Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1885-01-31
The Letter from Home.

Deep down in his heart every ''old
settler carries q beautiful, neYer-fad-
ing picture Of some dear place away
back in Gods country" around which
cluster the memories of his childhood;
the place which in his thought he never
ceases to designate as home.
Years and years passed since with
brave heart, he left the sheltering roof
tree, and followed bright faced Hope
as size sped before, sminugly beacOned
him on, to the y eat unknown, western
frontier. filled with ealth Al q grand
possibilities Fair Hope, prehaps has
proved IL trusty guide. and he leads a
busy, pTOsprf Gus honor ed life in the
frontier crept long ago. PIehaps Hope
leading still, ltOr though she often
mCcks, she leaves us, never, has ceased
10 smile, and walks with tagging steps;
sturdy courage given place to logged
perseverance, ana Time stolen fresh
young manhood, and left crows feet
and Q ay hairs In either case, what
ever changes Time may have brought,
the fair picture never changes, never
fades.
Busy days and pressing cares may
keep It out of sight for mon. h tOgeth-
er, but there is a magic key " hich neT-
er fails to open the heart chamber which
holds it. This is the iniIequent letter
from the old home. The prompt.
weekly or monthly greetings, ceased
years ago, and only once or twice IA
year, ar even less frequent, come these
lite messengers. The mother, pei
hapse still lives and now and then in
3 h.. oil ri on,
quickly recognized, pens fine mas
to cAaer boy out west" A hale old fat
er may still occasionally write word
of encourage ment or counsel 10 son John
A brother Ur a sister may never have
rOamed from the home nest, and at
long intervals may thus remember the
WahdeTeT, Or SCme,.ne less closely
{, nnectt d by ties IF blood, or prehaps
Just an old schOulmate or playfenOw has
spent dull evening or a Amy after
noon in writing 10 the uldIinle friend
II ma tiers not who lens the misSIve,
lthe u az el-soil d envelope, be- aling tie
familiar pust-maik IS itself ia i~mnn
Ia uurOll the magic picture; and each
''dun you remember and every
"haye you fOrg' lien paints IIe,h fig
ures upon it. How PLAIN and clear It all
looks 10 the old seitleIi How it
Clai geS dE4 BpE6duN out 4lh0
cloud and set ever the same.
He sees II e old far mhouse n its set
ting of maple and iIpit Ices.
He sees the long lane with the zigzag
rail fence Oh either side -
Beh,ud lies the hilly pasture with us
fringe of trees; and still farther, the
great woods, Che knew OF Of 'the Tim
Der in those days. where the FIST
spring flowers, and the winlPTgrten,
and the red sQuGw berries grew. On
the rig ht lies the meadow where the
wild Strawberries were 50 thick; al d
on he left group of 81 ut naples
lends glory to The west meadow.
Within the lane a procession of COWS
with cross legged gait, lei,urely march
along; and on the top rails of the bOrd-
ering fences, himself aud younger bro
Their, or it may be his tombOy sisIe',
with rosy cheeks aud flying hair, toll
low with much Skillul balancing, and
frequent whoOping at the COWS.
f''He sees the great Imprinted harm.
The rain is pattering on It's roof and
dripping FRI m the caves the huge doors
sta' wide open; a group Il merry
children romp within. They play hide
and seek they hunt the hidden ems
rests: they rake bresAneck leaps Fl ON
the highest beam dow into the trag-
rant timnthy ia the half-filcd bay below
Ahl the delights of rainy snmme day
spent in plan ing in aR Oldfa >hiOned
barn. chpd of he wet can never know.
These 9nd q hundred, ave, a thousai d
more bright scenes paint thetI elves in
TO that magic ictnre, In a few minutes
while he sits holding that dear letter
from home. hen he folds it up and
II es. with fire. strength and courage,
gained by this brief respite, TO igh hi~
lie battle. But as he avs it carefully
away. a tear dims the e. Q Of old settler.
lex.