Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1864-03-18
VOL XIV.
Be matter ras settled for tbe preseut.

Nellie, will Will and you sing those SOD
again for US? They are so pretty, and wal
the children to learn them perfectly befol
you CO." Quite choir they made as th'
stood around Robert and with glad, unite
voices sang the songs we loved 50 much
Nellie has fine voice, and sings beautiful
When they had sung the pieces We spoke c
Nellie sang alone in her rich. clear voice:
He came and he smiled upon me
He said I was divine
/ He said that the stars above me
Less bright than my eyes did shine
He said that birds of the meadow
Were silent when I was near
For the spirit and soul OF my m usic
Had caused them all to fear.
he said the flowers in my pathway
! Grew brighter whenever l came
That rose and lily and sunbeam
All loved the sound of my name.
He called me his hope, his treasure
He called me his guiding star;
Life would be lonely without me, -
Could bid him go afar (!
Now when he has gone, I'm lonely
Though why, hardly can tell,
For know that he did not tell me
He loved me truly and well.
He's gone; and I'll try to forget him
Nor think of thei words he said,
know full well he'll repeat them
Unto the next beautiful maid.
I'm glad my soul is not perjured
With many broken vow,
Hearts do not break so easy
And mine is stronger now
Had Nellie motive for wishing to know
more of others experience l would not
question her now. The evening passed pleas
antly by-questions, queries, anecdotes,
games and cOnundrums. Then Robert OPEN
ed the book that lay beside him, and read in
his rich, deep voice that beautiful Psalm be-
ginning Lord, thou hast been our dwell
ing place in all generations . and as we all
reverently kneeled, his earnest tones of praise
and supplication rose like incense from the
alter of the heart. 1t was the last evening of
Nellie's and Wills visit. We bade them
Goodbye" and wished them pleasant and
safe journey the next morning, as we parted
and they rode rapidly away towards the sta
tiou.
have not forgotten the promise l made
Nellie and sitting alone this afternoon in
my room must tell her.
A CHAPTER OF LIFE EXPERIENCE,
Ny Dear Nellie:
My early home comes before me in imagin-
alton tO-day,-ahl so wildly. There is the
weather-beaten house with its broad opened
windows, the tall chimneys, the low porch in
front, and the roses climbing over it,-there
the orchard and here the meadow there the
sloping hill on whose top lies the shadow of
an unknown grave and here the dear old
trees whose shadows have fickered over
many glad group,--many childish FORM
know the scene is changed to-day bat
memory fingers over the past, and clothes
these scenes in the glad, warm robes of sum-
mer. We were an unbroken band, once, that
gathered meath that home roof; parents,
brother and three sisters,-your MOTHER
Nellie,-myself, and a darling little infant
little Estelle. Ny first impressions of my
father were that be was 4 harsh, stern man.
Alas later impressions were much the same
Honest in bis dealings with bis fellow men,
be scorned to rob another of even a farthing
yet in the home circle he allowed the cares
Of life to weigh upon him, and by his sober
and often severe moods, drove away many q
fairy. How many times 1 have
grieved over this almost single source of sad |
ness and trouble to my mother and the chill !
1ren. When l think of the social hours of
family pleasure soured and embittered, of
the half sung songs, finished with sigh,-
and Of childish laughter and merriment hush |
ed,-I cannot help thinking we were robbed, |
of the sweet comfort and happiness
that home can afford. But do not wish |
10 think of my fathers memory with bitter
ness. l know that early training, or rather q
ack of training, gave his disposition that pc
,uliar characteristic And, knowing this as
dos see more than ever the need of uni
orni, kind, generous loving spirit in home.
My mother was little, mild woman, with
;alm, patient look in her clear, blue eye.
She had been beautiful once, the life of social /
circles, full of life aRd gayety, loved by warm
hearted parents, brothers and sisters and,
when she intrusted her happiness to my faith
er's keeping, went with her same glad smile,
A light hearte, and high hopes and anticipa-
ions. Litl by little, under the chilling
blight of that domestic shadow, she lost her
yayety and when she found that neither
smiles nor entreaties nor tears could effect the
ch ahge that she so much desired, settled down
n the conviction that her children must be-
.ome to her more than she could expect Of her
husband that they must be her counsellors,
guides, and companions. | well
remember my brother with his clear, blue eye,
high forehead, and firm set mouth. He re-
Oelled against the rule that held sway in the
household. There had ever been restraint
aid against all his pleasures by my father,
who, forgetting that childhood must have life
and amusement and happiness infused into it
before 1t should give place to sober manhood
and womanhood, expected of him mans
sobriety and strength.
l was in the garden one afternoon playing
with baby Estelle. My brother passed TO the
house whistling careless air, but locking so
pale ard determined that was almost fright
ened. l saw him stand by the door moment,
ook sadly down the road and over the verdant
ields,--and then the door closed behind him.
Ny mother has told me what l could not see.
why Henry, so soon returned from the
ield Is anything the natler?"
I" Business calls me to the village, mother
ather will tell you more when he comes. 1
am in great hurry" He glided up the
stairs to his room, and soon returning, hasten
ed away, saying: Don't worry about me,
nor wait tea for me-"
Mother said she felt presentiment of CON-
ing evil as she saw his retreating form, and
could not suppress the tears that started in
ner eyes. Something seemed to whisper
There is something wrong, poor boy J"
When little Estele and entered the house
we found mother slowly preparing supper