Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1873-07-12
What Will You Leave BehindP

Talking with an old farmer once, says the
Rwql New Yorker, he said "When | die
am going to leave behind me, as a hcritance to
my children, the home where they were born
made as beautiful as my means and rneluca''
ted taste will allow, pleasant memories Of the
home frcsile and Of the sunny summer days
aud a true regard for the dgrity aud worth
ness oftle calling which their father followed. "
The old man was 50 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 varied experience
in life; but there wa not one Of them who dill
not honor the OLD farmer they called land re-
yereutly. too Father" nor Of them who was
not clad to visit the old homestead &C a year
Now, we repeat the question, " What will
you leave behind ?" Money? 1t will lo your
children little Foad, comparatively. Money l.,
easily obtained Homes are scarce. The As
s,cations which men Of the world value IN st,
are the associations with their elrly homes. NJ
man. no matter what his position, circumstances
or relations ir e., who has h,I happy aut
pleasant home in his youth, fails to remember,
1--we aud hong lur it. 1t is the haven he seeks,
one toward which his heart goes ont whenever
he Is in trouble; it is the shrine to which be-
makes pilgrimage whenever he has meaus and
opportunity; it is the one spnt on earth upon
which he is willing to lavish the wealth be may
have acquired, aud where he desires to die and
be buried
What will you leave behind, good friend of
the farm Shall the homestead be your mon
umcnt? Shall the children return thither %,
the pilgrim seeks the shrine Of a saint? Shall
each tree tell its story Of Your taste and good
scnse-revive in the minds Of your children the
time aud circumstances Of your planting p
Shall it symbolic by its growth aud extended
aud extending branches, the growth of your
chIldreus affections for you, and tue influence
your example aud preceyts are exertiug thro
'"''' p"H'l t'~u st'Nt 'u -ii~ "dllI huultl'u
to the barn, the house outbuildmg, improve
meuts orchard, garden aud ell, speak t.
them Of the love You once bore them. uf the
labor You once performed that they ni.ht be
fed, clothed ahd educated? Shall each bl dc
of grass Iiit itself up toward heaven and tcst-
fy Of your providence aud care? Shall eacu
apple blossom in tie orchard she'd its perfume
in memory Of the man who planted the seed
from which they spraug, or the tree on wbicI,
they bloom and laugh in the sweet May air
VIII money compensate your children br the
loss Of such hcri,a-e? No, cir, emphatical-
ly, No!
Let us try to leave behind Us somethinsthar
shall soften the hearts Of men aud women when
they remember us-be they our chldrenor npr;
but especially let us who have homes. who are
blessed with title to portion Of Gods green
earth, see that it is rendered 50 beautiful 10 tl-
eyes Of our offspring that their hearts will al.
ways fud anchorage there when the lnugiugs
of loneliness come over them whenever the
rough cbowiugs Of an uufeelng woTld i,stlr
them ont of humor with it. Let the boys aud
girls feel that we have left something behind
that money cannot purchase, aud for which it
can be 40 substitute.