The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-03-21


Parting was over at last. ana all the
good-byes had been spoken!
Up the long hillside the whlte-tented wa
gon moved slowly,
Bearing the mother and children, while
onward before them the father
Trudged with his gun on his arm and
tho faithful house dog beside him,
Grave and sedate. as II knowing the sor-
rowful thoughts OF his master.
April was In her prime, and the day In
its dewy awaking;
Like a great flower. afar on the crest or
the eastern woodland.
Goldenly bloomed the sun, and over tho
beautiful valley.
Dim with its dew and shadow, and brighe
with It's dream OF "A river.
Looked to the western hills. and shons
on the humble procession.
Paining with splendor the children's eyes.
and the heart OF the mother.
Beauty and fragrance and song filled
the air like a palpable presence.
Sweet was the smell OF the dewy leaves
and the flowers I'm the wild wood.
Fair the long reaches OF sun and shade
in the aisles Of the forest.
Glad OF the spring. and Of love and OF
morning the wild birds were singing
Jays TO each other called harshly, thea
mellowly fluted together;
Sang the oriole songs as golden and gay
as his plumage.
Pensively piped the querulous quails their
greetings unfrequent.
While. on the meadow elm the meadow
lark gushed forth in music.
Darf aNuitapf and shaken with the
Joy Of his singing.
Over the river. loud chattering. aloft IN
the air. the kngfisher
Hung ere ne dropped, Ike bolt, In the
water beneath him;
GossipinC. out Of the bank few myriad
twlttering swallows;
And in the boughs Of the sycamore quar-
relied and clamored the blackbirds.
Never for these things a moment halted
the movers. but onward
Up the long hillside the white-tented wa
eon moved slowly,
TIL. on the summit. that overlooked all
the beautiful valley,
Trembling and spent, the horses came 10
a standstill unbidden.
Then from the wagon the mother In sill
ence got down with her children.
Came and stood by the father, and rested
her hand on his shoulder.
Long together they eazed on the beautiful
valley before them:
Looked on the well-known fields that
stretched away 10 the woodlands.
Where. in the dark lines OF green, showed
the milk-white crest Of the dogwood.
Snow OF wild plums in bloom, and GRIM
son tints OF the rosebud
Looked on the pasture fields. where the
cattle were lazily grazing.
Softly and sweet and then came the
faint far notes Of the COW bells;
Looked on the oft-trodden lanes with
their elder and blackberry borders
Looked on the orchard. hloomy sea-
with it's pillows Of blossoms:
Fair was the scene yet suddenly strange
and all unfamiliar.
Like as the faces OF friends when the
word of farewell has been spoken.
Long together they gazed; then at last
on the little log cabin
Home for so many years. now home no
longer forever.
Rested ,heir fearless eyes in the silent
rapture of anguish.
Upon the morning afr no column OF
smoke from tho chimney
Wavering, silver and azure. rose fading
and Frightening ever;
Shut was the door where Yesterday morn
ing the children were playing;
| Lit with a CLEAN OF the sun. the window
stared up at them blindly.
Cold was the hearthstone now, and the
place was forsaken and empty.
Empty? All. no no. hut haunted by
thronglng and tenderest fancies.
Sad recollectlons Of ~ that had ever
been, Of sorrow or gladncss.
| Once more they sat I'm the glow OF the
wide red fire IN the winter:
| once moro they sat by the door In the
cool Of the still summer evening:
| Once more the mother seemed 70 he sing
ing her babe there 10 slumber;
| once more the father beheld her weep
DER the child that was dying;
once more the place was poopled by all
the Pasts sorrow and gadnossi
! Neither might speak for the thoughts thai
came crowding their hearts so,
| TIL. in their ignorant sorrow, aloud the
| children lamcntcd:
| Then was the spell of silence dissolved
and the father and mother
| Burst into tears and embraced and turn
cd their dim ewes 10 the westward
| William Dean Howolls. IN Trotter and
PAGER