Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1873-07-12
Going Away.

There is something sad III the
thought OF bidding adieu to home
and its surroundings of going far
away out of hearing of the loving
words and tones which we are wont
10 hear. We are haunted by
thoughts of what may occur while
we are gone. Changes come so Of
ten, and so quickly, too, that we
may be certain all will not be exact
ly unchanged when next we meet.
Will the hearts that now love us be
still unchanged when next we meet?
viii the hearts that now love US be
still true during our absence? Shall
we not pass out of sight and out of
mind, simultaneously? Will any
miss us or think kindly of US, and
long for our return2 Will our go
ing cause more than the merest rip
pie upon the tide of daily household
life2 viii the hours pass any slow
or because / am absentI Who will
water the plants, feed the birds,
cut fresh flowers for the vases, and
see that the dust does not collect IN
| every out-of-the-Way nook
Some such train OF reflection pass
ed through my brain while packing
our box, preparatory to setting
forth on recent pleasure trip; new
ertheless, we packed steadily until
| the trunk was full, and more than
| full; for when was ever trunk
| capacious enough to contain all one
| would put in it? In the present in
| stance, we sat on the lid of ours
not, we must confess, perfect FAC
stmtle of "Patience on monu-
ment:" we ierked and twitahed, we
| tore our fingers and lost our temper,
| before the lid would come to terms,
| and agree to behave and allow the
key to be turned.
We were going away, but it would
! never do to sentimentalize and get
ones eyes red with weeping at such
a time, if we would leave behind us
a good impression. We have bid
den goodbye to all our old haunts;
we have said our mute farewell TO q
thousand inanimate things; we have
given a lingering glance about the
dear old rooms; and though we try
/ to be brave, our courage rests on
tremulous foundation, and we an
swer questions singly at random
/ At last the adieus are over, and we
are of.
We do not realize much beyond
this fact for while; bat ere long a
new feeling of independence asserts
itself, and we feel, now that we are
to take care of ourselves, 1T behoves
us to look alive. At the end of the
first hour we have so far succeeded
in arousing ourselves as TO take an
interest in what is going on around
US. Scanning the faces of our fell
low travellers, we try to imagine the
business and general Characters
tics of each, as portrayed or reveal
ed in his or her dress, department,
or speech. Tired of this, we look
at the scenery through which we
pass; and this failing to interest, we
betake ourselves 20 book or paper,
and finally fall asleep and jolt on
over mile after mile, in blisstul un-
consciousness that our hat is awry,
and that the fastidiOus gentleman
in the next seat is observant of the
fact.
Travelling alone may be very in
dependent mode of getting about
the world; but IL certainly Is not as
gay and festive way of disposiBg
oftime as many other methods we
could mention. So you are fright
glad to fall in with a gentlemanly
Individual, whose pleasant face in
dictates, as far as you can judge, q
COINCIDENCE void Of offence toward
any one. lie is inclined to converse
and, if you are sensible, you will
not discourage his kind attempt tC
beguile your WEAKNESS with a pleas
ant chat. We have known instances
where people have refused to reply
to a civil remark, and sat silent anC
rigid, as il the very heavens anC
earth would come together, sooner
than they would open their lips t.
address a stranger who had Spoken
civilly, 81 was at least entitled to b.
treated as a gentleman. Butwe vii
hope you are not made of such mate
rial; that you have dignity sufficien
to repel familiarity, consequent.
: need not fear insult, when none i
intended.