Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1862-10-16
A Picture Of Home.
BY TIMOTHY TITCoMB.

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in the journey of life, and its memory
floats back over me with a shower Of
emotions and thought. towards whose
precious fall my heart opens itself greed
lily like thirsty flower. 1t is home
among the mountains, humble and home
ly, but priceless in it, associations. The
waterfall again sings in my ears, as it
used to through those dreamy, mystic
rious nights. The rose at the gate, the
path of tansy under tho window, the
ncighboring orchard, the old elm, the
grand machinery of storms and showers,
the little smithy under the hill that famed
with strange light through the dull win
ter evenings, the wood pile at the door,
the ghostly birches on the hill, and the
dim, blue haze on the retiring mountains,
all these co me back to me with an appeal
that touches my heart and moistens my
eyes. l sit again in the doorway at sum-
mer mig htfall, looking off upon the dark
ening landscape, and listening to the
shouts of boys on the hillside calling or
driving home the reluctant herds. ]
watck again the devious ways of tho
nighthawk along the twilight sky, and
listen to his measured note, and the
breezy boom that accompanies hi, head
long plunge towards the earth.
Even the old barn, crazy in evory tim
be- and gaping at every joint, has charms
for me- try again the breathless leap
from tho great beams in the hay. / sit
again on the threshold of the widely opsr
doors, open to the soft south wind o.
spring. and watch the cattle as they sun
themselves and peacefully ruminate.
while drop by drop the melting snow on
the roof drills holes through the wasting
drifts beneath the caves. The first little
lambs of the season tottls by the side of
their dams and utter their feeble blsat-
ings, while tie fock nibble at tho hay
rick, or a pair of rival weathers try the
strength of their skulls in an encounter,
half in earnest and hall in play. Tho
old proud rooster crows upon tho dung
hill throne, and some delighted nsmbei
of his silly family leaves her nest and
tells 10 her mates and 10 me that there
is ono more egg in the world. The old
horse whinnies in his stall and calls to
me for food. look up to tho roof and
think ef last years swallows soon to re-
turn again, sad catch q glimpse Of an
gular sky through the diamond shaped
opening that gave them ingrcrs and
egress. How, I know not and care not
but that old barn is part Of myself, il
has entered into lay lie and given me
growth and hoalth.
But look into the house again where
the life abides, which has appropriated
these things, and find among them it,
home. The hour Of evening has come
the lamps are lighted, and the good man
in middle life (though very old he seems
to me) takes down the bible ard reads c
chapter from its hallowed pages. 4 swos
W oman sits at his side with my sleepy
head upon her knees, and brothers aat
sisters are grouped raverently arount
me. l do not understand the words. bu
have been told they are the words o
God, snd | believe it. The chapter and
Gnd we all kneel down, and the goo(
man prayS. fall asleep with my heai
in the chair, and tho next morning I re
member nothing how / vent to bed. Af
ter breakfast the bibl, is taken down
and the good man prays again, end agai:
is the worship repeated through al 81
days CT many golden years. Ths pleas
ant converse Of tho freside, the .:mp!
songs Of home, the words of encourage
ment, as 1 bend over my school task, tn
kiss as lay down TO rest, ths pa,ian
bearing with the freaks Of my restl0s
nature, the gentle counsela mingled will
reproofs and approval, tho sympathy tina
meets and assuages every sorrow an,
sweetens every little successful thes'
return to me amidst the responsibilities
which press upon me now. and I feel a
if had once lived in heavon and stray
ing had lest my way.
Well, the good man grew old and weary
and fell asleep at last with blessings OF
his lips for mo. Some Of those who called
him father lie side by side in the sam,
calm sleep. The others are scattered
and dwell in new homes, and the ole
house and orchard have passed into th,
hands of strangers, who have learned o.
are learning to look upon them as l d.
now. Lost, ruined, forever left behind
that homo is mine to-day as truly as evel
- ,ros for hsya Dot hrouobt - ouax