Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1884-12-19


Thither the children, girls and boys,
Bctook themselves and all their noise,
Intent upon a hunt throughout
The tuno-worn rubbish stored about.
What fun they had! and how they played
That they were pirates, making raid
Upon such prey as came their way.
Till Bennie, with u shout so gay 81. q
That II went ringing through and through
The house, and startled Auntle Prue
And Unclc Amos as they sat,
Having an after-dinner chat
Discovered In an old-time chest
A little sailor suit. In jest
He slipped it on. "See, fellers. seei
It's almost little enough for me.
I'd like to be sailor boy
And go TO places far away,
And see such lots of curious things
As sailors see. will some day.
My father was sailor, he
Was fourteen when he went to sea,
know, because he told me so.
But then you sec, he didn't go
Az big men do. He ran quay
My father did, Que summer day,
And left his home, l think that
Would rather have stayed to say goodbye
~. He didn't tho, he h. thought twas fun
Before he scarce hnd planned 1t, seef
He used to toll 1t NIL to me, n. F
And then he'd look so sud, as tho .i
Some things had grieved him long ago.
Now 1t had chanced thut Bennie's shout
Had drawn tho farmer from his chair,
And hastening 10 the garret stairs,
He pnused awhile to listen there.
For like as not some mischief they
Will do before the close OF day."
Thought he. and standing there, had heard
Of Bennie story every. word.
And still he stood with his gray eyes
Grown wide with wonder nnd surprise.
While little Ben, In suit of blue,
Telling his story, little knew
vi the one auditor, unseen,
Whose listening ears grew sharp and keen.
Zen ) little heart was stirred with pride,
As Tell us more!'' the children cried;
He loved to talk-thoy loved to listen,
hn Ia iC hnt tn pfrtt
As in his childish way he told
The story now to him 80 old.
Vol, papa used to tell to me
How he grew rcd OF the sea.
And went back to his home again,
And stayed awhile and then-nnd then
Some trouble came to him. and SO
He wanted once again to go
Away from everybody and
He did SO. l don't understand
Exactly how it was, for he
Would often put me oil his knee,
And up and down the floor would walk,
And stop me when wished to talk
The farmers face grew sad and white,
He clenched hts strong hands hard and tight;
Long yours ago u hayward brother,
Tue youngest born-whose widowed motl or
Had lett him with a dying prayer ~
To brothers aud to sister 8 care ~
Had quuireled with his brothers will,
And run AWAY ala5l and still r.
The grief witllnlthe henrts he left
Wns SUCH as then. The hopo bereft E
Qf that young brothers. form and face
E.'i ~ hill u plucS
Should he return-tho' years had flown,
And OF his life no word was known, NJ
I'LL now, the elder brother heard --
Tnro Bennics lips, Sad word by word,
Or him their love hnd borne In mind,
With Thoughts sotenderand SO kind.
How plainly now could all be seen
by the excited Farmer Greenl f.--
His wandering brothers very name
He'd changed, that he might quit all claim
10 the dear home and none might know
or him whose prido had fall IL so low.
But Bennie still talked on and told
How poor they were; SO often cold ,...,.-
And hungry. too "I3ut yet" said he, p a-'
Father was always kind to me
Speaking the words with boyish prftie
. In that dear fathers love, that when
He died, we scarce could smile again
For such n weary while: kn0lU .r-I
That something veXed him long ago. paw
Cause once heard my mother say:
You see your home again some day.
have no home snve hero with you,
My father said too proud am
no turn to those I've hurt, and cry
After SO many years, for aid!'
These are the very words he said"
With tears upon his sun-browned check,
Old Amos Green his sister sought.
Gomez! as she stared mt him amazed,
Come, sec what this strange day has brought
10 us He led her tremDlingly
Up the old stairs, that she might SEQ
Tho little "chore-boy" of the farm,
Still In the sailor suit arrayed.
Tho farmer grpsped his sisters arm:
Speak, Prue, whose suit does Bonnie wear2'
She turned, and DER her face shade
OF anger passed. "How did they dare
To use that In thelr playl" she cried. ,
Old Amos drew her to his side.
Our long lost brother, dear is dead q
Ben redrs-hts-5dther's spit!" he said.