The sun., 1894-12-30
TALES OF ALL COUNTRIES.
RETURNING HOME.
ny ANTHONY TRoLLoPE.

II is generally supposed that people who live
ct home. good domestic people, who love tea
and their armchairs and who keep the parlor
ncsrtn rug ever warm. It generally supposed
that these ere the people who value home the
most and best appreciate all the comforts Of
that cherished institution. 1 am inclined 20
doubt this. II Is, l think, to those who live
furtheet away from home, to those who find the
greatest difficulty in visiting home, that the
word conveys the sweetest idea In some dis
tant parts Of the world IL may be that an Eng
lishman acknowledges his permanent resting
place; but there are many others in which lie
will not call his daily houss his home. lie
would, in his own idea, desecrste the word by
doing 90. His homs is across the blue waters,
in the little northern island. which perhaps he
may visit no more; which he has left at sny
rate, for half his life; from which circumstances
and the necessity Of living have banished him.
His home is still in England. and when he
speaks OF home his thoughts are there.
No one can understand tie intensity of this
feeling who has not seen or felt the absence OF
interest In life which falls to the lot of many
who have IN eat their bread on distant soils.
We are all apt to think that a life in strange
countries will be life Of excitement, of stirring
enterprise. and varied scenes; that in abandon
ing the comforts OF home we shall receive in
exchange more OF movement and of adventure
than would come in our way in our own tame
country; and this feeling has, am sure, sent
many young man roaming. Take any spirited
fellow OF twenty. and ask him whether he wouid
like to go to Mexico for the next ten years! Pru-
dence and his father may ultimately save him
from such Punishment, but lie will not refuse
without pang of regret
Alasl 1t is mistake. Bread may he earned,
and fortunes, perhaps, made in such countries:
and as It is the destiny of our race TO spread
itself over the wide face OF the globe 1t is we'll
that there should be something to gid and paint
the outward face OF that lot which so many are
called upon to choose. But for life of daily ex-
element, there Ia no life like life In England;
and the further that one goes from England the
more stagnant, think, do the waters Of exist
ence become.
But fit be 80 for men. It is ten times more 40
for women. An Englishman, II he be at GuAte-
mala or Belize, must work for his bread. and
that work will ind him in thought and ex-
element. But what of his wife2 Where will
che find excitement7 By what pursuit will
sho repay herself for all that she has left
behind her at her mothers ireside? She will love
her husband. Yes; that at leastl II there be not
that there will be help. indeed. Then she will
nurse her children, and talk of her-home. When
tho time shall come that her promised return
thither Is within year or two OF its accomplish
ment, her thoughts will ell be n1ed on that COM
ing pleasure. as are the thoughts OF young
girl on her first ball for the fortnight before that
event comes OF.
On the central plain Of that portion of Central
America which Is called Costa Rica stands the
city of San jose. 1t Is tho capital Of the
republio-for Costa Rics is q republic
and, for Central America is . town Of
some Importance. It Is In the middle OF
the coffee district surrounded by rich soil on
which tho sugar cane is produced, is blessed
,xtth .llv, nIv 49, -.
native Inhabitants are neither cutthroats nor
cannibals, 1t may DO said, therefore, that by
comparison with some other spots to which Eng
lishmen and others are congregated for the
gathering together OF money. San jose may be
considered q, happy region: but nevertheless,
life there Is not In every way desirable. II Is
duh place, with little to interest either the eye
or the ear. Although the heat of the tropics Is
but little felt there on account Of its altitude.
men and women become too lifeless for much
enterprise. There is no society There are few
Germans and a few Englishmen in the place,
who see each other on matters OF business
during the day: but sombre as life generally
IA, they seem 10 little for each others COM
pany on any other footing know not to what
point the aspirations OF the Germans may
stretch themselves. but TO the English the one
idea that gives salt u life is the idea OF home.
On some day, however distant, they will once
more turn their races toward the little northern
island, and then all will be well with them
To certain Enslishman there. and to his
dear little wife, this prospect came some few
years since somewhat suddenly Events and
tidngs, IL matters not which or what. brought
IL about that they resolved between themselves
that they would start Immediately almost
Immediately. They would pack up and leave
san jose within four months OF the day
on which their purpose was first formed. At
San jose a period Of only four months for such
. purpose was Immediately. 1t creates feeling
OF instant excitement, n necessity for instant
doing, q consciousness that there was in those
few weeks ample work both for the hands and
thoughts, work almost more than ample. Tho
dear little wife, who for the last two years had
been SO listless, felt herself furried.
Harry" she said 20 her husband, "how shall
We ever be readyg' Ard her pretty face was
lighted up with unusual brightness at the happy
thought OF so much haste with such object.
And baby's things, too," sho said. as she
thought OF all the various little articles
of dress that would be needed. \ journey
from San jose TO Southampton cannot in
truth be made easily as one from London 10
Liverpool Let Us think Of a month 10 be passed |
without any aid from the washerwoman, and !
the greatest part OF that month amid the swell /
tsring heats OF the West Indian tropics.
In the first month OF her hurry and furry Mrs. |
Arkwright was happy woman. She would see
her mother again and her sister 1t was now
four years since she had left them on the quay
At Southampton, while all their hearts were
broken at the parting she was young bride !
tnen, going forth with her new lord to meet the |
stern world. He had then been home 10 look |
for q wife, and he had found what he looked for /
In the younger sister OF his partner For he. /
Henry Arkwright, and his wife's brother. Abel /
Ring. had established themselves together in |
San Jos4. And now, she thought how there |
would be another meeting on those quays at 4
which there should be no broken hearts; at |
which there should be love without sorrow. and |
kisses, sweet with the sweetness OF welcome, /
not bitter with the bitterness OF parting. And /
people told her-the few neighbors around her
how happy. how fortunate she was TO get home |
lhus early in her life. They had been out some
ten some twenty years, and still the day OF their
return was distant And then she pressed her
living baby to her breast and wiped away a
tear as she thought OF the other darling whom
she Wouli leave beneath tha. distant sd