The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1866-03-15
"Going Home to Die. .

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former years, who like thousands OF 9TH
ers, had in the noon of manhood severed
all the ties which bound him to his child
hoods home, and sought a stranger land
with view. of collecting more rapidly
the goods of this world. When we par
ted with him first, he was robust in health,
buoyant in spiEits,end flushed in the hope
of future gair. When we parted with
him last, his health, his hopes, his energy
had all left him. Many thousands of the
sordid dust Of earth, had rewarded his
exertions and tolls in his adopted home; !;
but he was agoing home to die r
All of that mans worldly schemes,
have been more than fully realized. For
him the tickle wheel of Fortune knew no
reverse of action, For many prosperous
years, all the endearing scenes OF his
childhood were but as dim and shadowy
"reminiscences Of the past; less palpable
even than the unsubstantial fabric OF a
dream. But when the Life-sands in the
glass of Time, werelnearly run, we found
him vending his dreary, cheerless, joy
less way to the homes Of his fathers,
with no sentence upon his lips, which
seemed to be the offspring OF his heart,
save II am going home to die-%
"Going home to die :" What sad,
what a mournful, what a melancholy
commentary, is contained in that one
simple sentence How much like the
tapping of the sepulchural finger of Time,
upon the cofin-lid of buried memories,
does that sentence sound as it falls from
the pallid lips of the halfdead man! What
volumes does it speak in condemnation of
the vanlties, wishes, desires and ambition
of the world
When health ind youthful vigor ushers
in the dawn of.manhoed, with what ease
and mental complacency, do we sever
every tie of affection and sink into seem
ing oblivion all the treasured scenes OF
early lite! 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 path otlife, Graves no earth
ly boon, save the melancholy privilege Of
" qoi,.g home to die." Then for the first
time, to the weary wanderer, who soon
must lay his CALLED back upon his mother
earth, in. dreamless repose, does the hum
BILE cottage in which he had his birth,
stand out in bold relief on memory's tab
let; while in fancy's ear, he hears again,
the voice otaffection on mothers tongue,
mingled with the boisterous mirth of guilt
less sister. Then for the first time, in
Fancy's eye, does he chase again the
painted Butterfly across the cloyer-blooms
of we'll known field, regaled by the song
birds varied notes as they ring through
the air of his woodland home! Then for
the first time, perchance, does he bow the
aged knee, in humble reverence, and peti-
tion for the poor privilege of "going home
to die !'
Who is there who does not wish to die
"among his kindred?" Who is there
that does not think that, when Life's fit
ful dream is over, that his mouldering
names cannot better repose beneath the
same sod which presses on the coffin lid
of sainted mother or minglesits clay with
the bones of vencrated father? Who
is there among us, when bereft of every
earthly prospect, hope and joy, wouldnot
like our dying friend, consider italenicnt
as well as a heart-cheering dispensation
of Providence, to be able to say with him
"Tm going home to die"
For this privilege and prospect, all
the world is .strenuously laboring! We
see around us daily hundreds who are
"going home to die" Some are slow and
tardy in their movements; othors there
are, whorush with anervousrapidity to the
destined goal. But all are "going home to
die Y Many, it is true who will not be
favored with the privilege of mingling
their dust with the loved ones of other
days. Many, it is true will not find a
grave in the cemetery of the homestead,
but not one of the vast multitude, who
will not find sooner or later, like our dis
ease-stricken friend, that thoy have been
laboring forycars for the eisolated privilege
of being finally able to say with him ::
'"I'M GOING HOME TO DEP
[Culpcper (Va.) Observer.
z "A riewsnaner corresnondent descri