Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1873-03-27
What VIII You Leave Behind

Talking with an old farmer once, he
said: "When l die, am going to leave
behind me, as heritage for my children,
the home where they were born, made as
beautiful as my means and uneducated
taste will allow, pleasant memories of the
home fireside and of the sunny summer
days, and a true regard for the dignity
and worthiness of the calling which their
father followed" The old man was so
full of emotion when he talked in this
wise, that he had to use his handkerchief
to prevent the tears telling their tale of
manly sensitiveness. His boys were
widely scattered, having a varied expert
ence in life; but there was not one of them
who did not honor the old farmer they
called land reverently, too) ''Father;" nor
one of them who was not glad to visit the
old homestead once a year.
Now, we repeat the question, "What
will you leave behind?" Money? 1t will
do your children little good, comparative
ly. Money is easily obtained. But homes
are scarce. The associations which the
men of the world value most are the as
sociations with their early homes. No
man, no matter what his position, cir
cumstances or relations in life, who has
had a happy and pleasant home in his
youth, fails to remember, love and long
for it. 1t is the haven he seeks, one to-
ward which his heart goes out whenever
he is in trouble; it is the shrine to which
he makes pilgrimage whenever he has
means and opportunity; it is the one spot
on earth upon which he is willing to lavish
the wealth he may have acquired, and
where he desires to die and be buried.
What will you leave behind, good
friend of the farm? Snail the homestead
be your monument? Shall the children
return thither as the pilgrim seeks the
shrine of a saint? Shall each tree tell its
story of your taste and good sense-re-
vive in the minds of your children the
time and circumstances of the planting?
Shall it symbolic by its growth, and ex-
tended and extending branches, the
growth of your children's affections for
you, and the influence your example and
precepts are exeTting through them?
Shall each stone in the wall, addition to
the barn, the house, out buildings, i'm
provements, orchard, garden and field,
speak to them of the love you once bore
them, of the labor you once performed
that they might be fed, clothed and edu-
Gated? Shall each blade of grass lift it.
self up toward heaven and testify to your
providence and care? Shall each apple
blossom in the orchard shed its perfume
in memory of the man who planted the
seed from which they sprang, or the tree
on which they bloom and laugh in the
sweet May air? VIII money compensate
your children for the loss of such a
heritage? No, sir! ennphatically, No!
Let us try to leave behind us something
that shall soften the hearts of men and
women when they remember us-be they
our children or not; but especially let us
who have homes, who are blessed with q
title to portion of Gods green earth,
see that it is rendered so beautiful in the
eyes of our offspring that their hearts
will always find anchorage there when.
ever the longings of loneliness come oveI
them whenever the rough elbowings OF
an unfeeling world jostle them out of
humor with it. Let the coming spring
witness some effort to leave the old farm
better and more beautiful in the autumn.
Let the boys and girls feel that we have
left something behind that money cannot
purchase, and for which it can be no sub.
stitute. .-RuraE Nelo Yorker.