Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1900-03-01

and Tosh MS Joarnsy Into Fa,
Ceuatry.-
To-day the old homestead Is turned
upside down One Of the boys. the
younger, Is about to leave the parental
roof. The eaglet is tired of being
warmed by the wings of the old birds
and with RULED feathers stands upon
the edge Of the eyrie ready to fly on.
1t Is a sad sight to see a home being
broken up. When the children are
about to say goodby the families laugh.
talk and Joke up to the last moment.
but they are only trying to keep the
courage up. Even the wedding bells
weep as well as chime. The guests
may congratulate you upon having
gained a son or q daughter. but you
know that It is a mockery, though you
do smile through your tears. From
now on the daughter will never be the
same again. She has gone to make hef
own home. to build her own nest. rear
her own young and live her own life.
Instead Of belonging to you she Is an
others. Instead of you being FIRST, now
you are last.
After the wedding OF a very dear
friend and the worn slipper and the
rice had been thrown. and the bride
and bridegroom started, followed the
old gray-haired father down to the
garden gate. and there we stood alone
In the moonlight. Yes, Frank" he
said, I know she has married a good
man. but she was my youngest, and
it breaks the heart, It breaks the
heart Children are born. grow up
into young manhood and womanhood,
and Just when II seems the parents
cannot get along without them, of
they go. Death knocks at the door and
carries away some. Love hovers about
the spring flowers and breathes
through the orange blossoms and woes
others. Business calls and duty beck
ons until the old nursery Is silent and
there are rooms to let In the home
stead which once resounded with the
young peoples voices.
Mother Who srieves.
Such is the sense OF my text The
mother did not sleep much last night.
Though she tries to look cheerful her
eyes are very red. Every little while
she disappears into the pantry or goes
upstairs. She makes an excuse as
though looking for something, but we
rs lo anIx tn Qnnd
The father is giving his last instruc-
lions and handing the young traveller
some letters of introduction TO a prom
inent merchant with whom the son
will lodge in the next town. There Is
q noise at the gate. The servants are
bringing out the horses and Swapping
the baggage upon the pack mules.
They talk In subdued whispers. Even
they feel sorry. The young ''massa'
was . happy. jorly. ge-lucky boy, and
always had q cheerful and kind word
for the hostlers. The only creature
who seems to be nierry-making this
morning Is the yellow dog. He frisks
about. barking and yelping. thinking
he is TO follow the sportsman on
weeks hunt. But his hilarity Is
stopped when some one SHES a stone
at the brute and shouts: Go back to
the barn!' Slowly he crawls back with
tail and head lowered in abject woe.
He stops now and then as II expecting
TO hear the familiar call Perhaps he
realizes for the first time he Is taking
I. t.z& Saxawan \ a1u,yu aiA hattava
q bright dog was smarter than q stu
pid man. But the farewell words are
now being said. The father has given
his benediction. We must turn aside Q
little. white the mother has her last
eonyulsive clasp. These, ara the snap
ping Of heart strings. A mother can
never realize the baby she once rocksd
in o cradle can grow to be . man
People who have stood upon the
wharf at Queenstown and heard the
Irish peasants moan, when the young
emisraut steps into the boat to take
steamer for America know what !
mean. There 10 only one CRY similar 10
Il That is. when family drapsd In
heavy black push back the wells to take
last lingering look at'the silent form.
sleeping In the caskst. when the I'M
dsrsakeS stands impatientiy behind.
Youth Rides Away.
'.But suddenly the young man breaks
away. He leaps into the saddle. The
spurs cut deep. The parents shout
their affectionate adisux TO the horse
man dashing Oh. Then .they wave and
throw kisses. The old father now
wipes hts face vigorously with hand
ksrchief and scolds the servants and
sends than on. because he does not
want them to see him cry. As the
horse disappears over the iast hill the
old mother buries her head on. her hus-
bands neck" and sobs as II her heart
would break. He tenderiy puts his
arm about her and draws her toward
the house. Slowly they walk up the
tree-arched path. They stop moment
ON the nrst step 10 glance for the .,st
time down the road. Slowly, with a
sigh. the father opens the door. The
men 60 back 70 the work. the women
back 70 the kitchea: the domestic ma
chinery 10 started and tho neishbors.
say II 10 merely the natural order Of
things Tor tina younger son to, gathsr
all together and take his journey into
. far country
Lesson the FIRST; This journey OF
the prodisai son into o far country 10
. divine protest ssAinss making sin at