The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1871-08-30
SeIsft 2uetrn.
AT THE OLD HOME.
BY wM. HUBBARD.

-
tbis-how many years ago?
l Let me see: John now is twelve year
t old, and was then but two, 1 know
!: We had loaded the wagon the day be
fore, a wagon staunch and new, =
And away we hied on that Autumn
morn, while the grass was wet with
dew.
The yellow dust was damp and still OF
the smooth and quiet road,
And gaily the bay and sorrel team
moved on with our household load
The leaves were tinted with yellow and
gold, and colors of myriad sheen,
And the meadows had lost in the ear.
1y frost their tinge of Summer green.
I mind me we'll how the shocks of corn
stood in the fields by the way
How the yellow pumpkins, like mug
gets of gold, in the open furrows lay,
How the luscious apples hung ripe and
red as we passed the orchards by,
Where the children played in the pleas
ant shade, all under the misty sky.
| p,
where land could be cheapIy bought;
The homestead farm wasn't large
enough for both the boys we tho't-
But, if it were to do again, peradven-
ture we would stay,
For we often sighed in the Illinoy for
the dear home far away.
The land was cheap, and the yield was
great, and we have enough to divide
Between the boys, and leave the girl
handsome thing beside;
But, one or another, we never were
well that is, l mean to say,
| n OF quite so well as we used 10 be in
the home whence we moved away.
We lived five years III the Illinoy be
fore the sickly fall
Ah !! that you may very well believe
was a trying time for US all
All, all were down, my companion
died, and never got over the blow;
Though Jane was grown, and took
care OF things right we'll as all of us
know.
And Ephriam now looks after the farm;
of boys he is one of the best;
He said to me: 'Father, you're grow
ing old-it is time you had some
So take little John, and go back once
more to look at the dear old home
You can 60 by the cars, not the toll
some way by which we had to come"
Who is that yonder? He looks to me
very much like Jason Black;
But Jason, I'm sure, walked very
straight, while this man crooks in
the back;
And Jason's hair w ore the ravens hue,
while this mans hair is white
Ah, me! l forget what Time may do
in ten years of his fight.
"God bless you, friend Come sit you
down, and tell what / would know
Of neighbors we'll remembered still,
whom know long ago;
Pm back to the dear old stamping
ground, and brought little John, my
boy, =
Leaving Ephram and Jane to care for
things at our home in the Illinoy."
And Jason said, and signing said :
cold friend lis sad to tell
Of the folks who were here ten years
ago, and whom you know so well.
But few are left, for scores are dead,
and many have moved away,
And the few you meet you will hardly |
know, so changed are they to-day. !
"You mind the man who bought your |
b place stout young fellow was he,
But he died of fever the second year,
leaving wife and children three.
And they managed bad, and the sher-
iff sold the homestead out for debt,
And where they went It's so long ago |
if ever knew forget.
"Your neig ghbor Gates, across the
creek, for long time he lay low,
And died at last-let's see, l think it
isjust six years ago;
And Jonah Gates, his oldest son, I
s'pose you have heer'n tell,
Gave up 10 drink, and playing cards,
and isn't doing we'll.
cannot blame them all, of course, but
score of our young men
Were lured away to fields of blood,
and never came back again;
Some gave up theirlives at Gettysburg.
some on the march to the sea,
And widows and orphan children left
are sorry sights to see
You well remember, Willie Grey, ;
so handsome, kind and true,
For his dead father, your best friend, {
had named his boy for YOU /
They stole him away as paymaster's
clerk, poor boy, and now he sleeps,
Where Mississippi's turbid tide in rest
less surges sweeps"
Enough. enough, more than enough, 6
/ very plainly see
The old home has no comfort left that t
it can offer me, I
10 I'll pack my things; and to morrow
morn, with little John, my boy, c
II 60 back again to Ephraim and c
Jane and the home in the 1llinoy." q