Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-01-16
HOME, SWEET HONE.
s,IIome. thy joys are passing lovely
joys no strangers heart can tell 20

Joys NO strangers heErt can tell 20
What charm rests upon the endearing
namc-my home -consecrated by domes-
tic love, that golden key of human happiness.
Without this, home would be like temple
stripped of its garlands; there father well
comes Yith fond. affection; brothers kind
sympathies and comfort in the hour of dis
treSs, and assist ut ever trial; there piOus
mother first taught the infant lips to lisp the
name, of Jesus, and there a loved sister
dwells in the companion of early days.
Truly, if there is aught that is lovely here
below, it is homc--swect home 1t is ike
the oasis of the desert. The passing of our
days may be painful ourpath may be check
cred by sorrow and care; unkindness and
frowns may wither the joyousness of tho
heart, etface tho happy smiles from the brow,
and bedcw life's way with tears, yet, when
memory hovers over the past, there is no
place in which it so delights to linger, as tho
loved scene of childhOOds home. 1t is tho
polar star of existence. What cheers tho
mariner, Ear array from his native land in
foreign port or tossed upon the bounding bill
lows, as he PAGES the deck at midnight alono
what thoughts fill his breast! He is
thinking of the loved ones far away at his
own happy cottage. In his minds eye he
sees the smiling group seated around tho
them uniting their voices in singing the
sweet songs which he loves. He is autici-
patng the hour when he shall return to. his
native land, to greet those absent ones dear
to his heart.
Why rests the deep shade Of fsadncss upon
the strangers brow, as he seats himself amid
the family circle He is surrounded by all
the luxuries that wealth can afford happy
faces gather around him aud strive in vain to
win smile? All he is thinking of his
own sweet home: of the loved ones assembled
in his own cheerful cot.
Why those tears that steal down tho
checks of that young and lovely girl, as shc
mingles in the family circle? Ah she is
an orphan; she, too, had happy hone; its
loved ones arc sleeping in the cold and silent
tomb. The gentle mother who watched over
her infancy, and hushcd her to sleep with "a
lullaby which n mother only can sing-who
in girlhood's days taught her of the Saviour,
and tuned her youthful voice to sing praises
to His name, has gone to the mansions of joy
above, and is minglng her songs and tuning
her golden harp with bright angels in heaven.
Poor one she is now left to thfcad tho
weary path Of life lonely, homeless wan
derer. !,
Thus it is in this changing world Tho
objects most dear are snatchcd AWAY. We
are deprived OF the friends whom we most
love, and our cherished home is rendered des-
olate. " Passing away" is engraved on all
things earthly. But there is home that
knows no change, where separation never
takes place,-where the sorrowing ones of
this world may obtain relief for all their
gricfs, and where the sghs and tears ofcartk
are unchanged for unending songs Of joy
This home is found in heaven.
In the shadowy past there is ono
sweet reminisccncc which the storms Of life
can never withcr; it is the recollection of
home. In the Nisioned future there is one
bright star, whose lustrc never fades it is tho
hope Of homc-of heavenly home.