New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-02-28
NEW ORLEANS REPUBLICAN, SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3d. 1875

hiding place. placed my hand upon the
| latch: The gate swung easily. but paused
| a moment. Shall l go or shall stay. asked
NV heart: "Stav," said the spirit that was
| with me. returned to the house and joined
| in the evening meal; sorrow sat at the board
with US, but not hopeless sorrow. The
magnetism of her touch had not yet left
| that home; it never need, it never will
| leave it, for it is treasured there. Her piano
| was closed and | would not open it: any
! harmony would have been too harsh for the
| haliowed silence of the place. Her books.
| her pictures, her dainty needlework. her
| words-all that had been a part of her life
still lived. though she had lett lis.
Those were sweet days TO me. Emma and
| Went side by side to the old haunts-to
most OF them. but not all, for there were
some cared no longer to revisit. Before
we had colnpassed the narrow limits of
Heartsease began 70 wonder If there vas
stone left that would give back TO me the
impression OF my early days; they all told
another story now and most of them a sad
one. Even the schoolroom was dead
thing. though l sat on the old benches and
mounted the rostrum wherein was wont TO
speak ny piece with much trepidation
OF spirit and an inexplicab!e weakness OF
the knees. | wrote my name on the wall N
an obscure corner. simply because l didn't
tirely and then turned back into the street
with less regret than l had reckoned on.
VI all the old friends l had known in boy
hood. l saw but two besides Emma-two
sisters whose histories wera strange and
wonderful. They greeted me as Of yore.
and We talked ofthe past with pity mingled
with delight. Dick, NV old chum. Emma's
soiuler-brother. was miles and miles away:
not boy of all our tribe was lett in Hearts
re- fell N, ba Of Tho as< ho-
gan TO be glad that it was so. for the great
gulf that lay between me and the boy had
oeen seemed to render up no ghosts but
were shrouded in sorrow.
There was one spot might have visited
but did not; it seemed to me better to wan.
der to and tro about the dear old parsonage
with the living spirit near me. and to go out
again into the world with the softened in
huences OF that lessened but un broken circle
consoiing NE, than to seek the new grave
that had lot yet had time to clothe itself
with yiOlets, and the sight of which could
have given me nothing but pain. By and
by. thought let me return, and when 1t
has healed over and is sweet with summer
lowers will sprinkle rue upon it and breathe
her name. / went back from Heartsease
Ike the bearer of strange news. We had
all sat together and thought, rather than
uttered, the memories of the past they
weighed me down. but they were precious
freights. When l looked once more, and
for the last time. upon the darling village
browsing in the sunshine, felt that had
learned the burden of the hearth: Not
length Of days is given. but the sweetness
and strength thereof; their memory shall |
live even though the dead Je dust. Out of |
the loan of this corrupting body springs |
heavenward the invisible blossom of the |
soul. Iou have watered it with tears: let |
the performance thereof comfort you. |
hongh We de. yet shall We live: thus saith |
the Lord. But shall the old days delight us |
and the past live Yea, verify saith the
spiIit-once, but never again.-Ljppincotts