The New York herald., 1872-12-01
AT THE OLD HOMESTEAD.


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The Grief Of Mr.. Grcelcy's Country
NeighbOrs-Thc Old Homestead In Its
Gloom and the Village in Mourning
Good Mans Record Mt Home.
There was many heavy heart in Chappaqua
yesterday. The death OF him who had spent SO
many years OF his valuable lifetime among its in
habitants seemed to have come home to every
household with all the poignant anguish Of a
general affliction. Go where you would-from
the little station at the railway, where the nag
hung at hafmast out of respect for the memory Of
the dead, to the stores and shops where little
groups sat with mournful faces and trembling lips
telling how he had made himself
BELOVED BY ALL
by his genial, simple ways and large hearted chari-
ties, and how sadly he would be missed in the
days that are to come-grief was traced on every
cOuntenance. Even the little children, scarce old
enough to know the difference between sorrow
and JOY, appeared to be affected by the
general gloom. They hung about the outskirts
OF the little gatherings here and there, wearing
halfaffrighted look and gazing up into the sad
faces of the men as though they also could under
stand the full meaning Of every word of sympathy
dropped from their fathers lips. And probably they
did, in their innocent way. understand If not every
word uttered, at least enough to know that they
TOO had lost good and loving friend, tor Mr. Gree
icy ever had kindly word for
THE LITTLE ONES
ne met in the village street, every one OF whom he
knew by name and every child loved to greet
him. knowing that the greeting would be
returned with a kindly smile and gentle
patting on the head accompanied by some
word that made the little one feel all the
happier. 'The fact isl said an old farmer to the
writer, he tried TO conceal the tears that would
Greeley was SO much like one OF our own family
30 humble and unpretending in his ways that one
couldn't help taking kindly to him, and he won
his way to every little ones heart by his very
sNile. He loved children and they loved him." If
the gloom was deep in every house in the village,
one felt 1t doubly so as the old homestead ap-
preached. The day was bitterly cold and, as the
writer in sleigh drove rapidly from Pleasant
THE soRRowINa VILLAGE,
yhe wind blew in keen, dtful gusts, whirling the
snow from the hill tops into neecy clouds that at
times made the roadway almost Invisible. There
was not a soul out or doors, and one would
almost have been led to believe that he was
there as he sped along espy face peering from
shop window or through the blinds OF near by
cottage The hills looked bleak and forbdding IN
their white covering, and, as the horses
head was turned toward the open gateway
leading TO the Homestead grounds, the snow
in one unbroken surface. The roadway and the
field lay even together, not the trace Of footstep
the greenery, from out the chimney OF which q
little cloud Of smoke curled up lazily. There were
THE OUTLINES OF HUMAN FEET,
and even these were already half covered BY the
only now and then by the deep signing OF
the wind among the leaness branches OF
ss oppressive in the extreme
made to feel much at home, and where so
many happy hours were spent only few brief
weeks ago by the kindly host and his friends was
silent too, dark and dreary-lookng, with the snow
about, making the dark outline Of the cedars all
reined mp to the door OF the old house
away up on the hillside and no one came, as
tender warm greeting tie desolation OF the
scene came upon one with all its force. And 1t
was the same with the other house nearer the VII
lage,
and not soul to be seen. The driver, evidently
oppressed with the sad thoughts suggested by the
change that had come over the place, the deserted
look that everything wore as contrasted with the
owner was SO fun OF life and kindness for ALL
whipped up the horse, and the sleigh. was soon
near the street again. In gong out Of th the gate
fence and remarked, That's the house the girls
10 play m they children tac
now" The door Of the little house stood ajar and
the snow had piled itself within. The driver no
himself, Those were bright days. but what a diff
waiting for the train to come along the writer had
an opportunity OF hearing great deal about the
anection and esteem In which Mr.. Greeley was held
by his neighbors. 'He was just ike one OF us, !
said one of the men. "He knew u.
all by name, and he never acted a.
though he was more than we were
The place will miss him sadly, and the poor will
miss him more than anybody else In the village
No one can say he ever went TO Horace in rea
want and wasn't helped aong.n In q conversa
tion with gentleman who had known Mr.. Greeley
as a neighbor for twenty years, he remarked In re
laon to his death, The Saturday alter the election
think IL was Horace with Mr.. Johnson went into
the Post once, and on reading the paper made
some remark which rather startled those VIII,
heard it on account OF its strangeness. When h,
had gone out Mr.. Johnson came back and said
Never mind that; Mr.. Greeley Is not we'll 1t
believed that he was then beginning to lose con
troll OF his mind.n
81 saw him last,n said another, ION
THE DAY OF ELECTION.
He was cheerful and in good spirits. He wa
standing right there on that stoop. Said he
Can't you hitch up your team to the stage ant
take some voters who want to go to th
pollsf refused at nrst. on account Of m
horses being worn ont and sick; but
finally did take 'em;n and the man added. In
subdued voice, Dom that put back the hosses
week IN their sickness, and nobody has ever sal
nothtn' about payin me; but wouldn'
Sosses and everything I'VE lSot Sot.o 'Tfh Thes
remarks may seem trivial, but they only 70
show how the villagers feel about the death OF thei
old friend, and how, now that he Is dead, ever
little thing that they can remember about hlr
aomaa N N thor a memOrv 10 a