Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1890-02-26
AN AMERICAN HOME.

The late Henry W. Grady was an ora
tor Of very high order, and his al
dresses were full Of passages OF wonderful
beauty and pathos. Here IL his dsscrip-
ton Of an American Home, given In bis
speech ct the Bay State Club. Boston,
abort time before HE untlmely taking
OF:
~ went to Washington tho other day
and stoed on the Capitol hill, and my
heart beat quick Is I looked II the tower
ing marble OF my country's capital, and
the inlet gathered In my eyes ~ I thought
OF It, tremendous significance; aud Its
armies, and the treasnry, and the judges,
aud the President. aud the Congress, and
the courts, and all that was gathered
there. And felt that the sun 10 all it,
course could not look down upon better
sight than that majestic home Of the re-
public that had taught the world its best
lessons of liberty.
"And felt that II honor aud justice
and wisdom abide therein. the world
| would at last owe that great house, in
which the ark Of the covenant Of my
country 10 lodged, It's nnal uplifting and
Its regeneration. Two days after l went
to visit friend In the country, a modest
| man, with . quiet country lone. II WAS
1 Juht tihPiV, uoIeuy SCI
about with great big trees, encircled in
meadow and he,ds rich with the promise
OF arrest. Tho fragrance Of pink and
bollyhock In the trout yard was mingled
with tue aroma OF the orchard aud OF the
gardens, and resonant with the cluck OF
| poultry and the hum OF bees.
Inside was quiet, cleanliness, thrift
and comfort. There was tho old clock
that had welcomed IN steady measure
every new conner to the family, that had
licked The solemn requiem Of the dead,
and had kept company with tho watcher
ut the bedside. There were the big rest
full beds and the old fireplace, and the
old family Bible, thumbed with the fn-
gers OF hands long siuee still, aud wet
with the tears Of eyes long since closed,
holding the simple annals OF the family,
and the heart and the conscience Of the
homo.
Outside there stood my friend tho mas
ter, = ample, upright. independent man,
with no mortgage on his roof, no lien Oh
and master OF himself There was his
old father, an aged, trembling mau,
but happy In the heart aud home Of his
son. And a. they started TO their home
the hands of the old man went down on
the young mans shoulder, laying there
the unspoakatle blessing of tho honored
and grateful father, aud ennobling II
with the knlghthood Of the nth COM
mandment. Aud 10 they got to the door
the old mother came, with the sunset
falling fair on her face and lighting ny
her deep, patient Dyes, while her voice
trembling with the rich music of her
heart, she babe her husband and son
welcome TO their home.
Beyond was the housewife, busy with
her household cares, clean of heart and
cons cience, the buckler and helpmeet OF
her husband. Down tho lane came the
children, trooping home after The cows,
seeking, as truant birds do, the quiet oil
the homo nest. And l saw the night
come down on that house. falling gently
40 from the winss OF tho unseen dove.
And the old man, while startled bird
called from the forest, and the trees
shrilled with the cricket's cry. and the
stars were swarming 10 tho sky, got the
] family around him, and. taking the old
Bible from the table, called them to their
knees, the little baby hiding 10 the folds
oil its mothers dress, while he closed the
record of the simple day by calling down
Gods benediction on that family and
that home. And while gax the viz
lon Of that marble capital faded. For
gotten were its treasures and Its majesty
aud l said: 'Oh, surely, here in the
homes OF tho people are lodged At las
tho strength and the responsibility o
this government, the hope aud the prom
leo Of this republic.