The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1860-11-28
From the wavcrly Magazine.
Boy Lost.

Boy Lost.
He had black eyes, with long lashes red
cheeks, and hair almost black and almos,
curly. He wore crimson plaid jacket, with
full trousers, buttoned on. Had habit oil
whistling, and liked to ask questions. Was
accompanied by "a email black dog. 1t is q
long while now since be disappeared.
have very pleasant house and much com
pany My guests say, "Ah it is pIeasan,
J here! Everything has such an orderly, nut.
away look-nothing about under foot, no
dirt!'
But my eyes are aching for the sight of
Writings end cut paper upon the floor; OF
tumble down card houses; of wooden sheer o
ana cattle; of pop guns, bows and arrows,
whips, tops, 60. .csrts, blocks and trumpery.
want to see boats rigging, and kites a
making. / want to see cfumbles on the
carpet. and paste split on the kitchen table.
want to see the chairs and tables turned
the wrong way about; want to see candy
making and popping; and to find jack
knives and fish, hooks among my muslns /;
yet these things used to fret me once.
They ssy-"How quiet you are here; ah |!
one here may settle his brains and be at
peace" But my ears are aching for the
pa,tering Of little feet; for hearty shout,
shrll whistle, gay tra la Ia, fer the crack
of little whips, for the noise of drums, flies,
and tin ttumpets; yet these things made me
nervous once.
They say-"Ah! you have leisure-no.
thing to disturb you; what heaps of sewing
you have time for" But long to be asked
for bit of string or en- old newspaper; for
cent TO buy slate pencil or peanuts. |
want TO be coaxed for bit Of new cloth for
jibs or main.saiIs, and then to hem the same !;
want to make little flags and bsgs to hold
marbles. | want TO be followed by little
feet all over the house teased for bit OF
dough for little cake, or to bake pie iu
saucer. Yet these things used to fdget
me once.
They say-"Ah you are not tied at
home. How delightful to be always at lib
erty TO 60 to concerts, lectures, and parties;
no confinement for you"
But want confinement; | wsnt TO listen
for the school-bel mornings; to give the
last hasty wash and brush and then 10 watch
from the window, nimole feet bounding TO
school. want frequent rents to mend, and
to replace lost buttons. Iwant to obterat te
mud stains, fruit stains, moIasses stains, and
paints of all colors. want to be sitting
by little crib OF evenings, when weary
little feet are at rest, and pratting voices
are hu'hed. that mothers may sing their lu!.
labies, and tell over their o(t.repeated sto.
ries. They don't know their happiness then
those mothers. didn't. Well these
things called confinement once.
y y T.
A manly figure stands before me now
He is taller than I, has thick black whiskers,
and wears q frock coat, bosomed shirt and
cravat. He has just come from college
He brings Latin and Greek in his counte.
nance, and busts of the old philosophers for
the sitting room. He calls me mother, but
! am rather unwilling to own him.
He stoutly declares that he is my boy, and
says be will prove it. He brings me small
pair Of white trousers, with gay stripes at
the sides, and asks me if didA't make them
for him when he joined the boys militia
He says be is the very boy, too, that made
the bonfire near the barn, 80 that we came
very near having fire in earnest. He
brings his little boat to show the red stripe
on the sail Ct was the end Of the piece,) and
the name on the stern-"Lucy Iowa lit.
tie girl Of our neighborhood, who, because
of her long curls and pretty round face, was
the chosen favorite Of my little boy. Her
curls were long since cut of, and she has
grown to be a tall, handsome girl. How
the red comes to his face when he shows me
the name on the boat Oh see it all as
plain as if it were written. in book. My
little boy is lost, and my big one will soon
be. Oh if be was a little tired boy in o
long white night gown, lying In his crib,
with me sitting by, holding his hand in mine,
pushing his curls back from his forehead,
watching his eyelids dfoop, and listening to
his deep breathing.
II l had only tny little boy again. how pa.
tient would be How much would bear,
and how little would fret and scold
can never have him back again; but there
are still many mothers who haven't yet lost
their little boys. wonder If they know
they are living their very best days; that
now 10 the time to really enjoy their chill.