The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1902-04-11
"HOME SWEET HOME"
a Iuno in Which the Bands of Riva
Armies Could Unite-Civil
War Incident.

1t is told that once during the &
war, in the ''siSties.'' the rival ari>:,..<
were bivouaccd on opposite sides Of one
OF the beautiful rivers Of our fair South
land, said f. L. Wells of Wellsyille, O.,
in an address delivered in Detroit. In
the evening the bands on either side were
assembled, and the one with the Army
of the North. as a taunt or challenge to
the other. struck up the stirring strains
of Yankee Doodle Scarcely was the
last note finished when the band of the
Army of the South proudly replied Will,
Dixie Land" Then came from the
Northern band the inspiring and beaut.
ful "Star-Spangled Banner" The atten~
ton of both armies was now thoroughly
aroused, and all were listening eagerly,
wondering what appropriate response
could be made, when across the tremn-
lous Wavclcts Of the river foated the
sweet strains of "Homc. Sweet Home
Instantly the other band united, and to-
gethcr they played the one tune dear to
the hearts of all. Tears rained down
the checks of the Boys IN Blue and Of the
Boys in Gray, and the tenderest memo
War and bitterness We're vanGuished for
the night, and with hushed voices and
softened hearts the men talked together
OF the precious ones each had left in the
dear old home.
The subject Home seems to be an
e en-! safe one in almost all assem-
blies. The home idea in it's broadcast
sense can never be defined. 1t is one Of
those delicious. thrilling. heart-stirring
thoughts which everybody understands
and enjoys, but which no one can fully
describe. The school boy, let loose at
the close Of school hours, scampers home
Oh run; the workingman, returning at
the close Of a weary day, feels thrill
of genuine JOY when his cozy home comes
into view; the merchants sigh of salts
faction as he turns the key and leaves
his store at night tells the same story:
the sailor, locked to sleep by odd
Ocean," dreams Of his cottage home;
and the traveller, tired OF new scenes and
strange faces, in the solitude of the
crowd,' is forced to confess with that
weary, homes'ck wanderer, John How
ard Payne, "Be it ever so humble, there's
no place like home"
Home. how sweet the word! Neither
tongue, nor pen, nor artists pencil can
ever successfully picture the sweet, ten
der, helpful memories which cluster
around that word. 1t has no synonym,
and cold beside it. It means more than
than kindred. 1t means all these and in
finitely more. 1t means the place where
comfort and love dwell, where rest and
| shelter are always found. where the
weary body is refreshed, where the sick
soul is restored, and where the heart un-
bosoms itself without fear of betrayal.
There childhood gets the kindly counsel
and loving guidance Of those of maturer
years, and old age receives affectiouatc
| lninistrations from the stronger hands Of
youth.
Home equips man for the battle of life
and sustains him in the conflict. Its
| influence follows him as his shadow.
| Entirely escape from it he never can.
Its memories have turned many wander
ing. feet back to the paths of virtue
Melville e. Trux in American Homes