The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1905-03-17

Shouted and jumped just as we used
to jump, but their eyes were different.
They edged off from the sidewalk as
we came along. We were strangers to
them. They were strangers to us.
All, yes, here Is the old house. 1t
stands as a sentinel overlooking Fort
Green park, where one of the old Revo-
lut.onary battles was fought and where
some Of the old Revolutionary veterans
lie buried From the outside the old
house looked about the same. There
was tie vine mother planted, still
crawling over the side and clinGing to
tie roof and trying to cover up the
windows. Indeed. the house looked SO
much like the past that thought for
an instant mother would be waiting
for me in the front room to welcome
| ME home from colleTe. Just to the rear
| of the house was the old grapevine ar
Dor BUILT by Captain SDiccr before he
lost his wife and manly son. whom
can Just remember had often taken
my dessert of fruit there before | an
swcr the dinner bell. But come;
must not linger outside Here. let me
tHke peek in ut the window | Won
dor if yonder policeman will think
am thief, He wears Just the same
kind Of brass buttons as did tie ogfcer
who used to c'1se me of the park
grass when wHs playing "hound and
hares" end climbing Up yonder walls
more Ike trGDeZe performer than Il
hare scurrying for her hurrow.
visitinG the Old Home.
Yes, here is the pa.lor. There saw
my first Christmas tree. There they
laid ne as little baby in a basket as
a Christmas present for nay father
There, in that same room. | first saw
the dead face of a relative. My broth
ers casict lay there. Mothers body
was covered with flowers there. AMI
there we met to laugh as well as to
weep.
Up ana through the house we went
Each room had for us a history In
each place we could see the living AMI
the dead size by side Now it WAS
sister in her bridal robes, now a death
bed scene now-but stop; | cannot 20
further. You would not have me If
you could. The history Of my old home
was merely the history of yours. only
un-er other names. With US it was
Jessie, De Witt, May, Edith, Frank,
Daisy, Maudc. With you it was Ger
trlGe, Sarah. Carrie, William, john,
Walter. Names different: scenes all
the same.
That afternoon l went away from
the old homestead with a sad heart.
"All that scene of love gone forever"
l kept saying. "All gone. al gomez il
it al gone fo.eve:? But that night ~
! sred OH west toward my own home,
where my wife and children were wait
ing TO greet re, was looking oct Of
the train window. l had my cheek
resting upon my hand. | know not
whether was asleep or awake. But,
whether asleep OF awake, su denly a
strange vision came to me- | seemed
to see the dear faces of my loTed ones
who a"e gone. Among the tw.nknn2
stars CT the night | saw their bright
eyes ana heard them sHalk,ng to NE.
They seemed to say: THE pat Is not
dead. We are gong to have or re-
unions again. We are hc"c waiting.
We are waiting for you. VIII you LIE
for Ch-.st az we Tired. that we MAJ
have these reuni9ns|r
Are or plreA.i'il heaven concerned
about us? The % loved US hc"c. thcy
were 50 an-.oIs about our bert inter
ests. that l cannot believe they have
forgotten Us now. What news conll
50 gladden. their hearts. coull tho IN
gelic E2e1-e2Gcr7 that pass from earth
to heaven bring to them. than the news
Of your repentance? Shall VIC let ten
wait and keep waiting for or an3,~c"f
Father, mother, we are coming! Yes.
in Il little while after we have Gone
our VOL Tor Chi@t. we shall conc.
Oh. sinful child. thou art not an o.
phar! You lave Il heavenly Father
Waiting You have releeme carI!ly
father ard mother waiting. Wit thou
not lift from them the bur3en Of thnir
anxiety? Wilt thol not enhance Their
heavenly JOYS Icy the assurance that
thou art coc2!rg 10 comn,ote the fam
ly circle rolnl tho throne?
TCcpvright. 1905 by Louis <lopsch