Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1860-11-24

some utter uiVOreu lEulli hAu u 'HS WV
seen snakes in cur path. On a certain occasion,
as my memory runs. l chased the snake, while he
ran away. His story is, that he chased and |
rau--aud the question remains unsettled to this
day.
Sometimes We extended our ramblos to the end
Of the farm, and looked down into the secluded
dells beyond the ridge which it covered-such
~glimpscs we're like the discovery of unknown
lands. How far of the other people lived! How
strange it must be to dwell continually down in
that hollo W, with no other house in sight, But
when | built a house, | thought, l shall build 1t
up on the ridge, with a high steeple, from the top
Of which | can see far and wide.
At last came tho launch into the world-s slide,
q plunge, a shudder, and the ship rides the waves.
Absence, occupation, travel substituted realities
for dreams, and the farm, if not forgotten, became
a very subordinate object in the catalogue of things
to be attained. Whenever | visited the homestead,
however, l saw the sunset through its grating Of
forest.
Fifty years of neglec. had given the adjoining
farm a bad name among the farmers, while Ma
turc. as if delighted to recover possession, had
gone on adjoining it in her own Wild and match
lees way. | looked en- the spot With an Instructed
eye, and sighed, as l counted up my scanty earn
ibgs, at the reflection that years must elapse be-
fore l could venture to think of possessing it. My
wish, nevertheless, was heard and remembered.
In July, 1858, I was on the island of Loo-Choo.
Returning to the flagship Of the squadron one eve
ming, after q lorg tramp over the hills to she south
of NapC-kiang, in a successful search for the
ruins Of the ancient fortress of Tima-gusku, | was
summoned by the officer Of the deck to receive q
package which had been sent on board from ono
Of the other vessels.
Letters from home, after an interval of six
month"; without newsl l Immediately asked per-
mission 10 burn a lamp ou the orlop deck, and
read until midnight, forgetting the tramp Of the
sentry and the sounds of the s%leepers in their
%hammocks around me. Opening letter after letter,
and deVouring piece by piece, the banquet of news
they contained, the most startling, as well as the
most important communication, was-the old farm
was mine ! Its former owner had died, the prop
orty was sold and had been purchased in my name.
| went on deck. The midwatch had just relieved
the first; the night was pitch dark, only now and
then when a wave burst a flash of white fire. But
as | looked westward over the sterurail, | saw the
giant oaks, rising black against the crimson sun
scli anu knew tDdJ tnty WSTs waiting lOT me-luat
l should surely see them again.
Five months afterwards, | approached home az
ter an absence of nearly two years and a half. 1t
was Christmas Eye-a clear, sharp winter night.
The bare earth was hard frozen; the sun was down,
the quarter moon shone over head, aud the keen
nor'west wind blew in my face. l had known no
winter for three years, and the bracing stimulus Of
the cold was almost as novel as it was refreshing.
Presently | recognized the boundaries of my prop
erty-yes, | actually possessed o portion Of the
earth's surface! After all, | thought, possession
at least so far as Nature is concerned means sim
ply protection. This moon-lit wilderness is not
more beautiful to my eyes than it was before; but
| have the right, secured by legal documents, to
preserve its beauty. l need not implore the wood
man to spare those trees; I'll spare them myself
This is the only difference in my relation to the
property. So long as any portion of the land
scape, which plcases me, is not disturbed, l pos
t sess it quito as much as this.
D During these reflections, l had reached th,
ridge. A giant tulip tree, the honey Of who's
j blossoms l had many a time p%ilfered, in boyhood
{ crowned the slope, dropping its long bOughs as
weary Of stretching them in welcome. Behind
Z stood the oaks, side by side, far along tho road
As | reached the FIRST tree, the wind, which ha
fallen, gradually sweled, h~umming through tn
s. bare branches until a deep organ-bass filed tn
wood. 1t was a hoarse, yet grateful chorus
m Observation-Disclosures, yet ineligible. I'VE
u come, welcome home !" went booming through III
y. trees, welcome our master and our preserver
re See, with all the voice We can catch from tn
al winds, we utter our Joy! For now there is q
oil end to lear and suspense: he who knows US an
he loves us spreads over US the shoIier of his car
nd long shall We flourish Oh the hills; long shall OF
ed leaves expand in the upper air; long shall OF
to grateful shadows cover bis path. We shall la
y; his coming from alar; our topmost boughs will So
At; him across the valleys, and whistle it TO the FIR
Id ternnl woods. We are old; we never change; v
en- shall never cease to remember and 10 welcome 0,
nd master !"
He So the trees were first to recognize me. Iiste
ar ing to theif deep, resonant voices, (which l won
~, not have exchanged for the day rattle of q hu
II bred league long forest Of tropical palms.) l W
he conscious of a new sensation, which nothing b
OF the actual sight of my own property could ha
suggested. | felt like a tired swimmer when
first touches ground; like a rudderless ship, drl
ID, ing at the will Of the storm, when her bes. bow
10 takes firm hold; like t. winged seed, when, aft
OIL floating from bush to bush, and from field to fel
il drops at last upon a handful Of mellow so
Vn and strikes root. My life had now q point d'appl
and, standing upon these acres of real estate,
seemed an easier thing to move the word. A m
be lion in bank or railway bonds could not have give
10, me the Same positive, tangible sense Of property
ny When l walked over my fields Eyes actually n
ID. fields } the next day, this sensation returned
lot an almost ridiculous excess. "You will of cour
ito cut down that ug.y old tree" said some one.
,ht impressed me very much rs if ! had been tlt
Of That chapter in your book is inferior to the OF
he ers-tear it out I" or Your little finger is croo
ed, have it amputated!' Why, even The sed.
my grass and sumac-how beautiful they were! Cou
| ever make up my mind to destroy them ? !