Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1865-01-26
Coming and Going.

Sunshine and shadow come and go al
ternately, or with mingled infuence
checker the scenes of life. The first
coming of a child into the household Is
more than the advent of an angel. A
divine messenger might more surprise US,
might play upon our wonder and fear, or
give food for reflection by his message.
But child comes from as mysterious
and strange a land as the unknown sky.
Every day the little thing fills us with
questions and wonders of thought. One
child is a whole population. What is it?
What will it become! How shall we rear
it? What it is doing to US and within usI
These thoughts come and go, in light and
shadow, in hope and fear, in gladness or
sorrow, with footballs as numerous as if q
whole host, and not one little babe, were
the subject of them. But of the coming
Of these little ones, poets aud parents
have written abundantly
What about their going? When they
20 out to return no more we believe that
the door of the Fathers house was open
ed, and they are safely at home. We
weep But it is not that they are going,
but that we are left. We weep, not be-
cause they are inside of the gate, but
because we are outside and the door is
shut.
But there are other goings beside these
upward and heavenly ones. Children
grow up. Nothing on earth grows SO fast
rs children. 1t was but yesterday, and
that lad was playing with tops, buoy
ant boy. lie is man and gone nOwl
His foot is in the field, his hand upon
the sword. There is no more childhood
for him or for us Life has claimed him.
When a beginning is made, it is like raw
cling stocking, stitch by stitch gives way
till all are gone. The house has not child
III it. There is no more noise in the
hAll-boys rushing in pellmell; it is ve-
~ orderly now. There are no more
skates or sleds, bats, balls or strings, left
scattered about. Things are neat enough
now.
There is no delay of breakfast for sleepy
folks; there is no longer any task before
you lie down, of looking after anybody,
and tucking up the bed>clothes. There
are no disputes to settle. nobody to get
off to school, no complaints, no impOrtu>
mites for impossible things, no rips to
mend, no fingers to tie up no faces to be
washed, or collars to be arranged! II
would sound like music to have some
feet claJter down the front stairs! Oh
for some children's noise.
What used TO all us that we were hush
ing their loud laugh, checking their noisy
frolic. and reproving their slamming anG
banging the doOrsl We wish our neigh.
bor5 would lend us an urchin or two t
make a little noise in these premises.
home without children! 1t is like Ian
tern and no candle; garden and NJ
flowers; n vine and no grapes, brook
and no water gurgling and rushing in it
channel! We want to be tried, to b.
vcxed, to be run over, to hear child-lifj
mt work with all its varieties,
During the secular days, this il
enough marked. But it is Sunday tina
puts homes to the proof That is tn,
Christian family day. The intervals 0
public worship are long spaces of peace
The family seem made up on that day
The children are ut home. You can LAY
your hand on their heads. They seem t
recognize the greater and lesser love-tr
God and to friends. The house is peace
full but not still There is low melodi
GUS trill of children in it. But Sunda,
comes too still now. There is q silenc
that aches in the ear. There is too muol
room at the table, too much at the hearth
The bedrooms are a world too orderly
There is too much leisure and too it'll
care.
Alas what mean these things7 L
somebody growing old7 Are these sign
and tokens Is life Waniug2
All summer long the great, full breasted
tree has covered his branches with nun
berless leaves, and whirled them in tn,
wind Tor music, aud covered the little bid.
from sight that sung aud builded within
Il was green, and strong. and musical A
length single leaf hangs ia the tree with
brilliant color. You look at it aud Sigh
Il, is the first have seen this summer
there will now be more such" To-mor.
row it falls. Others ripeu aud follow. Ess
long the tree grows thin. Every wind Lifts
many OF them, and hands them down to The
ground. Every day there is less SQUAD il
the tEee-every day more OF rushing
leaves along the fences. At length, after
rain and windy bufeting, the Tree holds
out its barren arms, aud there are nowhere
leaves upon them. Visit, o tresl There
are buds and leaves yet Oaly between
thee aud them is sleep, burial, resurrec.
ton. Winter is come, bat so also is Spring
COmiug.-H " Bgyrfsr