Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1862-04-21
Home-Its Entertainments.
BY REV. II. CHRlsrOPnERsON.


In this broad earth. flied with diversity,
it is not to be wondered at that there are
places more congenial to our tastes than
others. The antiquarian loves the moss
covered ruins and the spots that have felt
not tootstep for centuries aud as he passes
pillar after pillar of the once admirable
mansion, he notices every crevice and cor
ner-deciphers every inscription with the
delight that rlvets him to the spot. Tue
geologist loves the walks along lodges OF
rocks, and delights to excavate the cliffs,
and seems naturally drawn to scenes of
romantic character The inhabitant ofthe
ocean loves rather theangry wave than the
quiet r1tFeat of some city suburb and the
| bearer ef srms-4ss Eipesed by taste tethe
citadel, and is only proud when standing
beneath the waving banner of his country
But while taste leads men to different
spheres IL life, and they seem to engage in
spheres as though they were born for them,
yet The attachment which they bear toward
the sphere of their choice does not hide
their thoughts of the past, nor prevent
memory frgm feasting upon.the days Of
gore. The place in which reason first
drawned upon US can not be forgotten.
There was not feature Of beauty that at
tracted our Youthful attention which the
mind does not yet retain its outlines.
Tue scenery painted around the home of
our youth and childhood is yet reflected by
memory upon our mind, and imagination
draws US back over years and presents US
with the picture as it was once presented
the same objects moviDg-the same 9ow-
ers growing -,thesame birds hopping about
that old garden-the same walks in which
unconsclously ly We strayed away from home
to cause anxiety in the circle behind u.s.
We almost yet behold tile same pleasing
counteuances, and hear yet the echo Of
those familiar voices as they spoke in kind
ness or reproof. We can not forget the
steady progress that our minds made as les !.
son after lesson was presented to us hy tire
ever to-be -revered head Of that once com
pact family circle. The memory of those
lessons IS vet dear, and We can now fod
how almost imperceptibly those lessons
invlgorated orr youthful minds as they
were slowed away by US. Aud do they
not yet yield their Influence Nota the
chlld-iike expressions of tuition were meant
for youth. They sometimes bend the ma
tured mind
Home Is dear to Us, however we NAV he.
come enamored by the scenery of after life
1t is dear from the fact tnat there frs: oui
tiny frame was defended from the ills ot
this un'riendly world. There our nature
was nourished, aud Ia the warm bosom o
mother. tie dearest being on earth, We
were caressed when our little trouble:
brought the tear There were We led By
: the healing cordial, when the unwholesomt
breath Of nature, Ilnpregna'ed with disease
J, struck our little yitals. It was there ou
: little tongues were taught to utter letter
: and words, aud wind around the still fanli
u liar words Of infant prayer
e Now lay me down to sleep:
4 pray the Lord my soul to keep, etc.
d And as our minds could hear il, the know
edge Of things 10 general was there upar
@ te. What would we be now were t nL
1T for the lessons Of that home? While "
i succeeded IN lie, and our usefulness an
ID energy IN notle causes calls forth The a,
as mirauon OF our friends. are We as iucline
rs as We onght, TO at,ritnte our success.
OF much Of it. 10 the lessons learned when Il
cd little mind was scarcely strong enough
= bear them Seed sas sown whose shoe
on did not break the soil perhaps till the SO