Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1873-04-24

Talking with an old farmer once, he
said, "whenu die, am going to leave be.
hlnd me. as heritage for my children, the
home where they were born, made as beau
tlfui as my means and uneducated taste
will allow, pleasant memories of the fire
side 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 tell
ing their tale of manly sensitiveness
His boys were widely scattered, having a
varied experience in life; but there was
not one of them who did not honor the old
farmer they called (and 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 behind2" Money? II 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 asso-
Citations with their early homes. No man,
no matter what his position, circuinstan-
ces, or relations in life. who has had hap
Py and pleasant home In his youth, fails TO
remember. love and long for IL. II Is a
haven he seeks. one toward which his heart
goes whenever he is in trouble; il is the
shrine to which he makes pilgrimage when
ever he has means and opportunity; it is
the one spot on earth npon 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! Shall the homestead be your
mODnmpntS Shall tho children
thither As the pilgrim seeks the shrine of a
saint: Shall each tree tell its story of
your taste and good sense-revive In the
minds Of your children the time and cir
cumstances of the planting? Shall il SYM
bolize by Its growth, and extending branch
es. the growth of your chiidren's affection
for you. and the influence of your exam
pie and precepts are eXerting through
them! Shall each stone in the wall. adj
dition TO the barn, the house. the out-build
ings, Improvements, orchard. garden and
field, speak to them of the love you bore
them, ofthe labor you once performed that
they might be fed, clothed and educated?
Shall each blade of grass Lift itself up to-
ward 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 aud laugh in the sweet May air:
VIII money compensate your children for
the loss of such heritage! No, sir, en-
phatically, Mo-
Let us try to leave behind US something
that shall soften the hearts of men and wo-
men when they remember us-be they our
children or not; but especially let those
who have homes, who are blest with a IT,
tie TO portion OF Gods green earth. see
that IL Is rendered 81 haautff,,I %, ,ba .,-..
of their offspring that their hearts will al
ways find anchorage there whenever the
longings OF loneliness come over them:
whenever the rough elbowings of an un-
feeling world jostle them out of humor
with 1t. Let the present Spring witness
some effort to leave the old farm better
and more beautiful in the Autumn Let
the boys and girls feel that you have len
behind that money cannot pur-
chase, and for which 1t can be no substi-
tute.