Daily globe., 1883-05-27
4 VAGABOND'S VAGARLES{;


In 1865, the surrender of the army Of
northern Virginia at Appomattox court
house, determined the fate of empires.
The soldiers of the confederacy laid down
their arms and were parolsd, not to engage
in active hostilities until properly ex-
changed. The majority of "weuns" were
at that time in an embarrassed condition
as to financial or other resources. In fact
they were bankrupt, hopelessly insolYent
in mind, body and estate. While some,
tiguratively speaking, were ready to hang
their harps on the willows and mingle their
tears with the waters of Babylon, as did
the daughters of Israel when thinking
upon the destruction of Jerusalem, this
was not the case with the largest proper
tion of the forces of s'Old Bob" They
realized the situation, and that the logic
of events had decided adversely
to them. With the consciousness of this fact
and the further consciousness that it was
the only course left them to pursue, they
turned their backs upon the battle fields
of the east, meath which so many of their
comrades slept the sleep of sanctifed rest,
and bent their way in the direction of
home, of parents, of friends, of associa-
tlons made doubly dear by absence, and in
many cases permanent OBJ. Grafton.
Throughout the land of cocoa and palm,
OF orange groves and groves of the ag-
noi1a, OF brave men, and women as Iov y
as visions of paradise desolation had been
epidemic, and much that delighted tbs eye
and pleased the senses a brief period be-
fore had become as the fabric of a dream,
blessings that frightened as they had tax
en- their flight. The cities bore the ap-
pearance of banquet halls deserted, while
country hamlets and rich plantations dis
played scenes Of wreck and ruin by no
means calculated to encourage one to take
up the burden of life with that degree of
humility born of the knowledge that he
had been done up, left in the vocative, de-
feated, licked.
In this chaotic condition of affairs there
was little to attract and nothing to entice
"weuns" to exhibitions of moral courage
or deeds of prowess in comparison with
which the military glory and white plume
OF Navarro would fade into insignifcance.
| The present was without interest and the
| future was hidden behind clouds that were
without any lining of silver Many, after
visiting their homes, 6rIfted into the cities.
New Orleans being the objective point of
| the greatest number, with q view to seek
channels of employment adapted to their
| changed status, from independence to pow
erty. They readily found places, that in
hundreds Of instances were created for
them in the Offices of cotton and sugar
brokers, in the banks, wholesale houses and
| as attaches of established journals. A very
few came North, and, save in exceedingly
rare instances, the latter class of exiles
from the homes Of their nativity have in
variably discharged the trust committed
to their care with a fidelity that has borne
fruit in the greatly increased respect en-
tertained for them to day.
'Sunnyside" was the name Of q cotton
estate upon the Father of Waters, within a
few days ride from Vicksbnrg, whereon
the writer distinguished himself as su in
FAINT. 1t is an old landmark, known to
every pilot who steered his craft through
the eddies and currents OF the Mississippi
and an inheritance that had descended
from previous generations. Under the
former regime it was place of beauty in
deed, and that it has failed to prove joy
| forever, is owing to circumstances entirely
| beyond the writer's control. This home Of
q childhood, that has eyeutuated INTO q
career not altogether Uncheckerad, was
by no means pretentioGs, but an oasis of
| comfort. It was the home about whi i,h 70
| day cluster the most sao1e0 memories that
can be associated with enc Efa st leest. For
1t was the home OF parents the most kind,
the most lndulgent, this most blessed chill
dren ever had the misfortune to lose
One sleeps 'neaththe vernal sod Of 2 spring
grave, the other having reached the allot
ted age of men, ready to say now let tb7
servant depart in peace" There are many
homes now dotting The landscape OF the
| north and west, about which, too, bright
memories blossom, memories that come
| from out the shadOwy past, clarifying
and beautifying its dimness, and tinting the
vanished years which the colors of never
ending fascination. There are to-day nest
| ling among the Minnesota hills such homes
as L remember, among the tendere5t
thoughts of day tha5 is gone. They may
be quaint old affairs with great chimneys,
| sloping roofs and dormer windows, over
which for years sweeping trees have
| swayed, sweet vines have clambered and
clustering berries under touches of the
winters frost have opened up their scarlet
hearts. Long walks lead off from these
ancient homes, within whose sacred walls
so much of sorrow and rejoicing have been
| housed.
Pass out from that old home, blessed
spot, standing amid the clustering trees,
to the wide open meadows, afar from the
drowsy stir of a country road, with blue
mountainous hills N the distance and
glimpses Of narrow valleys severing these
huge antiques in twain, through which in
the stiffness of 4 summers night, gurgling
brooks may be heard pursuing their way
impatiently to the ocean. Beyond
is to be seen the fields Of corn
and grain, surveyed and planted 10y hands
long since palsied by death. Beyond is
the orchard, With interlacin9 arches OF
gnarIed old trees, aud beneath iheir juice
gathering roots bubbles o1t clear spring
OF water, that races across ting lane and
empties into moss covered trough by
which the horses are led to drink, and the
kline love TO linger on their way TO the milk
ing.
Il is an old fashioned home; its sur
roundings belong to day and generation
that came in when the country was young; {;
| bok ~ C4iII boors Tho IN, nresS 0f voT1tb and