The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-02-12
" The Old Homestead"

granJparents who has many dear and sacred
memories of his own household--all, with
thrilipgs of joy unkindlcd by other recollec,
tons, 60 back eagerly to the sweet and
quiet spot" which in their happlest years,
thew reioiced to call Home" Who, Indeed
can tell of joys that have ecIipsed the memo
ry of that past, the fair spot on this earthly
desert? We have met lile-met that stern
reality, so beautiful in youthful fancy, and
perhaps can count trophies of prosperity as
brilliant as existed in Imagination. But
shadows are ever fitting through both cot.
tage and palace, teaching us that the heart is
not fashioned from gold, and scorns mere ex:
ternal station in the pursuit OF its hopes and
aspirations. This success, the watchword OF
our early years. is no. quite what we had an
ticipated. Toll and anxiety, furrowed brow,
and whitened locks-for what! Frelghted
with those years of childhood when there was
Joy, laughter and caresses, around the tlreslde
of home, and how do honor, and riches, and
all that men strive so eagerly to attain be-
come dim and valueless
Imagine for a moment the man absorbed IN
business, to whom the accumulation OF wealth
has become very necessity. He is prosper
GUS. In many channel the golden tide
flowing towards him. He has a wife, and chill
dren, and d stately residence. He loves
them, but far different arc the images that
come throngiog around hin, when he shuts
his eyes for u moment on the sad, weary
routine of his pursuits. He is out, then, in
the JOYOUS sunshine. The blocks Of brick
and granite, the sufocating heat, the din and
hustle OF city life, the dreary countinghoueo,
ali have faded away and he bcholds the pleas
ant fields, listens to the song Of birds, and
inhales joy and health from the free, pure air
Of heaven. lie is nearing the brown cottage
by the road side, where the tall Gins almost
intersect, and the high well-swoep sustains the
1" iron.boun1 bucket" swinging cheerly be-
meath it. Pleasant sounds from the window
Aoat out upon the summer air, and merry
shouts that make his heart bound in gleeIul
anticipation. greet his car from the adjoining
orchard; He will go liz first, because THAT
voice ever becomes sweeter and swccter as he
approaches it. He lifts the latch softly, and
after one quick step across the threshold, he
stands in the presence of his mother. What
world Of love he beholds in that glance,
that smile! He envies baby Willie his
peaceful sleep upon her breast he envies
him that soothing song But bark the
voices in the orchard Hc is out under the
shadow of the elms again. There is " grand.
father" coming slowly from the bayfield,
How strange that Old age is In the world =
He will never be old-not he He will laugh
and play in these green fields, year after yea,
with father aud mother, brothers and sisters
Eighty years! how absurd to think that he
will ever bend beneath their weight! that his
smooth brow will be bare and wrinklcd -
All there is Billy Jones, his old competitor
in the school-housc, and on the playground
passing feety by brother Ben, in that race
He will take some Of the laurels from master
Billy, very quickly. There, too, is pretty
Susy Ray, with his sisters, winding the long
strawberry vines around her head, and look.
Ing welcome from her soft, violet eyes Just
as she did last winter, when he called to draw
her to school on his sled. He will make room
for Susy in their cottage. She is all orphan
and cannot be quite happy in her uncle's lone
ly house, and he will be so happy to have hel
always with him. The supper-horn. so soon
They have not half finished that game Of
hide and SEEK" behind tho piles Of hay, bu
they are very hungry, and mothers fresh
bread and crimson berries are so delicious =
There is grandfather, telling Billy Jones and
little Susy Ray that he was once young, like
them, and that they may be old like him.
Susy Ray with wrinklcd face Billy, and
Ben and George, and Jane, and Willie, and
himself, with dim eyes, and trembling steps
Never, never!
Such are th> dreams that come with light
ming speed before him, when he forgets, for q
little season, the tolls and anxieties of the lif
be has chosen. They vanish as quickly, anc
many painful heart.throb succeeds their de-
parture. Where now is the old homestead
There are seven graves under the elms, but ne
cottage. The very hearth.sone across which
his infant feet passed, has crumbled to dust
Susy Kay never lighened his dwelling. Ba
by Willie is an ouicast and u wanderer; ant
billy, and Ben, and himself, arc becomip.
old, and bald, and wrinkled.
READER, arc you visited by dreams of
home OF which time and death have robbie,
you! You may see again its inmates, Vol
may catch the melody OF their voices. but no
here. age Las crumblcd those walls, an
they will never again be reared But thor
is Home 10 which thousand years are onl
as brief day. Dream on and NAV ~,