Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1866-05-23
GOING HOME TO DIE"

We met, a few days since, II friend
Of former years, who like thousands
of others, had in the noon of manhood
severed all the ties which bound him
to his chidhood's nome, and sought a
strange land with view of collecting
more rapidly the goods Of this world.
When we parted with him first, he was
robust in health, buoyantin spirit,and
flushed in the hope of future gain.
When we parted with mm last, his
health, his hopes, his energy had all
left him. Many thousand of the sor-
ldid dnsi OF eartF iiad rewarded his
exertions and tolls in his adopted home;
but he was "going home to diew
All of that mans worldly schemes
have been more than fully realized
For him tho tickle wheel of Fortune
knew no reverse Of action. For many
prosperous years, all endearing scenes
of his childhood were but MS dim and
shadowy "reminiscences of the past;
less palpable even than the unsubstan-
tial fabric cfa dream. But when the
Lifc-sands in lire glass Of Time were
nearly run, we found him vending bis
idreary, cherries, joyless way to the
homes Of his fathers, with no sentence
upon his lips, which seemed to be the
offsprings Of his heart, save "I am 90
ing home to djef"
"Going home to diew What sad,
what mournful, what melancholy
commentary, is contained in that one
simple sentenced How much like the
tapping Of the sepulchural finger of
Time, upon the cofin-lid Of buried
memories, docs that sentence sound
as it falls from the paid lips Of the
/ hall-dead man, What volumes does
it speak in condemnation of the vani-
ties, wishes, desires and ambition of
the world
When health and youthful vigor
ushers an the dawn of manhood, with
what ease and mental compiacency,
do we sever every tie of affection and
sink into seeming oblivion all the
treasured sceEes Of early life But
when age, the grave chronicler of the
would-be forgotten past, traces with
its iron pen, the furrowed lines upon
the troubled brow, the weary pilgrim
on the pain Jf life, Graves Hv earthly
boon, save the melancholy privilege
of "goiRs home to die" Then for the
first time, to the weary wanderer, who
soon must lay his CALLED back upon
bis mother earth, in dreamless repose,
does the humble cottage in which he
had his birth, stand out in bold relief
on memory's tablet; while in fancy's
car, hears again, the voice of affection
on mothers tongue, mingled with
the boisterous mirth of a guileless sis
ter. Then for the first time, in Fan
cy's eye, does he chaseagain the paint
ed Butterfly across the clover-blooms
of the well known field, regaled by
the song-bird's varied notes as they
ring through the air of his woodland
home Then for the first time, per-
chance, does he bow the aged knee,
in humble reverence, aud petition for
the poor privilege of"goiag home 10 del
! Who is there who does not wish to
die "among his kindred 2" Who is
there that does not think that, when
Lifc's fitful dream is over, that his
Wondering names cannot better re-
pose beneath the same sod which
4 presses on the coffin lid Of his sainted
! mother or mingles its clay with the
bones Of a venerated father9 Who is
there among us, when bereft Of every
earthly prospect, hope and Joy, would
not, like our dying friend, consider it
Il lenient as we'll as a heart-cheering
dispcnsation of Providence, TO be able
to say with him "ldm going hometo diei
For this privilege and prospect all
the world is strenuously laboring
We see around us daily, hundreds
who are "going home to ne :" Some
are slowand tardy in theirmovements;
! others there are, who rush with a
nervous rapidity to the destined goal.
But all are "going home to die !"
Many, it is true who will not be fa-
, vored with tho privilege Of mingling
their dust with the loved ones of 9TH
er days Many, it is true, who viii
not find a grave in the ccmctry of the
homestead, but not one OF the vast
multitude, who win not find sooner or
later, like our disease-striclIen friend,
that they have been laboring for
years for the isolated privilege of be-
ing finally able TO say with Kim "I'M
GOING HOME TO DIE.-CNlpepper { Va)
Observer.
CoLoRADo.-The aggregate votes in
, Colorado wcro In favor of being con-
stituted State, 3,025 against, 2,S70;
2 majority for. 155 For nerro suffraoe