Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1862-09-25
Ghoite Mistellauy.
A PICTURE OF HOME.
BY TIMOTHY TITcOMB.

BY TIMOTHY TITCOMB.
l recall a home long since left behind in
the journey of life, and its memory floats
back over me with shower Of emotions and
thoughts towards whose precious fall my
heart opens itself greedily, like thirsty
flower. 1t is a home among the the Noun
tains-h humble and homely--but priceless in
it associations. The waterfall again sings
inmy ears, as it used to through those dreamy,
mysterious nights. The rose ut the gate,
the path of tansy under the window, the
neighboring orchard, the old elm, the grand
machinery Of storms and showers, the lit
tie smithy under the hill that famed with
strange light through the dull winter even
ings the wood pile at the door, the ghostly
birches on the hill, and the dim blue haze
on the retiring mountains, all these come
back to me with an appeal that touches my
heart and moistens my eyes. | sit again in
the doorway at summer night fall, looking
off upon the darkening landscape, and lis
tening to the shouts Of boys on hill sides call.
ing or driving home the reluctant herds l
watch again the devious ways of the night
hawk along the twilight sky, and listen to
his measured note, and the breezy boom
that accompanies his headlong plunge to-
wards the earth.
Even the old barn, crazy in every timber
and and gaping at every joint, has charms
for me. try again the breathless leap
from the great beams in the hay. sit
again ON the Threshold Of the widely open
doors, open to the soft South wind,of spring,
and watch the cattle, as they sun them
selves, and peacefully ruminate, while drop
by drop the melting snow on the roof drills
holes through the wasting drifts beneath
the caves The first lambs Of the seaso,
tottle by the side oftheir dams, and uttel
their feeble bleetings, while the flock nibble
at the hay-rick, ora pair of rival weather'
try the strength of their skulls in an encoun
ter, half in earnest and half in play. The
old proud rooster crows upon the dung hill
silly family leaves her nest, and tells to hel
egg in the world. The old horse whinniel
in his stall and calls to me for food. IlooI
up to the roof, and think of last years
glimpse Of angular sky through the diamond
Shaped opening that gave them ingress anc
egress. How, know not, and care not
but that old barn is part Of myself, it ha
entered into my life and given me growth
and wealth.
But look into the house again wher
the life abides, which has appropriated thes
things, and find among them its home.-
The hour of evening has come, the lamps ar
lighted, and the good man in middle life
though very old he seems to me- takes dow
the Bible and reads chapter from his hal
lowed pages. a sweet woman sits at hi
T side, with my sleepy head upon her knees
and brothers and sisters are grouped revel
! emily around me. do not understand til
words, but have been told they are tn
words of God, and believe it. The char
ter ends and we all knecl down, and til
good man prays. fall asleep with m
head in the chair, and the next morning
remember nothing how | went to bed. A
ter breakfast the Bible is taken down, on
p the good man prays again, and again is tn
worship repeated through oil the days
g many golden years. The pleasant convor.
Of the flreside, the simple songs of ho,u
the words OF encouragement, as bend ov,
my school task, the kiss as | lay down
n rest, the patient bearing with the freaks
= my restless nature, the geDte counseis mi
gled with reproOfs and approval, The syn
. pathy that meets aud assuages every so
row and sweeteus every little succe5, -.
these return to me amidst the responsible
Z. ties which press upon ne now, and feel
: If l had once lived in heaven and strayil
had lost my way. t.,...l.
D, Well, the good man grew old and wea
Z and fell asleep at last with blessings on /
4 lips for me. Some of those who called hi
father lie side by side in the Same ca
sleep. The Others are scattered and DIV
in new homes, and the old house and
: chard have passed into the hands of stra
b. gers, who have learned, or are learning
look upon them as do now. Lost, RUNE
forever left behind, that home is mine
day, as truly as it ever was, for have | !
brought it away with mo and shown il
you? 1t was the home of my boyhood.
it found my first mental food and by it v
my young soul fashioned. TO me, throu
weary years and many sorrows, it has bee
perennial fountain of delight and purify
y, influences, simply because it was my hon
y and was and is a part Of me. The rose
the gate blooms for me now. The lal
scape comes when summon it, and h
the voices that call'me from lips VIII
: memory makes importai. .-tSpring6eld
publican. ... 7H