepy head upon her knee, and brother
ana sisters are grouped reverently arounc
: uo not understand the words, but hav
J, sre1 ana I9ld that they are the words of Goo
+ and @ ,ts believe it. The long chapter ends
: mar MAJ 'nen ns we all kneel down, and the goo
in"I in ,hd prays. I fall asleep with NV 6ea
!, ,m.ns ~ ,ns chair, and the next morning I r.
+, ,l, member nothing of the way 'hS in wh;sh :
went to bed. After breakfast. IN waacn p;s,a
'aken down. and the good man MAI DiD.e nrs5