New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-11-17
THE RETURN.
SPENCER CRANES OLD HOME.
HOW HE FOUND THAT THE TENDER AssoCIA-
TONS OF CHILDHOOD ARE NOT WHAT
THEY ARE SAID To BE-

no was seventeen. He went away TO college en-
pectlng to return soon, but the days lengthened
mo months the months into years, but still ne dld
not 60 back. He graduated, and drfted to Cali
iornia, and went into business. The fifteen years
passed rapidly. He wrote to his father and mother
often, but still he postponed his intended visit
spencer Crane had intimate friend named Perry
Martin. They had been in college together and were
In business side by side Perry Martin had not seen
the home OF his childhood for long space OF time.
but one day he went back and remained a month
When he returned he full of his visit.
spencer" exclaimed Perry Martin. as he graspei
mis- friends hand, Spencer, old boy, had glorious
5ime I've been back to the place where 1 was
born, where l lived boy, and went to school,
whore ten thousand tender memories of childhood
cluster back TO the place 1 love better than any
other earth"
Did the old home seem naturall" asked Spencer
Crane
Yes, perfectly so. The dear old house where
born looked little smaller, the windows
little narrower, the ceiling little lower-in fact.
many things seemed hardly large as they had
to my bOylsh eyes, but all was natural-it was l.
| not the scenes, that had changed"
Perry, believe 1 envy YOU" said Spencer Crane
Well you may returned Perry Martin. II
would have given ten years of my life rather than
have missed IT, l slept up in my little old room
where 50 many times l have listened 10 the pater
the same old oak tree with the same old swing
on it. The same old wOOdbine clambeTed over the
low gable Of the house, and the moss was growing
on the shingles of old. The old barn stood there
with the swallows quarrelling and scodIng under the
caves Just they used TO- Inside. the NOV was
packed full of new hay and below the horses reacheo
across the manger for me TO pat them. OUTSIDE
was the old well with the clumsy Old sweep iof
drawing the water, and the trough made from the
hollow log where the horses stopped to drink when
they came in from the field. The same old WHO"
drooped over the we'll. Out in the lot BACK OF inc
barn was the old pasture with the lazy cohteh'eu
cows cropping the grass and clover or lyiDg In the
shade of the great elms, and chewing their cuds
Ecyond were the foolish, laundering caves WIN
tbeir large soft eyes and near by the tmd sheep.
Dovn the road half mile the old mill wnele
| 7 had payed so many happy hours, and the Drooh'
with pllmpses of frightened trout In the POOLS 0
r visited the little old red schoolhouse when L
| had attended and the happy children on INC
old playground where I had played so many times
myself went in the OLD "oous
and climbed the hill whore I had gathered nuts.
stood long by the stile the old rail fence "he,,
7 lad so often met pretty Mary Morrison LII 'ao o
DAYS All SPENCER that was my hrst loVo-"n' 80
saw the little white stone which MARKS NOT 'eSune
nlace in the old churchyad. spencer YOU
TO know what pure. though 1t be sah' nappnie0' =,
hoch and visit the old home again, as have doh",
whou, ali is peace and quiet and contentment' anu
tbe mean and sordid world Is far away"
perry - cried spencer Crane, grasping the others
hand. al will do tt will start Tor my ueSr oiA
home Tomorrow ~, o.h
spencer Crane was born and had passed MS you~i
in NewYork City mar. A., IT.,
The next day. true TO his resolution we nnu nm
On his way to visit the dear old home OF his cfiihoou
Tonr DAYS later he rolled into the Grand Centrai
station He leaped into cab and twenty minutes
later was in the old neighborhood. IL was vi oon'
seven stories high. with ample air SHAFTS ali" h"I
,,os for driving clothes on the roof Ills Dear oiu
home was on the fifth floor. He pulled mma'uio
handle on the wall and listened at the speaking
i''na Who & ,2s came the inquiry in shrill
oice Spencer,o he answered me door
orenod conylsvey and he entered the nei6hoornoou.
The dear old antor stood in the hall and watched
him as he went up the stairs as II ne thought nc va"
n burglar or perhaps plckpocket. Inc s'a'rs ~c4o
cr+ nm into short flights so there were sXoeh vi 'o
N climb before he got home. AS Nc MaiA'u w
tbrouvb the old familiar scenes OF his Childhood n"
v"-o ,rouon IN one fat telling another how she
,1 ,oto over her black skirt so as TO deceive me
tit ord caught the sounds OF another woman
yo,ce speaking earnestly TO her husband because he
hd to,iod 70 get theatre tickets On the third moor
tbere were two men talking politics, and no heaiu
49, rianos and a banjo The rich, meodous laugh
~ a man who was telling funny story noa'eu 10 ms
cor and on the fourth floor he met pretty little
| s1 about six years old, who was eating piece OF
| n, and hutter with molasses on 1t. She ate the
| broad and butter and wiped the moaSses on spencer
| Cn.,s trousers Dear old sounds and scenes
! murmured Spencer. " How natural IL al SeemS'
! Once more am near my birthplace"
When he got to within about SIX rect OK ms oid
| hu he could sec IT, and his parents were standing
/ T., the door He tenderly embraced his mother ana
/ crasped his fathers hand "Come into The OLD nome
Uher, YOU were born my boy,' said his motfer'
| " Coma in and welcome to you! BESIDES 1hey nave
hoxa
cot the measles in the next nat and you nave never
! HoS thonp spencer Crane went into the old home
stead. =. - ,,. .. 81. a.,
-. satd snencer Crane This is the same dear old
! sittngroom" 81, .oo,,
YES y answered his mother. the same old room''
w natural IL looks to the easy chair up on the
centre table, said spencer
nyes wo still have put 1t up there to make room
ono,,h 70 omen the door, answered his mother But
Wv soro 70 that corner, Spencer where you spent so
800, nanny hours playing when boy
! "yas and this corner too my boy said his father
.rs,o ,rue. answered spencer Crane; and there
arc the two other corners An inc uear oiu corners
pu, toll me father, does the man IN the nat ABOVE
s,m enln kndllng wood on the hoor at midnight"
| :. " and he has got heavier axe. The girl we
hoord the Young man proposing to IN the fiat below
a,,tt you went away is married and has a large
! family" c Nv, - . =,
.,as hacs 70 me And there Is the dear old combina
| 49, hstopd that looks like a card table and
no made TO represent bookcase, s'deboard, re-
| .a,uanotor or n sewing machine, according to which
,p,n you have It in. and opens and makes a chilPs
cradle at night
YES spencer, many's the night have rocked you
| In that washstand"
4. Can Won stl see that broken brick half way down
,ho s,de ~ the north ar-shaft'" asked spencer.
~yesp answered his mother, and you can look
aovr IN the same telegraph pole from the front win
dow
Some children were now pounding playfuy on the
balLdoor with a hammer and spencer heard two men
pushlng the sale Of their clans IN the street.
Como and sec the rest Of tho old house,
said his mother.
"Ah. here is the old dining room, sure enough