The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1893-07-11
"Reminiscences.


RecolectiOns of the past are always blend
ed with emotions Of both pleasure and pain,
and yet are willing to suffer the pain
TO experience the pleasure they give.
One cannot indulge in "reminiscences with
out being personal, so 7 ask the indulgence
of my readers if the pronoun ] should appear
too often while L tell them of my pleasant
visit to my old home, after absence of
many years
Did you go back to the home of your
childhood and wOmanhooH after Il long
lapse of years? If so, you win be able TO
enter into my feelings you follow me,
while I tell you Of the recent sotuurn I have
just made In the home that was to me the
sweetest spot on earth.
Years ago, when L left It 70 make my home
In another city. there was only one railroad
coming into the town; every face L met was
familiar white and colored; every house was
old friend, and / could have walked the
old streets blindfolded-but now how changed.
Three roads enter the city and on one
of these new ones l approached my old home.
When the train came 10 halt the usual
scenes at a qepOt were enacted, hack drivers
and omnibus men calling out to attract your
attention, but l had already decided to walk
alone to a friends, and so gave up my check
and walked away. L felt matter
what the changes, I would not lose myself
in my old home. L soon found myself on
street. with houses built thickiy around
me, and for It while had to stop and think
where 1 was, but only for a moment; L was
soon in an old familiar street and every gar
den and house brought TO mind some friend
or scene of former days There were the
homes but new faces appeared on the piaz-
Zas, and not once during my long walk did
meet familiar face.
And so ia many of my rambles through the
old street L would walk alone ana REGAL! the
friends Of my youth and friends Of later
years, but how many were gone, how many
homes closed or occupied by strangers, until
I fplr V,Ouli he W
would feel there was but little change-the
''sient city of the dead" True many Il
new mound was there but they bore on their
headStone the names of those 1 knew and
loved. and as 1 rested in this quiet spot,
listening to the ripping of the waters Of the
old Oconee as it wound its way around the
hillside, and the low moaning requiem OF the
wind signing through the treeS-lnany sweet
though sad memories passed before me, many
and incidents Of Il life that, viewed in
the present, seemed very fur away, as though
ii had been another life, not mine, aud vet
/ felt even there ! was surrounded by MY
friends-not dead, but sleeping
| would not have You'think there was only
sad side to this home coming no, indeed,
there was SO much brightness and joy that
/ can scarcely tell you all. / gave my 1lrst
thoughts TO absent friends then turned to
meet the warm greetings of those who were
left
There is something in the nature of us all
that likes TO be made much OFT is SO
pleasant 10 hear the welcome cordially eX-
pressed, and 50 gratifying 10 our pride to lis
ten TO "how glad am u see you, how well
you look you have not changed one
particle IN al these years. Yes, it falls
piansIptIy on the ear although we know
the crown OF gray hair Is there, That the
eye has lost the brightness OF youth, and
the step is far less buoylnt; yet We ere
glad our friends can see som timing OF our
Old selves in us to still admire. 1t is so
firs3t IA I4blfi ma
then another; invited here ana tlc:c and
maue 10 feel they are indeed siad 10 see
u.s. to find ourselves listening as taey Il late
their joys and SORROWS; to nave he dear
young friends. whom we left a; children,
feel enough lcye and interest i'll us to send
their little ones 10 see All these things
give much pleasure and joy.
one never knows how many friends they
have until they have parted from them. Let
years 'elapse and come again among them;
only then can appreciate what Il lasting
blessing is true friendship.
Two incidents that touched my heart
wish 10 relate for our northern readers, as
Il will iliustc,ie the affection existing among
the colo"ed people for their former employ
erS Ole morning, SOON after my arrival,
L was told some wished to speak To ie
at the door L found aged colored woman
who welcomed most cordially and slli:
misses, Aunt SyIa wanted you to have so!ac
flowers put cf her garden, and have brought
you ii esc," handing me IL waiter OF lovely
roses and white cape jasmines. L need
not tell you L appreciated the gift. This
old woman's son had been in our service
when quite boy, and neither mother or
son had ever forgotten our Kindness. One
of my first calls was TO Aunt SyLa," and
she entertained me in her neat, cool room,
with baskets of clean, starched clothes all
around, ready for the iron, which she told
me she still used skifully, though nearly
eighty years Old: ---.----
Another time, just as I was going to an