The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1862-07-09
Selected Story.
THE EXILE'S RETURN.
nv W. o. EATON.

voluntary absence from home, however drear
and distant has its gloom, hut is consoled by the
thought that there is left the power to return at
will. But those upon whom bahshment Is fore
ed, whether by their own misdeeds or the ty-
ranny OF Others, must lead wretcbed life in
deed. even If guilt has hardened their hearts or
home and country contain no remaining friends.
They may proudly say, when banished,
Friendship lives hence, and banshment is here:'
yet they bear with them the cherished memo
ries of the soil where they we're born, and of the
places long familiar; and feel, even if they con-
ceal the bitterness of a desolate grief.
How plaintively is such bete ,vement describ,
ed by Byron, in "Tbe Two Foscari" -. he him
self having ielt the pangs which he gives voice
To-
"--Ah you never yet
Were far away from Venice, never saw
Her beautiful towers in the reccdng distance,
While every furrow of the vessels track
Seemed blowing deep into your heart You never
Saw day go down upon your native spires,
So calmly with its gold and crimson glory,
And after dreaming disturbed vision
OF them and theirs awoke, and found them not
sldell, with souls reeking with treason to their
country and its liberties, much as they may
thank their stars for giving them an asylrm a.
broad, safe from the wrath of their redeemed
but outraged land, must feel, and have cause TO
feel and deplore their exile, even more than
Benedict Arnold did,
But who can pity themg They aided in the
massacre of thousands of their countrymen,
and in the expulsion Of thousands more OF in
nocent and helpless fngitives from their homes :;
and 1t will be just that they should live for
many years more, long after the restoration OF
the Union TO peace, prosperity, and glory, gaz-
ing from their far asylums upon the national
greatness which will be reproach TO them, and
to share in which they are debarred foreser
Full in the sight of Paradise
Behoding heaven, but feeling hell !"
Among the many victims of the civil frerzy
which prevailed for so long in the South, and
which put to deaths OF cruelty end shame mum.
hers of whom the world has yet to hear the true
taIes, while it forced others to hy to forests,
swamps, and mountains, braving sickness and
famine, and abuse, death, or Imprisonment il
captured as innocent sufferers from persecution
and hardships as severe as any ever borne by
religioni'ts, in any age or cline; Warren Palm
er, Southern Uuonist, was one who succeeded
in escaping to the North, where he long waited
in anxious exile ; still yearDing for home aud old
friends stripped of all, and wondering vainly
where and how they were till, finally, when the
loyal reaction took place, he was enabled to
hasten back to his regenerated home where, BY
virtue of his having been prominent sufferer,
he became very influential, and dreaded by the
assembling traitors, who trembled at the thought
OF the retaliation they so richly deserved.
Much as Palmer had learned to hate and alb,
hor such cruel .wretches, who never spared
while their power lasted and vindictive as he,
in common with hundreds of other returned ex-
lies, felt toward their now powerless prosecutors
who were partially shielded by the establishment
of a military goverhorship on behalf OF the Un-
ion, he could not suppress feeling of contempt
uous merriment. as he met the covering villains
from day to day in the streets, noticed how they
hung Their heads in mingled shame aud fear, and
heard them offer their apologies for Whatever
they had done. They dreaded treatment in kind,
and hssened 10 wash their guilty ha.ds as best
they might with looks ludicrously altered in their
mildness, and lies as absurd as their inismy Was
well known.
Palmer almost pitsd them for the deeper deg.
radiation into which such conduct plunged their
cruel, criuging, craven spirits and at times as
sumed a feeling of lenily, aud a forgetfulness OF
their past atrocities, being curious to hear their
various modes OF extenuation Tor what they hA
done against him aud so many others, in the un-
forgotten days.
Their beAring-he now having great irfaence
with the masses encouraged them in, and they
were now strenuous in appeals for his favor in
their behalf should popular wrath, as they fear
ed, receive some sudden impulse against them,
They came TO him by night, lhey took hin
privately aside by day and, praying his protec
ton, besought his advice as to what they
should do to be saved " to 20 unpuuished; tC
become believed, and prosperous once more.
"fou know always liked you, Palmer"
81 wasnt rebel a week before was sorry.
81 was forced Into the movement, Palmer"
~ always meant 10 be loyal, and did what
did through fear of my lie"
And always piIitd the Union folks"
" took a wroGg view Of things then but
meant righr, Palmer. did, really"
"Wben helped drive royal people out of th
place, did so TO save ,h,ir lives - swear u
you, Palmer; aud wanted to go myself, bu
eoudut get a chance"
The rebels Kept me dtunk hall the time, Palm
mer; and d'dnl rightly know what did my
self l'l be dog,rsmmed il | did, .
~ hope you1l have Cnristian spirit an
forget aud forgive, Palmer. You know We ar
al friends, now. All good Union men, nov"
mos, dont be harsh, Palmer and pleas
done let Others be harsh with US. f you please
"Fd help Jeif Davis to halter as quick a
any other mAn. if eou'd catch him, dOd rO
hiHa, and old Barigard, tool