The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1883-04-05
THE OLD HOME.
For the CIr1IEN. .

. Replacing each shadow with ieweled c'owl
!, And encirciing all earth from his Weait
untold;
Swelled the deep harmony of beauty and love
Then this sunshine with longing filed m
To tell the bright beads of my childhood
hours,
So firmly linked on youths chain of gold,
To wander back through thoIns an
flowers,
To the enchanted aisles of "Long Ago
And gaze on those who loved me So
Twas thus 1 wondered back that morn
| To the dear old home on the hawthorn hill
| With its ample walks and majestic lawn
Where the sun beams chased the shadows
still,
just as in the golden days of yore,
| When life was dream-nothing mere.
| As I stood and gezed and thought on the
past,
l seemed to forget long years had flown,
And visions arose before me fast,
In which only c5ildre1s's faces shone;
And voices ringing so glad and free
Love only could make such melody.
And as they evanished into shadow-land,
Others came cen still more dear;
The pure, sweet face and the tender hand
And a loving father stood near her side,
Flushed with the glow of her love and pride.
group OF. children around them pressed,
Who tired of play had come to rest
Their far young heads on mothers breast,
AS birdlings come home to the parent nest.
Oil could we always this refuge know
When weary and worn with the burden Of
woe.
But this sad thought the enchantment.broke
DisIel my visions, and the faces
vanished
That to me we're so dear;-to whom almost
spoke,
And from whom again now was banished;
And l grieved that l allowed my heart to
swell,
Save with Joy at those scenes loved SO well.
So hurried on to the we'll known door,
And entered the hall, half hoping to hear
Some loved voice greet me as of yore-
Voices of dear ones who seemed 30 near
But a moment since on those visions bright,
Which fsded so softly into warm sunlight.
But all save my throbbing heart was still
Where Joy Gus symphonies once had rung
In notes which made our beings thrill.
Yes, the siren harp was now unstrurg,
And the hall stood mute and stern and cold,
Though liv'ried just as in the days Of old.
In the self-same inches the pictures hung;
And little outward change that could name.
But it was not home, and that which flung
Its shadow on the dear old walls and floor
l knew was the cloud of sorrow, to be lifted
never moro.
S II wandered on in silence through all the
Rooms, listening for sisters gentle call,
Or to catch sound Of the boyish gloe
That was won't TO be echoed from hall to
hall;
Bat the empty chambers only echoed my sigh,
And the soft WINDS moaned as they passed
me by.
One moment stood on the threshold of my
Loved room, where 'childhOOd's crystal
In gems OF purest radiance shone,
And tinted warm all young hfe's flowers.
Here Love from them a crown did weave,
And crowned me on my bridal eve.
Only moment paused, yet so feet and fast
Memorys foossteP,. that she led me dream
ing,
ny score of mile stones'of the haunted past,
Where the weird lights were SO softly
cleaning,
They 6eguiled my thoughts from griefs al
10y,
And one moment changed to years of joy
But pdfClnR DeaI1 OF Sun-iiRnL OhuceG
Into the chamber to waive Its adieu,
And through the mystic realms OF shadow
glanced,
And warned me how swift the moments
flew.
So turned my steps to that holiest place,
Where last gazed on my angels face.
Here / sat me down till the shadows came
And around my cherished treasures nnng
Soft folds, lest rude winds chill the name
OF her whose requiem the angels sung.
And the shadows wrapped me too il gloom,
AS sat and unused in my darling's room.
But again kind memory took my hand
And showed me beauteous visions there
OF white-robed children-a youthful band |
Who were bowed on mother'si knee in
prayer;
And long childhood's primrosed path shs led |
Through the golden gate of youth an / said; |
''I will show ;ou more, if you viii brave
The thorns that life's flowers surely hide,
And as surely in blood our hearts do lave
As lite's shores are swept by its cruel tide"
Then she showed me all / loved so dear,
Mingling the bitter ard sweet, the bright
and drear.
How long sat IN that silent chamber lone
knew not, for visions danced one moment
bright,
And then they came with such bitter moan
That l forgot all else save the voice Of
Night
Forgot the sun had gone far down,
While sat unweaving sorrows crown.
But footsteps sounded through the hall
And the hum of busy life drew nigh,
And the iolds of the shadows did drop and fall
Ger visions too sacred for the careless eye
In a moment the room ould be peopled
anew,
So arose and bade my old home adieu.
H